...With a pink hotel, a boutique and a swingin' hot spot...

Carla Axtman

The economic arguments for those who seek to build destination resorts at the Metolius have seemed compelling, at least to some in the Oregon Legislature. After all, a great big bunch of Oregonians are out of work right now. I've heard the phrase "family wage jobs" bandied about, as if being a hotel maid or a waitress is a job that can support a family. Nevertheless, a job is a job if it comes with a paycheck, no matter how small. Apparently that's enough to lay waste to one of Oregon's great natural treasures.

But all over Oregon, people are speaking out in favor of keeping this pristine and beautiful area protected. Some of them have sent emails to legislators and with the author's permission, I'm posting their stories along with some photos (click photos to enlarge them, please).

We have an opportunity to preserve one of Oregon's most special places. I hope the stories from these folks will compel you to talk with your state legislators about protecting this important treasure.

Jen_Massa-Smith1 Jen_Massa-Smith2 Jen_Massa-Smith3Dear Legislators,

I'm writing to ask you to please protect the Metolius basin from unnecessary over-development. The Metolius watershed does not need a sprawling development of overpriced vacation homes and golf courses. The Metolius is a unique part of Oregon and if Oregon means anything to you, you will vote against further development in this area.

My husband and I were married in Camp Sherman at Chapel in the Pines. We fell in love there and fell in love with the Metolius because it exhudes everything that is wonderful about Oregon and our land use laws.

The fishing, the camping, the ecosystems in this area will be trampled by too much development. This area already has plenty of vacation spots. Black Butte Ranch, Sisters, Suttle Lake, Camp Sherman has camping and cabins.

Please please vote to protect this part of Oregon which helps make Oregon so special.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Smith
Proud to be an Oregonian

I know that with the downturn in the economy this past year you have many very important and difficult decisions to make during this legislative session, but I think one of the most important you have is with regard to protection of the Metolius basin from damage that would occur with destination resort development that Jefferson County's erroneous mapping would allow. The flaws in their process are obvious when one sees that the end result would allow for development of a city larger than Sisters, OR within a couple of miles from the headwaters of the Metolius river.

HB3100 is not perfect, but it does what is needed to help preserve the Metolius basin for current and future generations of Oregonians to enjoy. The beauty and solitude that the river provides us all must be protected and the House Land Use Committee's action is pivotal to that end.
Please, for God's sake and for all Oregonians, do the right thing and move this legislative process forward so that we can have a natural wonder preserved into the future.

Respectfully,
Al & Jane Krause
Sisters, OR


I was very pleased to learn that HB 3100, Protecting the Metolius Basin, has been referred to the House Land Use Committee. I have camped at the Metolius 4-5 times every year since 1970, and brought up my sons on the River. Now they are grown and camp there with their children. As a matter of fact, the Metolius is one of the main reasons I decided years ago to stay in Oregon.

It is important that the Metolius basin remain pure and pristine. It is one of Oregon’s finest treasurers.

Thank you for your work on HB 3100.


Sincerely,
Stan Shively

Here is a letter from 17 organizations (including sportsmen, environmental organization and experts on water and land use in the region) in support of HB 3100, which bans destination resorts at the Metolius.

More photos and letters tomorrow.


By Carla Axtman
May 26, 2009
  • travesti (unverified)
    2:18 a.m.
    May 27, '09
    (Show?)

    Here is a very helpful summary that was passed on to me by a friend.

  • Hank the Tank (unverified)
    9:15 a.m.
    May 27, '09
    (Show?)

    Wow. I did not know that this resort was on the Metolius River! I thought is was miles away. Either someone is lying on the Metolian website or the above photos are misleading

  •
    9:17 a.m.
    May 27, '09
    (Show?)

    Hank:

    Actually, the effects on the river and surrounding area are part of the entire discussion..as has been blogged here and logged elsewhere repeatedly.

  •
    10:56 a.m.
    May 27, '09
    (Show?)

    Thank you for your continued attention to this issue, Carla.

    As a native Oregonian, I spent many childhood vacations out in Central Oregon, staying at Deschutes River Ranch, which has since been destroyed to make room for vacation homes for out-of-staters.

    The ranch, which sat right on the Deschutes, took great pains to work within its high desert landscape. Comprising just twenty units, all rustic-styled houses, the ranch centered around horseback trips, wading and crawdad-fishing in the river and nature hikes. When I vacation in such a naturally beautiful locale as Central Oregon, I want to enjoy what is offered there, not what we can build up around it.

    I love the Metolius as I love most rivers in Oregon: a whole lot. When I visit there (hopefully this summer and) for years to come, I hope to enjoy its wonderfully unique topography, native habitats and historical wonder. I don't want a Sandals-style resort to pop up. Please, legislators, stay true to the Oregon tradition of preserving what makes this state, in my opinion, the most beautiful and useful place on the planet.

