Sunriver appears to be winning the battle of the bugs as mountain pine beetle and pine needle scale seem to be on the downward slide.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE Nature Center ............... 8 Calendar ..................... 13 SROA Board................ 26
Public Safety ............... 34 Commentary ............... 46 Classified .................... 47
The Deschutes Land Trust shares the best places to see the season’s leafy tree color changes hiking, driving or fishing
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S U N R I V E R
S C E N E A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE SUNRIVER OWNERS ASSOCIATION
OCTOBER • 2014
VOLUME XL • NUMBER 10
Tentative water rate agreement reached
By Brooke Snavely On Sept. 20, the Sunriver Owners Association Board of Directors adopted a resolution approving the essential terms of a proposed settlement to resolve Sunriver Water LLC’s rate proceeding before the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC). The essential terms were previously approved by Sunriver Water LLC and PUC staff. The board’s Sept. 20 resolution is contingent on the settlement being reduced to a written stipulation that is agreeable to SROA. If the proposed settlement receives final approval from all parties and is approved by PUC administrative law judge Michael Grant, water rates would increase by less than 10 percent as opposed to the more than 26 percent increase proposed by Sunriver Water in its February 2014 rate application submitted to the PUC. The new rates would take effect Jan. 1, 2015. Water storage expansion The rate increase would be primarily dedicated to funding the proposed addition of a 1.25 million gallon reservoir near Lake Penhollow to the company’s current 2.0 million gallon storage capacity. The tank is intended to provide emergency storage for fire protection Turn to Water, page 3
Oregon spotted frog now protected under ‘threatened’ status
With the help of Sunriver residents Jim and Jo Bergmann, and Jerry and Sharon Church from Eagle Crest, we prepared a home-cooked spaghetti dinner for the athletes and coaches. We also worked with SROA and hosted a reception at SHARC — with some 40 OSU alums and track fans from throughout Central Oregon. In 1988, OSU made the decision to eliminate both the men’s and women’s track and cross country programs.
On Aug. 28, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced its decision to extend protection to the Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The species will be protected throughout its range, which extends from southwestern British Columbia through the Willamette Valley, and in the Cascades Range from south-central Washington to the Klamath Basin in Oregon. Oregon spotted frogs may be extinct in California and the Willamette Valley of Oregon. “This unique and highly aquatic frog was once common in the Pacific Northwest and its decline signals degradation in the health of natural areas that provide for people as well as fish and wildlife,” said Tom McDowell, the service’s Washington Fish and Wildlife office acting supervisor. “Our ongoing work with partners to conserve and restore Oregon spotted frog habitat means improvements to our land and water that will benefit many other species and provide for a healthy environment for future generations.” The frog is found in pockets of slower-moving waterways throughout Central Oregon. Approximately 219 acres of habitat lies within Sunriver’s boundaries and is home to the second largest population of spotted frogs in Deschutes County. It is unlikely that owners will be directly affected by the frog’s protected status. “Private landowners won’t be impacted unless they are trying to make
Turn to Team, page 5
Turn to Frog, page 9
Lava River Cave was closed early to start work on needed improvements, including the replacement the old metal staircase into the cave.
Lava River Cave entry, stairs being upgraded Lava River Cave closed three weeks ahead of schedule on Sept. 8 for repairs and replacement of the stair system leading into the mouth of the cave. The cave usually closes for the season Sept. 30. Segments of the walkway will be rerouted to avoid rock outcroppings and will be widened to allow visitors to
walk in both directions. The stairs and walkway farther inside the cave will not be replaced during this project. Repairing and improving all infrastructure inside the cave is part of the U.S. Forest Service’s long-term goals. Turn to Cave, page 3
Sunriver play host the OSU women’s cross country team By John Salzer For two weeks in September, folks in Sunriver kept seeing a group of women jogging, sprinting, and exercising throughout Sunriver. Who were they and what were they doing? It was the Oregon State University Women’s crosscountry team. They came to Sunriver to get in shape before school started and do some team building. I was a former runner at OSU myself and when we found out the ladies were coming, my wife Linda and I wanted to give them a nice Sunriver welcome. SUNRIVER SCENE SUNRIVER OWNERS ASSN. VOLUME XL • NUMBER 10 P.O. BOX 3278 SUNRIVER, OR 97707
PRSRT STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID BEND, OR PERMIT NO. 213