Deschutes County poised to remove farmland protections
To the Central Oregon community,
Last Thursday, the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met to deliberate over a proposal to remove agricultural land protections on 710 acres near Terrebonne. This proposal would rezone the property from agricultural land to allow for rural residential development.
We were both shocked and disappointed to hear two of the three commissioners supported this contentious re-zone and that Deschutes County is poised to approve this proposal in the coming weeks.
Despite the outpouring of opposition from hundreds of neighbors, farmers, ranchers, and leading experts on wildlife and water, including the Department of Agriculture (ODA), the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), and the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD), Deschutes County is moving forward to convert this land away from agricultural uses and open space.
This vast landscape sits at the very heart of the Lower Bridge Valley. Here, you can find a thriving local food economy and open landscapes that provide important habitat for abundant wildlife. Converting this land for sprawling suburban development could indelibly transform this farming region, adding stressors to working farms and fragmenting essential habitat.
We know the potential harm that development across 710 acres would cause to groundwater levels and wildlife.
Aerial view of the 710-acre area, from the Notice of Appeal
Across Deschutes County, at least sixty residents had to deepen their wells in 2021 alone. The re-zone would allow for the addition of seventy-one exempt wells on this landscape, impacting the aquifer and harming current residents in the area.
The application would threaten local wildlife habitat by fragmenting and developing currently intact habitat areas. Over a year ago, ODFW provided Deschutes County with new scientific data showing the location of essential habitat for mule deer, elk, and bald and golden eagles. The data show that these 710 acres proposed for development are extremely valuable mule deer and elk habitat. With current wildlife populations in stark decline, Deschutes County should protect the most critical habitat that remains, not convert it into sprawl.
Despite these issues that affect us all and the overwhelming public opposition, the Board of Commissioners took an informal vote, with two members supporting the re-zone and one opposing, to approve this development.
When making land use decisions for Central Oregon and Deschutes County, we expect greater regard for the will of the public and the protection of agricultural land and wildlife habitat. We are disappointed by this vote and will evaluate next steps once a final written decision is made in the coming weeks.
Together for Central Oregon’s livable future,
Ben Gordon
Executive Director
McKayla Crump
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