  • DSS (unverified)
    12:45 p.m.
    May 27, '09
    (Show?)

    Hank said: "Wow. I did not know that this resort was on the Metolius River! I thought is was miles away."

    Well, it's important to keep in mind that the portion of the Metolius that we see (that is, the portion above ground) is only a small portion of a larger, more complex hydrological structure.

    The Metolius' aquifer does indeed extend some ways around the actual headwaters, and any resulting runoff, traffic, or other impacts in the watershed will have noticeable effects as well.

    So while the Metolian website may be accurate in saying that they are not going to place cabins directly on the headwaters... the suggestion that this will have a low impact on the Metolius River is an incorrect inference that they're counting on people to make for themselves.

  • Katie (unverified)
    2:03 p.m.
    May 27, '09
    (Show?)

    In response to Hank the Tank - No the proposed Metolian Resort is NOT on the Metolious River. It is miles away ( up by Suttle Lake to be specific). The Metolian website is correct in their statement. People who do not want it built would like you to think that it is right on the Metolious.

  •
    2:10 p.m.
    May 27, '09
    (Show?)

    Katie:

    I don't know who the "people" are that want folks to think that the proposed Metolian is right on the river, but it's not me or any advocate for preserving the land that I know.

    What people should know is that this is a highly sensitive and fragile water and wildlife region--and that the Metolian folks can give no guarantees that they'll have no negative impact.

    I have no problem with the concept of the Metolian. What I can't understand is the absolute necessity to build it in such a fragile area. There's a transfer of development opportunity that Kean and Lundgren can stop opposing at any time (heck..the Ponderosa people--the ones with the really enormous resort--support this legislation) and build their resort in a less fragile place.

    The way that the Metolian people are going about this is completely absurd and counter-productive.

  • Richard (unverified)
    7:56 a.m.
    May 28, '09
    (Show?)

    What people should know is that Carla is helping to misrespresenting the impact of the resort. The highly sensitive and fragile water and wildlife region would remain without any noticable impact. But Carla's oppostion assumes and propogandizes that the Metolian will have a negative impact. Her contrived argument could be made against anything and everything proposed anywhere in Oregon.

  • Carla Axtman (unverified)
    10:21 a.m.
    May 28, '09
    (Show?)

    Richard:

    I've post the scientific studies from experts in hydrology for this region. They agree with me.

    The Metolian people themselves have told legislators that they can't meet the no negative impact standard. That's why the transfer of development is important. The Metolian could be built elsewhere, in a less-fragile place. There's a bill in the legislature (that I support) which would do this.

  • travesti (unverified)
    10:55 a.m.
    May 28, '09
    (Show?)

    Thank you very much for this useful article and the comments. I love this site as it contains good

  • Richard (unverified)
    7:54 a.m.
    May 29, '09
    (Show?)

    Editor, The hydrology reports only establish an effect. A person diping a pail of water out of the river has an effect. So what.

    That hardly establishes imminent harm or a loss of anything Metolius. I've looked at the reports and issue and there's nothing to indicate any impact that is even equal to whatever SunRiver has on the Deschutes. Which aint much.

    Unfortunately the Oregon way to obstruct something is to embellish and fabricate what cannot be proven.

  • Anonymous (unverified)
    11:56 a.m.
    May 29, '09
    (Show?)

    Richard,

    Second hand cigarette smoke reports indicate an effect. A person smoking a cigarette has an effect. So what.

    This hardly establishes imminent harm or a loss of "life".

    I've looked at the reports and issue and there's nothing to indicate any impact that is even equal to whatever regular smokers have.

    Do I need to get lung cancer to prove these reports are accurate? Unfortunately, if I do, there is no "undoing" my cancer. I like to believe such "reports" are reason to take caution and look at long term ramifications of decisions before they are made in effort to avoid irreversible impacts. Our society has got to start looking at the long term.

    Are you truly willing to gamble with places like the Metolius? Unfortunately, if this one goes wrong, money cannot undo or fix the damage to the river or its inhabitants. Much like cancer, it will be what it will be - a spreading, damaging and incurable destruction of something healthy and beautiful.

  • Perpugilliam Brown (unverified)
    6:02 p.m.
    May 30, '09
    (Show?)

    I can't believe you're arguing with a talking one-eyed snake!

    Full disclosure is just a courtesy. Come on Katie, "I'm a Christian realtor and rat monger". Or would you have no problem with having debate about child protection laws with a convicted child rapist? We're talking about protecting our baby, the Metolius. We really aren't interested in what the rapists' points of view are.

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