In the 15+ years that Central Oregonians have been hearing about the development of Thornburgh Resort near Cline Buttes, much has been said, much debated. Parts of the story seem like a done deal.
As was outlined in an enlightening piece by OPB this week, to ensure Thornburgh gets the approximately 6 million daily gallons of water it’s estimated it will need for three golf courses, multiple lakes and homes that start at over 3,000 square feet, the resort has already purchased a portion of the rights from Brooks Resources’ Tree Farm development. The Tree Farm is a high-end development on the west side of Bend where its large homes didn’t need their water for the original intended purpose: farming. When a wealthy homeowner doesn’t need their irrigation water right, they’re within their rights under Oregon’s archaic water allotment rules to sell it regardless of its original intended use. But that’s just part of the story.
Currently, the Department of State Lands is trying to determine whether to sell some 400 acres of land at Cline Buttes to Thornburgh to help the resort expand. When the state sells lands like this, the money goes into the Common School Fund, where it’s shared among Oregon’s public schools. For the loss of the precious resources that come with that land, the thought is, at least the kids get something, right?
But as some watchdogs, including Nunzie Gould and Central Oregon LandWatch have pointed out, in this case, the shorter-term gains may not be worth what is lost. A swath of 400 acres of undeveloped land that serves as a refuge for wildlife and a recreation point for the public between Redmond and Bend would instead become the private playground of a destination resort—albeit with a few assumed “easement” points for ATVs, pedestrians and equestrians.
What’s more, as LandWatch noted, the land’s estimated value of roughly $912,000 is not much, compared to the $2.2 billion already in the Common School Fund, which generates investment revenue each year.
“This $912,000 from the potential land sale is nominal when compared to the overall Common School Fund (which distributes less than 4% annually). With the one-time monetary benefit to the Common School Fund, it is our firm belief that this land should remain public, given the widespread concern over public access and natural resources,” LandWatch argued.
The third party that conducted an appraisal of the Cline Buttes tract—six tax lots in total found that the “highest and best use”—a criteria the DSL must factor into its decision—to be:
“…the highest and best use of tax lots 5101, 5102, 5103, 5104, and 5200 is as an unbuildable recreational resource with limited seasonal access. Although tax lot 5300 has similar site characteristics, the appraisal indicated the highest and best use for tax lot 5300 is as an unbuildable recreational resource and potentially as a privacy buffer for adjoining lots located within Eagle Crest.”
Many have already weighed in with the Department of State Lands about their opposition to this sale. The DSL is expected to make its decision Aug. 9—but before that, it still has an open comment period, open through July 29. People can submit a comment online, using the transaction number: 63509-LS for the Cline Buttes Tract.
It’s going to seem like a win if the state decides not to sell the Cline Buttes land—and it will be. But in the grand scheme of things, Central Oregon’s groundwater and surface water resources are still in big trouble. In the long term, we hope for a day when water resources are treated with more conservation in mind. In the short term, shutting down this sale is a battle for the preservation of public resources and wild lands that can be won right now.
This article appears in Jul 27, 2022 – Aug 2, 2023.
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Billionaires now own the water. Bill Gates just bought 2100 acres of prime farmland in North Dakota. I wonder what water tights came with that purchase? The peons will be begging for water from the overlords within 20 years. I’ll be scattered to the winds by then, but I feel very sad for upcoming generations in Deschutes County, and throughout the US (and globally, of course). We are so short-sighted.
I don’t understand why conservation of water resources during an epic ongoing drought is not a major consideration in approval – or not- of development like these.
We are beginning to feel like Arizona sucking up the Colorado River.
It would not suprise me if the developers will ask for tax breaks when it comes to time for that stage of the “gimme” part of developing
One has to wonder whose pockets are being lined if this sale goes through. Agree, as stated by others, that water needs to be properly assessed (via thermal imaging) before any more development takes place. A building moratorium must happen to make sure we don’t build and develop ourselves into a ghost town amidst a dust bowl.
Independent of the land sale, I hate the thought that “it’s too late, it’s already approved”, when it comes to them having “procured” “rights” to water that really isn’t there, and that this boondoggle proceeds as planned. I can’t think of an analogy that mirrors the stupidity of this.
Absolutely not! The Thornburgh resort would use 6 millions gallons !! Water is not an unlimited resource and with wells going dry, irrigation pipping, aquifer reduction, increased density, oh and let’s not forget the on going drought. Our community does not need or have the resources to support more golf courses and hundreds of high end homes, aka mega resort. It’s the local folks that suffer when they have to pony up $40k to dig a new or deeper well, because big money has influenced the decisions makers. The water rights process and use needs a complete overhaul, the system is old, going back to 1909. Why do we lack the forethought to update these practices? Yet, we update systems that bring conveniences into our lifestyle.
If our children and their children are to call Central Oregon, we need to keep the water local to residents and not mega money resort owners. No to Thorneburg, resorts and revamp water rights!
It’s important to remember that the citizens of the state of Oregon own all the water, not developers, not ranchers, not investors. The water in the Deschutes Basin is over allocated and trading/marketing of “rights” will make it worse, not better, as the resource will go to the highest bidder rather than where it will be most beneficial.