Save the Metolius from destination resorts

Short-sighted greed is poised to wreck the marvelous Metolius basin. It makes me sick. But there's something you and I can do about it: support Senate Bill 30, which would prohibit destination resorts in or within three miles of the basin.

Laurel and I are part owners of a forest service cabin on the Metolius. It's the most beautiful river I've ever seen. The fly fishing is incomparable. The banks are wonderfully walkable.

And you can even pause on your stroll and enjoy a latte at the oh-so-charming Camp Sherman store.

The permanent population of Camp Sherman is about 200. Jefferson County has pushed through changes to the area's comprehensive plan that would allow two destination resorts to be built in the Metolius basin, adding up to 10,000 people in the area at peak times.

This Central Oregon Landwatch "Action Alert" (a PDF file) contains the disturbing details, along with ways you can urge passage of SB 30.
Download co_landwatch.pdf

Recently the Portland Oregonian ran a story about this travesty in the making, "The Metolius River Basin: Natural getaway or county's cash cow?" The most infuriating quotation came from Bill Bellamy, a Jefferson County commissioner:

"Whether or not you like what destination resorts have done, it's phenomenally significant what they do to property tax revenues."

Wow, Bill. What a phenomenally dumb statement to make. You're willing to ruin a world-class river basin so a few extra bucks can flow into the county's tax coffers. If Jefferson County voters have any sense, they'll kick you out of office next time they have the chance.

Also infuriating was Bellamy's assertion that the county held public hearings before passing the resort zone and responded to concerns by paring down the size of the two properties earmarked for the destination resorts.

I know that the main hearing in Camp Sherman was packed with people opposed to the plan and that the opposition was virtually unanimous. I also know that the proposed Colson destination resort (on Green Ridge) is 10,000 acres, more than five times larger than the Black Butte Ranch resort, about six miles away.

How much did you pare down its size, Bill? From 10,001 acres? Thanks so much.

Friends of the Metolius has put up an informative web site about the threat posed to the basin. There's a map of where the resorts would be located.

Most importantly, you'll find names, email addresses, phone numbers, and snail mail addresses for the five members of the Senate Education and General Government committee.

Please let them know that you support SB 30. A hearing on the bill is scheduled for Thursday, April 5, 8:00 am, Hearing Room B at the State Capitol. Come and testify if you love the Metolius. Or even if you're just in like with the river.

If you're not familiar with this central Oregon beauty, here's some Metolius posts from my blog:
April beauty on the Metolius
Simple pleasures on the Metolius
Metolius 4^th of July
Spring on the Metolius

One of my favorites relates our spontaneous participation in the Camp Sherman Independence Day parade. This is a wonderfully quirky community that can't be allowed to be swallowed up by destination resorts.

Yes to SB 30. No to Bill Bellamy and his property tax-crazed Jefferson County.

Comments

[proud lefty]

Thanks for this post Brian. I live in Portland but spend 20 weekends a year camping and fishing this incredible river. I spent this last weekend at the 'Met' handing out fliers and talking to anyone who would listen and all were appalled about the proposed developments. If we do not act, we will lose this river. Write letters, call and show up to this hearing on SB 30.

[Friend of the Metolius]

Thank you for helping to inform folks of this important issue! It is imperative for us to be the voice of the river and urge our State to step in and protect not just an Oregon "treasure", but a national treasure! Deveopment will only destroy the beauty that has brought people here to begin with! ATTENDANCE at the Public Hearing on April 5th in Salem is necessary! The Metolius River needs the same kind of attention and protection our State gave to places like our beaches and Crater Lake in years past. The Metolius is home to fish, birds, wildlife and nature, humans are just visitors. We need to keep it that way!

[m. farrier]

Yes, the Metolius/Camp Sherman area is absolutely spectacular. How lucky you all are to have purchased your forest service houses. Now, maybe others will have a chance to own there too.

[Brian]

m. farrier, if the proposed destination resorts were planned to be like the forest service cabins along the river, I wouldn't have much of a problem with them.

I often hear this spurious "you've got yours, but you don't want others to have theirs" argument. It doesn't make any sense.

There are limits. Yes, we were fortunate to learn of a 1/4 interest in a forest service cabin coming up for sale. This doesn't happen often, because there's only so many cabins.

No more can be built. The area can't sustain dense development. By your logic, if one person lives in some place, anybody who wants to should be able to live there also.

That would ruin special places like the Metolius basin. Which can't be allowed to happen.