Help save the Canopy Trail!
Dear Friend of Deschutes South Canyon:
We need your help to urge Bend Park & Recreation District (BPRD) and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) to preserve the Canopy Trail in the Deschutes South Canyon (aka COID property).
As previously reported, we discovered that as part of COID’s (Central Oregon Irrigation District) license with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to operate the Siphon Power Plant, COID was required to establish and maintain the Canopy Trail as a recreational trail. The Canopy Trail includes the trailhead on Brookswood Boulevard and the tree-lined foot path that connects to the trail leading to the Deschutes River Trail.
Save Bend Green Space made a filing with FERC alerting the agency that COID intends to sell the parcel that contains the Canopy Trail. FERC has informed COID that it must amend its license agreement to be able to do this and must get input from BPRD and OPRD on the proposed change of the Canopy Trail from a recreational trail to a mere public easement. FYI – an easement could be a narrow paved walkway between houses or fences without the trees, canal and habitat that currently exist on the Canopy Trail.
Please email BPRD and OPRD TODAY to urge them to protect the Canopy Trail!
COID has until the end of June to get input from the parks departments, but please send your email by Wednesday, June 21 to have the greatest impact.
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Suggested points to make in your email:
Why you oppose allowing COID to abandon the Canopy Trail:
o The Canopy Trail offers a safe and popular connection to the Deschutes River and the Deschutes River Trail (feel free to include details on how you use this trail for strolling, dog walking, biking, bird watching, etc.).
o The Canopy Trail provides habitat to many species of birds, mammals, amphibians and pollinators.
o The Canopy Trail was established as a public benefit necessary for COID to receive its license to operate the Siphon Power Plant; COID should not be allowed to take away this benefit to the community.
Changing the Canopy Trail to an easement is not acceptable unless:
o The easement preserves the full recreational value of the Canopy Trail and clearly establishes that mature trees, canal and soft foot path will be retained.
o The easement must be tied to the property and will remain in effect if and when the property is sold.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requires COID to get the parks departments’ input on changes to the Canopy Trail.
o Please use your authority to advocate for the preservation of the Canopy Trail consistent with the original intent of COID’s license agreement.
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Please send your email to the following contacts by Wednesday, June 21:
BEND PARK AND REC DISTRICT, Board of Directors and Executive Director:
board@bendparksandrec.org, Dschoen@bendparksandrec.org, Nhovekamp@bendparksandrec.org, DOwens@bendparksandrec.org, Zborja@bendparksandrec.org, JBarram@bendparksandrec.org, Don@bendparksandrec.org
OREGON PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT, Chris Havel, Associate Director:
CORRECTED EMAIL ADDRESS: chris.havel@oregon.gov
(Please send this email separately from any sent to BPRD.)
Note: If you would like to share your email with SBGS, you can also send it to: SaveBendGreenSpace@gmail.com
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If you have questions about this issue, please email us at savebendgreenspace@gmail.com.
Thank you for your continued support of the Deschutes South Canyon trails, trees and habitat!
Sincerely,
Save Bend Green Space