HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-08-24 C. Delmonico - Email re Public Comments1
Chenelle Hale
From:Carol Delmonico <cae.delmonico@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, August 24, 2021 5:32 PM
To:William Groves
Cc:CDD Planning
Subject:Public comment for August 24th Remand Hearing for LUBA No, 2018-140
[EXTERNAL EMAIL]
Deschutes County Board of Commissioners,
I am opposed to Deschutes County allowing any further development of Thornburgh Resort until
the resort demonstrates it complies with the county code requirements for full mitigation of the
effects on fish and wildlife.
I am worried about the effect of such large water withdrawals on fish and wildlife. For instance,
species of trout and Steelhead are already struggling to survive due to current water shortages.
Lower water flows mean that streams and waterways quickly heat up to lethal levels for fish, and
there is reduced access to spawning grounds. Removing more water from streams and rivers will
threaten native species across Central Oregon.
Deschutes County Code requires destination resorts to prove that "any negative impact on fish
and wildlife resources will be completely mitigated so that there is no net loss or net degradation
of the resource." DCC 18.113.070(D). There is little doubt that removing immense amounts of
water from the Deschutes River, Whychus Creek, and the aquifer will hurt fish and wildlife
water resources.
The Thornburgh Resort reached an agreement over water use with the Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) in 2008. The resort claimed it would rely on certain cold water
sources. It appears that those water sources may no longer be available. To protect fish and
wildlife, the County requires the resort to either: 1) demonstrate that the terms of the original fish
and wildlife mitigation plan are still in place, or 2) if the water sources have changed, the County
must require the resort to reach a new agreement with ODFW to show that any negative impact
on fish and wildlife resources from the new water sources will be completed mitigated.
If the water sources have changed, the public should have the right to participate in the process
of reaching a new agreement with ODFW to ensure full mitigation of the effects on fish and
wildlife.
Please vote to suspend further development of Thornbough Resort until the mitigating water
sources have been revealed and considered by the public, validity assessed and a new agreement
with ODFW has been reached. Please take this action to ensure the livability of Central Oregon
for all of it’s inhabitants.
Thank you,
Carol Delmonico
2640 NE Daggett Lane
2
Bend OR 97701
Carol Delmonico, RN, Mentor, Coach
And Co-Creator of the Wonder upRising Guidebooks
541-385-7437 cae.delmonico@gmail.com
I use the pronouns she, her, and hers
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