Metolius River plan appealed

A part-time Camp Sherman resident has appealed the Forest Service's Wild and Scenic River Plan for the Metolius River.

Irwin Holzman objects to plans to close Road 700, which runs by a particularly scenic stretch of river. The purpose of the proposed closure is to eliminate harm to the river caused mostly by erosion.

Holzman's family has had a home in Camp Sherman since 1944.

"What they are doing is impractical," he said. "They designate the Metolius a 'scenic river' and then prevent a large segment of the population from seeing it."

Holzman fears handicapped and elderly people will not be able to view the river from the existing substitute road. Holzman maintains that there are few places from which people in cars can view the river.

"If you drive from the Head to Bridge 99, by blocking this 400-yard area, that's 50 percent of the viewable river," he said.

Holzman suggested creating a road 20 feet to the east.

Rod Bonacker of the Sisters Ranger District responded:

"The Forest Service is under clear direction from the President's Northwest Forest Plan not to build new roads in riparian reserves," Bonacker said. "There already are two roads servicing this area."

He said that building an additional road would interfere with an area that drains the upper hillside and is rare plant habitat.

Bonacker questioned whether drivers would even have a good view of the river from 20 feet away. He also noted that people can view the Metolius from cars at various other locations along the river.

The regional forester in Portland will review the appeal.