Resort designed for "retro" feel

The proposed Suttle Lake Resort Lodge.

The proposed Suttle Lake Resort renovation -- if approved -- would attempt to bring back Central Oregon recreational experiences of yesteryear.

"One of the goals of the Master Plan is to restore a sense of nostalgia that honors what this place has been to people for many years," said Maret Pajutee. "Keeping that 'sense of place' has been a key theme of our planning discussions with the resort."

Pajutee, who has her own long-time ties to the Sisters region, is a Forest Service ecologist for the Sisters Ranger District and leader of the interdisciplinary team that developed the Suttle Lake Resort Environmental Assessment (EA).

The EA, which incorporated volumes of community and scientific input, took five years to complete and was released for final comment last week.

The Suttle Lake area, which has some of the heaviest public use in the Metolius River watershed, had already been given the ominous status of having an overall "Red Flag Trend."

In other words, the 1996 Metolius Watershed Analysis indicated the urgent need for intervention to prevent further deterioration of resources in the area.

Through cooperation among the resort owners, the Forest Service and many other organizations and private individuals, the proposed Master Plan is designed to not only permit new construction, but to actually enhance those deteriorating environmental conditions at the same time.

"So much of the resort area has been loved to death," said Pajutee. "The native streamside and forest vegetation has been trampled by years of happy campers and fishermen.

"The revegetation work we are requiring the resort to do is critical to build back functioning habitat to protect water quality and improve the scenic quality," she said.

The Master Plan set forth in the EA calls for resort and environmental rehabilitation to go hand in hand -- an example of cooperation and compromise among the competing interests of a burgeoning population and the preservation of nature.

In addition to public and private concerns for the area, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs were also consulted over the project.

The entire Sisters Ranger District -- along with most of north-central Oregon -- lies on lands with protected treaty rights managed in trust for the Tribes.

The ceded lands, under the Treaty of June 25, 1855, cover nearly one sixth of the state. The Treaty provides that the Tribes retain reserved rights for fishing, hunting, gathering and grazing.

The Tribes voiced several concerns over the project, all of which have been addressed by the final version of the EA.

The Tribes' concerns mirror many of those of the public and include long term water quality, safe highway access, habitat restoration and public education.

Potential restoration of salmon runs to the Metolius River and Suttle Lake were also among the factors considered in creating the Master Plan.

Interpretive exhibits, boardwalks and an enhanced trail system are just a few of the features to be constructed that will attempt to limit the considerable human impact to the area.

The single most obvious feature of the Suttle Lake Resort proposal would be the construction of a 10,000-square-foot resort lodge modeled after historic versions, the most recent of which was destroyed by fire in 1974.

The planned lodge is two stories high, so it would actually have a surface "footprint" of 5,000 square feet and occupy the same space as the earlier lodges.

The new lodge would become the central feature of a rejuvenated resort and would include up to 12 hotel-style rental rooms and a two-story great room with a huge stone fireplace.

The Master Plan calls for elimination of camping at the resort. Instead, six "rustic" (no electricity or plumbing) and six full-service cabins are to be installed.

Camping opportunities would continue to be available at three Forest Service campgrounds already located in nearby areas around the lake.

A key feature of these proposed changes is that the resort would be able to expand its base to a year-round operation.

One of the Master Plan's stated goals is to create a resort that is economically viable for the permit holders to operate on a long-term basis. All-season capability would go a long way toward meeting that goal.

Already, Hoodoo Ski Area has shown interest in partnering with the resort for winter ski packages -- an idea revived from the 1940s.

In the words of the EA itself, a "rustic 'Cascadian' forest resort near the lakeshore would evoke memories of the past while providing comforts for the present."

Evoking the past is an attractive vision for those involved in the project.

"It's had golden years," said Pajutee, "when the newspaper articles said it was one of the finest lodges in the northwest forests."

And that's part of the balance that the Forest Service hopes to achieve.

"It was clear from the public comments on the last environmental assessment," Pajutee said, "that people had a clear sense of the scale of development they would like to see here, and for many it closely mirrors what has been here in the past."

One significant change that would be incorporated into the new project is a complete revision of the highway access to the resort.

The existing highway access would be permanently closed and a new one constructed from the primary Suttle Lake access road.

The new access would eliminate an extremely dangerous intersection.

The resort would be connected to the other road by a new bridge across Lake Creek at the site of an existing foot bridge.

The bridge has been designed to minimize environmental impact. For example, bat roosting areas are incorporated into the bridge design. But the bigger goal is enhanced highway safety.

Over the last five years, the Forest Service has made a concerted effort to solicit opinions and input on the project.

However, as the planning phase of the project draws to a conclusion, the Forest Service is providing yet another opportunity for public comment.

Bill Anthony is District Ranger for the Sisters area.

"We consider this a very important decision," said Anthony, "so we want to hear from the public so we can make the best decision possible."

Possible decisions include approval of the proposed plan, approval of a slightly scaled-down version, or no action at all. (No action would kill proposed environmental and safety enhancements).

Those interested may obtain a copy of the EA at the District Ranger's Office.

Written comments must be received by June 1, 2001, and should be addressed to Bill Anthony, District Ranger, c/o Suttle Lake EA, P.O. Box 249, Sisters, OR 97759.

Comments can also be e-mailed to [email protected]