Here's the latest on forests, farmland, and climate
Photo: Dan Meyers
What’s new behind the scenes
Spring has been a busy season for us at LandWatch. We’ve spoken out against a number of applications for development on farmland across Deschutes County, continued the push to protect big trees in Central Oregon, and supported climate-friendly planning statewide.
This week, we want to loop you in on a few updates. With vigilant oversight and advocacy, we’re making some big moves to protect and defend this place we call home.
This week, we want to loop you in on a few updates.
Logging of big trees in the Deschutes National Forest
President Biden's executive order for old growth forests
How Oregon's big trees can fight the climate crisis
An update on last week's hearing over 710 acres of agricultural land
The latest development on the proposed public land sale to Thornburgh Resort
We've filed an appeal to the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners
Supporting healthy forests
Logging along Phil’s Trail: Worthy Garden Club
Big tree logging in Deschutes National Forest
Earlier this month, we were devastated to learn of the commercial logging of some of the biggest trees remaining in the Deschutes National Forest. This logging was discovered along the popular Phil’s Trail System. While we are still uncovering what went wrong, LandWatch is determined to ensure this never happens again in our public forests.
We are excited to share that these efforts are making headway. Last week, Bend City Council voted to unanimously approve a letter to the Deschutes National Forest, asking them to protect the largest trees left in the national forest moving forward.
“ Leaving big trees in place will benefit Bend and, really, the entire planet for centuries to come as these rare big trees continue to increase their capacity to store and capture carbon emissions.”
- Councilor Gena Goodman-Campbell, April 20 council meeting
Trees marked for removal in the Deschutes National Forest: Bradley Parks, OPB
A new Executive Order for Protections on Old-Growth
In the spirit of Earth Day, President Biden signed an executive order last Friday to protect the remaining old-growth trees on federal lands in the Pacific Northwest. This sweeping action sets the stage for systems-level forest conservation that prioritizes wildfire resilience and climate. It includes plans for the first-ever inventory of mature and old-growth forests on federal lands to be completed within the year and establishes consistent definitions for old-growth trees. Defining and tracking our oldest trees is a key step toward conservation efforts.
Restoring the 21-inch rule
Here in Central Oregon, Biden’s executive order gives pivotal support to safeguarding the mature and old growth forests east of the Cascades. As part of a science-based approach to reduce wildfire risk and capture carbon, this executive order is in line with our goals for our wildlands: to protect trees larger than 21-inches in diameter in Central Oregon’s forests.
For decades, the 21-inch rule protected Oregon’s big trees as they grew to transition into old growth forests. Unfortunately, that rule was removed in 2020 by the Trump Administration, and we’re determined to get it back. We are working to reinstate the 21-inch rule of the Eastside Screens, which will limit the logging of trees over 21 inches in diameter on federal land.
Overlooking the neighboring farms at the northwest edge of the Eden property
Protecting Rural Land
Protecting 710 acres in the Lower Bridge Valley
Last week, Deschutes County heard a proposal to remove agricultural land protections on 710-acres near Terrebonne, to rezone the property for rural residential development.
In addition to challenging the application for development, we pushed for public engagement and testimony. The hearing was well attended, and every person who testified opposed the development. Over 160 written comments were submitted protesting the proposal to convert agricultural land to rural residential use.
Along with public input, a joint letter of opposition was submitted by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Land Conservation and Development.
A decision is anticipated late this spring.
A view of Cline Buttes from Redmond
A resounding “no” to public lands for private resort development
In March, the Department of State Lands (DSL) held a hearing to determine whether they would sell 400 acres of public land to the proposed Thornburgh Resort Development. We called on you to weigh in and were overwhelmed by the resounding opposition to the sale. Over 4,000 businesses, groups, and individuals signed on to our community letter of opposition, and thousands of comments were submitted to the public record.
Update: The public comment period has been extended to July 1st!
The Department of State Lands has extended the public comment period to July 1, 2022. That means there is still time to write in.
Many people requested that the DSL’s due diligence information be made public during the hearing. DSL agreed and published information, including various maps, studies, and histories of the property, possibly extending the comment period to allow the public to review this additional information. You can view the additional materials here by clicking on the “Cline Buttes Tract”.
The record is still open for public comment, so we urge you to write in if you haven’t yet. If you have already submitted comments, the DSL notes that you may submit additional comments, which will be added to the record.
Are you writing in? Make sure to include the transaction number for this potential sale: 63509-LS
Update: May 4th Land Use Hearing on Thornburgh Resort’s proposed site plan
The public continues to voice its worry over this water-intensive development in the high desert. Next Wednesday, Deschutes County will hold a public hearing over a site plan review for 70 overnight lodging units at Thornburgh Destination Resort.
This hearing is one of many ongoing appeals over the proposed resort at Cline Buttes, relating to the resort’s compliance with the conditions of original approval that require a demonstration that the resort has the required water permit and will completely mitigate any impact on fish and wildlife resources.
The public is invited to submit written comments or testify on the tentative plans for development during the hearing.
Appeal filed To The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners
On April 19, 2022, LandWatch filed an appeal to the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) over an application related to a proposed sewer project in Tumalo.
The applicant applied for a Land Use Compatibility Statement (LUCS) to expand a sewer system. LandWatch, along with neighbors in Tumalo, argued that this application was a critical public infrastructure project subject to Deschutes County’s public planning process.
LandWatch is appealing the decision to the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners, asking the county to review the issue. The appeal requests designation of this project and like projects as major facilities, given their impact on the Tumalo area, along with adherence to public notice, information, and approval requirements. The BOCC has an opportunity to hear a case of great interest to the greater Tumalo community and give their interpretation of the code as it applies to Deschutes County.
