Another threat to the Central Oregon Ecosystem

[Draketake]

Hello all,

Heres yet another threat to the beauty and uniqueness, of the Central Oregon Ecosystem. This is a large scale endeavor. Appears the biggest worry is that the healthy state of the HUGE, Skyline Forest, just West of Bend, will be sold to the highest bidder, who may turn it into another "Yellowstone Club -Big Sky, Montana), type of Development. I lived in that area when the Yellowstone Club came to be. If your Mega Rich its a great thing as you have your own private playground. If you are a working class schlep like most of us, then you become shut out of the Forest.

Its a very complicated issue, as this property has been in various hands over the years. Please take a minute and become educated on the pros and cons. If it moves you, please participate in protecting Skyline Forest.

Join the Movement | Save Skyline Forest

Take Action to Save Skyline Forest

saveskylineforest.centraloregonlandwatch.org

Thank You.

Bob

 

[dirty dog]

I have heard some stories about the Yellowstone Club that I will not repeat in print.
Not very pretty stories.
O ya I joined

 

[Anonymous member 148]

Quick read, it's private land that past owners have been gracious to grant access unless fire risk etc. It's private land. Either raise the money to buy it or it can be sold. Sorry, Bend folks might lose a bit of playground. Been dealing with this in western Oregon a while with getting locked out of timber land access. Don't know what signing a petition will do??

 

[Divad]

When I worked at Yellowstone Club I really enjoyed skiing that ridge, nobody on the lifts, it was a nice perk.

But I hope this doesn’t succeed.

 

[Canuck from Kansas]

The property is historically a tree farm - it's up for sale for some 90 million. Folks should be aware it is zoned for industrial use.

Bull Springs Skyline Forest

Bull Springs Skyline Forest Oregon timberland for sale sustainable timber management, abundant recreation in combination with conservation and development land.

www.ranchland.com

It will likely end up as residential development, that's where the money is.

Cheers

 

[headduck]

Enough people on the petition to raise 95 mil... or maybe less... it did drop from 127?

Prolly slim chance OR or the feds will purchase and conserve... kinda their jam. (Or should be)

 

[Anonymous member 148]

If each resident of Bend chips in $950 its all theirs.

 

[Dustin Chromers]

Enough people on the petition to raise 95 mil... or maybe less... it did drop from 127?

Prolly slim chance OR or the feds will purchase and conserve... kinda their jam. (Or should be)

Petition signers rarely offer up their own resources. It's easy to sign a change.org but actually contributing.. Way too much. Feels better just to sign and share you signed on Facebook.

 

[Salmo_g]

So it's been a tree farm with public access allowed. Most tree farms in WA have now become pay to enter resources, despite receiving tax breaks that formerly included public access as a condition. But that's a different story. Not sure what OR requires, but Canuck's post makes it sound like the parcel is destined for residential development. It's going to take more than a petition to save it for public use. Maybe the state should buy it if its public use value is high enough.

 

[headduck]

If each resident of Bend chips in $950 its all theirs.

Honestly... not that much and some could probably afford to float those who are on the margin...

 

[Anonymous member 148]

Honestly... not that much and some could probably afford to float those who are on the margin...

If you think about it... how much of a property tax levy would that be spread over 10-15 years? I always vote no on levys but bend would probably pass it.

 

[headduck]

If you think about it... how much of a property tax levy would that be spread over 10-15 years? I always vote no on levys but bend would probably pass it.

Seems like we sorted this one.

 

[Draketake]

Central Oregon Landwatch is spearheading this to attempt and figure out a possible acquistion and or agreement, for shared use. A purchase of this magnitude usually entails a Federal Entitiy i.e. the Forest Service, U.S. Park Service or BLM to be the buyer. There have been times whereby the likes of the Nature Conservancy, Deschutes Basin Land Trust, Trout Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation etc. etc. etc. has worked together to acquire key habitat.

IIRC, at one point in time, China or another Far Eastern Country owned this exact parcel. Truthfully, its been at the whim of the owner to not Develop. Central Oregon Landwatch is just now taking the first steps in the process to try and sort out the purchasing/protection issues. Give them your support if it moves you.

Be safe.

Bob