Letters to the Editor 03/25/2015

To the Editor:

As a taxpaying member and a lover of the Sisters community, I am dismayed by the negative attention directed towards what generally is thought of as a positive thing - a trail through the woods - in this case, the trail from Sisters to Black Butte Ranch.

While I understand property owners are always concerned about "others" being in or near their neighborhood, (believe me, I've lived in a large city), I'm bemused by the outpouring of what appears to be fear - which clearly comes across as opposition coming from a certain sector of the Sisters community.

I also understand that some people are concerned that taxpayer money has been and may continue to be used to pay for the project and costs associated with the project. But that's what taxpayer dollars are for - to pay for projects that benefit taxpayers.

I'm sorry to see that the Forest Service has abandoned its plans to move forward on this trail, yet I am hopeful that the community will resubmit a proposal. I particularly applaud Deschutes County Commissioner Alan Unger's outreach to Oregon Solutions - an Oregon-based solutions finding group - to form a committee of representatives to look at economic, environmental and community objectives and come to an integrated solution that benefits all.

This takes collaboration and representation from all concerned parties, and eliminates one group from dominating the discussion.

It also assures that all stakeholders will be heard.

I know this and have experienced it because I currently serve on an Oregon Solutions team.

As the representative of a small neighborhood that sits in the center of a huge storm of federal, state, county, regional, city and port concerns, we lived in fear of being overshadowed by lawyered, well-funded public agencies and large businesses (see Columbia River Repair and Accreditation; orsolutions.org/osproject/MCDD).

Yet we were not.

With measured and consistent participation, we were able to voice our concerns, relate the importance of our neighborhood, and state the value of our community in this regional matter.

Individual landowners were also heard; the process makes room for all.

I hope Commissioner Unger is successful in his mission, and that Governor Brown accepts the trail as an Oregon Solutions project. If not, then I hope that the Forest Service, the city of Sisters, the Sisters Trails Alliance and other stakeholders will regroup. It is clear that professionally-led public participation and stakeholder engagement is needed here, as well as an understanding of what the trail will or will not bring to the Sisters community overall, now and in the future.

Karen Kane

•••

To the Editor:

As I look at the wonderful forest around me and marvel in its beauty I am reminded of wise quotes from wise men.

"It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment."

- Ansel Adams

"A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people. "

- Franklin D. Roosevelt

I personally fail to see the value (monetary or otherwise) of destroying our forest. I remain steadfast in being one of the many guardians of the forests and its animals. I will never agree to laying cancerous asphalt in the forest and destroying animal habitat and destroying trees no matter where it is.

If you do not understand the value and beauty of the forest between Sisters and Black Butte Ranch, then take your children or your grandchildren on a walk through this beautiful forest. Then explain to them that someone wants to uproot many mature-growth trees. These trees provide canopies for animals and air for us to breathe.

Then explain to them that they are going to excavate this area so that they can lay 300,000 tons of gravel on it's floor. Then they are going to put 400,000 tons of cancerous, toxic asphalt on top. And then they are going to call it a trail. This is a paved road in the forest not a trail. And then ask them if this sounds like a good idea. An idea that will destroy the home of thousands of animals, birds, frogs, insects, all in the name of "I wanna ride my bike."

My parents taught me that you do no harm to the forest. You leave the forest as if you were never there. That is what I have passed on to my son and to my grandchildren.

Carin Baker