Road issue clouds Metolius River plan

The Sisters Ranger District will proceed with road-closing plans along the Metolius River, but at least one Camp Sherman resident is voicing his opposition to the project.

The U.S. Forest Service issued its Record of Decision (ROD) in May, 1997, for the Metolius Wild and Scenic River Management Plan. Forest Service plans include closing certain roads to reduce water quality impact and wildlife disturbance and to enhance wildlife habitat.

One of the sections proposed for closure was a 1.5-mile stretch of Forest Road 1419-700, or "Road 700," from the Tract C bridge to Tract E, east of the river and just south of Camp Sherman.

Camp Sherman homeowner Irwin Holzman appealed the Metolius River plan, citing the elimination of scenic view access along Road 700 as the primary reason for his appeal. He owns a private home at the north end of Tract C on Lake Creek.

"What they propose to do is eliminate about 70 percent of the viewable river from tourists in cars," Holzman said. "They want to designate a scenic river and preclude a large portion of people from ever seeing it and enjoying it."

According to Sisters Ranger District Environmental Coordinator Rod Bonacker, a significant portion of Road 700 shares a bank with the Metolius River. While Bonacker says this is "not highly significant," he admits that having a road share the river bank is not ideal for river habitat.

Bonacker also said that continued use of and improved access to Road 800, which parallels Road 700 approximately a quarter of a mile from the river, would better protect the stream from the effects of runoff and erosion.

Holzman said the Forest Service has no basis for their claims, and he proposed an alternative solution in his appeal.

"What I found out is they have absolutely no studies that there's any harm done (along Road 700)," said Holzman. "Even if that stuff does run into the river it doesn't pollute it. You always have runoff.

"They're wasting our money," he continued. "They're doing away with 70 percent of the usable area and they have no studies to back it."

Rather than increasing the use of Road 800, Holzman says a "more practical and less costly solution" would be to move Road 700 10 to 20 feet east, away from the river.

"They aren't maintaining the 800 road now," Holzman said. "Road 700 is maintained by Jefferson County and they do an adequate job of it. The 800 road is a perfect example of (the Forest Service's) lack of maintenance."

According to Bonacker, the Forest Service gave Holzman a fair chance to show support for his alternative proposal.

"As part of the appeals process (Deschutes National Forest Supervisor) Sally Collins met with Mr. Holzman to see if anything could be negotiated," Bonacker said. "He made his case and we said that if he can show overwhelming support we'll do it."

Holzman took them up on their suggestion and sent an informal survey to the 61 homeowners most likely to use Road 700, including himself.

"I sent out a ballot," Holzman said. "And better than two-to-one, they said 'leave it the way it is.'"

According to the survey tally submitted by Holzman, 41 out of the 61 homeowners surveyed submitted their responses, and only 26 of those supported leaving Road 700 open.

Bonacker says this wasn't the overwhelming support the Forest Service was looking for.

"We didn't document in writing what overwhelming support was, but the bottom line is out of 61, 26 said leave it open. The others either didn't respond or said 'close it.'"

Since no other decision on Road 700 has been issued by Collins, the ROD stands. It states that, "A portion of Road 1419-700 will be obliterated and the remainder will be used as a high standard, pedestrian and bicycle trail."