Yesterday afternoon, LandWatch learned that the historic campaign to Save the Metolius! was nominated for a prestigious "Wheelie" award by the Oregon Bus Project, an "innovative vehicle for hands-on democracy" dedicated to mobilizing voters and activists from around the state to support progressive causes.

Just a quick note for now, but the Metolius Protection Act has now passed the full Oregon Legislature (31-28) and is on its way to the Governor's desk to be signed into law. A full update will follow soon with details on what this means and how the vote came down.

For those of you that haven't heard, House Bill 2228 to save the Skyline Forest has also passed the full Legislature. We've put tremendous effort into each of these bills and will be back with more details soon.

This is a proud moment for us personally, and for all of Central Oregon. Thanks to everyone who made this happen!

Central Oregon LandWatch is pleased to announce the completion of our in-depth analysis of the costs and benefits of destination resorts in Oregon. This report, entitled, "Fiscal and Economic Impacts of Destination Resorts in Oregon," which was performed by the consulting firm Fodor & Associates out of Eugene, OR represents the best effort to date to assess the impacts of destination resorts in Oregon.

Although the report's primary focus is on fiscal impacts of destination resorts affecting local governments and taxpayers, it also addresses economic impacts related to jobs creation and affordable housing. The most fundamental question that this report seeks to answer is, "How will the approval of a destination resort affect local taxpayers and the general public?"

Today, Representative Brian Clem, Representative Ben Cannon, and a host of additional House members introduced HB 3100, The Metolius Protection Act of 2009. This landmark legislation will provide the strongest protections to date to preserve this Oregon treasure from both current and future threats.

Central Oregon LandWatch is proud to present its first foray into documentary filmmaking with Deep Water: Protecting the Natural Springs and Native Fish of the Deschutes Basin. The film, which was produced locally by Wahoo Films, is a seven-minute account of the threats posed to native fish in the Deschutes Basin as more and more groundwater is pumped for human consumption.

Deep Water: Protecting the Natural Springs and Native Fish of the Deschutes Basin from Central Oregon LandWatch on Vimeo.

Central Oregon LandWatch is pleased to announce the release of a new report entitled, "An Estimate of Conservation Dollars Invested in the Restoration of the Deschutes Basin." This report provides a detailed accounting of the large-scale, long-term conservation investment being made in the restoration of the Deschutes Basin in support of the reintroduction and health of native fish species.

In a potentially precedent-setting case, LandWatch has succeeded in opposing a landowner's attempt to get recognition of a parcel of land as a "lot of record" (which means that a parcel is a legal lot which may be potentially developed) without having to comply with County Code requirements for the legal creation of such parcels. The parcel at issue was part of the Forest Service-Crown Pacific Land Exchange in 1999 covering forest lands located between Bend and Sisters, and sits directly to the North of the 33,000-acre parcel owned by Fidelity.

It's official, Central Oregon LandWatch has opened its first ever office! Located alongside McKay Park at the Colorado Street crossing, it's a cozy little place and gets us out of the house(s) a bit more often.

For those who need to know, we're at 147 SW Shevlin Hixon Drive #206 in Bend, OR 97702.

For the first time, we also have an office phone (and fax number) that doesn't double as a personal line. If you'd like to reach us in the office by phone, we're at (541) 647-1567 and you can send faxes to us at (541) 647-1568.

LandWatch and Friends of the Metolius (FOM) filed their opening brief to the Oregon Court of Appeals on March 24, arguing that the approval of destination resort zones around the Metolius is improper.

Story is here.

Working for the Native Restoration Fund of Vulcan Power Company, Mark Yinger of Mark Yinger Associates, along with Laura Strauss of Northwest Land & Water, recently a rigorous assessment of the hydrological impacts of destination resorts with particular emphasis placed on the proposed Thornburgh development. The report is entitled, "A Case Study: Thornburgh Resort Water Resources Impact Evaluation (Upper Deschutes Basin, Oregon)"

Due the report's large size, we've broken it up into several files including an executive summary, the body of the report, tables, figures (broken out by different sections) and finally appendices. All are attached to the bottom of this post.

Not all Measure 37 claims for large subdivisions are dead. When Measure 49 passed it gave existing Measure 37 claimants three options:

1. The "Express Lane" gives a claimant a right to up to three houses provided that was allowed when the property was purchased;
2. the "Conditional" path gives claimants a right to build up to 10 houses provided they can show that they have actually lost that much money; Or
3. the "Vested Rights" path. If a claimant could show that they had proceeded far enough in the development of their subdivision or other land use that they had obtained a common law vested right to continue that use, then they could keep the rights they received under their Measure 37 claim.

Early reports from DLCD indicate that the vast majority of claimants are choosing the Express Lane – an easy way to get a few extra houses. However, a few claimants who wanted to develop large subdivisions are attempting to assert that they have acquired a vested right.

As we've mentioned in previous posts (here and here) when Governor Kulongoski threatened to veto SB 30 last June, he did so with a promise - that he would task ODF&W, OWRD, and DEQ with addressing causes for concern created by large-scale destination resorts near the Metolius and ask them to evaluate whether or not existing law could address those concerns.

Recently, LandWatch received letters from DEQ and ODF&W via the Governor's office, and just this morning, we received OWRD's letter as well, albeit through unofficial channels. Each is attached to this post below.

Though the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) in a February 11, 2008 decision acknowledged that destination resorts proposed for the Metolius area could have the impact of small cities and ruled that Jefferson County needed to reassess impacts to wildlife, LUBA failed to recognize the need for protection of other natural resources of the Metolius, including its heart, the Headwaters of the Metolius.

On Monday, March 3, Central Oregon LandWatch along with Friends of the Metolius appealed to the Oregon Court of Appeals the LUBA determinations that: