Millions of gallons of water for another destination resort?
For decades, LandWatch has been on the frontlines of defense against the negative impacts of destination resorts. These land-intensive developments, which are sited outside of Urban Growth Boundaries, carve up the landscape and take a heavy toll on Central Oregon’s wildlife habitat, water resources, and quality of life.
One such proposed development which LandWatch has been concerned about for nearly a decade is the Thornburgh destination resort. Thornburgh’s plans call for converting 2,400-acres west of Redmond near Eagle Crest (also a destination resort) into 1,000 homes, 475 overnight units, three golf courses, and three man-made lakes.
Impact to our Aquifer
The development proposes to pump 6 million gallons of water per day – more than the city of Ashland uses daily. This water would be pulled from a cold water aquifer that feeds Whychus Creek and the Deschutes River, posing harm to native runs of imperiled bull trout and steelhead.
Pictured: Brasada Ranch, a destination resort near Powell Butte
As we look at the cumulative impact of population growth and explosive development, we are concerned about the effects on fish and wildlife from Thornburgh’s pumping of groundwater, which will reduce instream water volumes and increase water temperatures.
The resort has not demonstrated it can provide the quality
and quantity of mitigation water necessary to
preserve anadromous fish runs in Whychus Creek.
LandWatch recently appealed Deschutes County’s administrative approval of the resort’s site plan because of its failure to comply with Oregon’s statewide land use planning laws and county code to protect the natural resources that belong to all of us.