Oregon Coast Alliance Newsletter
December 2014: Waters, Forests and Public Concerns
Knapp Ranch Golf Course: Water Problems and Hearing Extensions
Elliott State Forest: Choosing A Conservation Solution
Thank You, Thank You!
Knapp Ranch Golf Course: Water Problems and Hearing Extensions  
 
Cape Blanco Lighthouse Just North of Knapp Ranch

  

The Curry County Board of Commissioners recently heard testimony on the revised Knapp Ranch golf course proposal. The hearing was extended so people can write new testimony until December 26, and rebuttal testimony until January 2. The Board of Commissioners will make the final decision on January 7th. Send testimony to Planning Director Dave Pratt: [email protected]

So far the hearings on the revised application have been following the same course as the initial application, as the two are almost exactly the same. But a big new issue for the proposed development has just reared its head: water. The developers have always stated they have water available from the ranch's own water permits. Knapp Ranches, the landowner, had three water permits: a groundwater permit, a reservoir permit, and a surface water permit that allowed them to use the reservoir water. But the Knapps had never perfected these permits by showing "beneficial use" as required by state law, and the deadlines to do so had long passed. Under scrutiny now, the Knapps asked for time extensions on two of the permits.The net result: the Water Resources Department cancelled the groundwater permit, and is going to deny the time extension for the surface water permit. Only the reservoir permit may be approved, if the Knapps can prove beneficial use. In other words, there is no water available for the golf course, unless the family or the developer apply for a new permit to use reservoir water or find another source of water altogether. This is time-consuming, controversial and not at all assured in an area where many streams are over-appropriated and the lower Elk River, with its troubled salmon runs, flows nearby.


Elliott State Forest: Choosing A Conservation Solution   
 
Elliott State Forest - Courtesy Dept. of State Lands

  

At a public meeting in December, the State Land Board decided that the best alternative for the 92,000 acre Elliott State Forest was a conservation solution that would move as much as possible of the Forest into some other public ownership than its current home at the the Dept. of State Lands, managed by the Dept. of Forestry. Many people and organizations brought their concerns to the table, speaking to the need of protecting the Elliott.

Why is this necessary? Much of the Elliott is chained to the Common School Fund, and is constitutionally required to provide revenue for school funding. This has led to unsustainable levels of timber-cutting, which collides with requirements for habitat protection under the federal Endangered Species Act. In order for the Elliott to be managed in a more conservation-oriented way, it must be decoupled from the Common School Fund; but this takes money as well as a change in ownership to a more conservation-minded agency. The Board instructed DSL to begin the process of designing an effective solution to both ownership and decoupling from the Common School Fund. There are several possibilities, ranging from full public ownership to some kind of community forest public-private partnership.

ORCA supports continued full public ownership of the Elliott, by a conservation-minded agency such as the Parks and Recreation Department. Any other semi-conservation solution would be less effective in protecting the approximately 45,000 acres of old growth forest, and managing the needed restoration on thousands of acres of tree plantations. If the Elliott were managed by a public-private consortium, it still would be targeted for timber-cutting to provide revenue, exactly the problem now afflicting it.

DSL will be working on possible options well into 2015, closely watched by an environmental consortium seeking to ensure that Elliott is protected in full, restored where necessary, and maintained as a recreation, clean water and fisheries treasure for future generations.


Thank You, Thank You!  
 
Castle Rock on the North Oregon Coast

  

To all who have generously donated to ORCA in the recent past, we thank you. If others who love the coast are willing to help support keeping it as beautiful as it now is, ORCA would like to hear from you! Our mission is defending the coast from those who seek inappropriate development, and working with coastal residents to protect its resources.

The battles on our 360 or so mile coastline are many and never-ending. Currently ORCA is collaborating with local residents to protect Bayocean Spit from an eco-resort; helping figure out how best to protect Clatsop County wetlands, which have no Countywide protection framework; defending farmland in Curry County from a golf course proposal; safeguarding Bandon State Natural Area from an effort by Bandon Dunes golf resort to take 280 acres of it for a sixth golf course, and many more. Please partner with us to protect our coastal treasures.


Quick Links...

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Go to the ORCA website to make a donation or become a sustaining member. 

Contact Information
Contact Executive Director Cameron La Follette by email
or phone: 503-391-0210
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