Methow Valley Citizens' Council
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The Valley Voice
News from the Methow Valley Citizens Council
Spring 1997 |
 |
NEWS UPDATE AN UPDATE ON THE PROPOSED ARROWLEAF DEVELOPMENT
As most readers are aware, the Merrill Family and Corporation
propose to build a large housing development and resort complex in Mazama.
The plan calls for more than 700 'dwelling units,' including very
large single family homes on lots that will be sold for $250,000,
condominiums, cabins, caretaker units, employee apartments and rooms
in three resort-hotels. A golf course and clubhouse, a tennis center, an
equestrian center, a heliport, a shopping center, restaurants and a convention
center are included in the deal. The proposed development is known
as "Arrowleaf."
MVCC opposes this development as it is currently envisioned due to the
negative impacts it will have on air and water quality, on instream flows
in the river, on wildlife populations including mule deer, birds, salmon,
and steelhead, and on the human community of the Methow. In September
of 1996 we sent a letter to Merrill explaining our position and asking
them to downsize or sell the property to a conservancy purchaser. MVCC
would prefer subdivision of the property into the 100 to 250 lots allowable
by law to the abuse that Merrill has planned for it. We have never
received a response to this letter.
In May of 1996 MVCC appealed the Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) for Arrowleaf on the grounds that it failed to disclose the true
impacts of the development. In January of 1997 we appealed the shoreline
development permits granted by the county, which would have let Merrill
move 33,000 cubic feet of soil in the 100 year floodplain of the river,
allow chemical fertilizers and herbicides to enter the Methow River, and
otherwise abuse the riparian zone. In February of 1997 the appeals
were combined into one hearing and given to the state Shorelines Hearings
Board to decide. The hearing date was set for June 1997. In March
of 1997 the Department of Ecology (DOE) petitioned to intervene in the
case, listing 18 separate possible violations of state law by Merrill.
Late in March, as a result of this DOE intervention, Merrill withdrew their
shorelines permits, offering to "work with DOE" to redesign the intrusions
into the floodplain. At press time it is not clear what the response
of the Shorelines Hearings Board and the courts will be to Merrill's withdrawal
of their already approved (by the county) shorelines permits.
At this time, Merrill has no shorelines or water permits for the Arrowleaf
development. Their water permits for the Wilson development are under appeal
by the Okanogan Wilderness League. The EIS for the resort is under appeal
by MVCC and very likely will have to be rewritten. MVCC plans to
continue its protection of ecological integrity and community values in
the Methow Valley and invites your financial and moral support.
ONE GREAT DANCE DESERVES ANOTHER
With this update you'll see an invitation to an MVCC fundraiser
dance on April 25th at the Grange in Twisp. This is an encore to our February
dance which featured a variety of bands and singers, great food by Cinnamon
Twisp and other baking wizards, and chances to win Patagonia outdoor wear.
On behalf of MVCC, we wish to thank Salyna Gracie for planning the event
and making the arrangements, Cinnamon Twisp and Patagonia for their donations,
the musicians Bill Davie, Shelley Doty, Timothy Hull, Katya Chorover and
Medicine Show for sharing their time and talents, and everyone else who
baked for, worked at or attended the dance. You made it a great success!
The next dance which will take place during Earth Week will feature
dance music by Medicine Show. Amy Marshall, planner of the event, is looking
for donations of bake sale and raffle items. Call us if you can help (997-2556).
Don't forget! April 25, come celebrate with us.
MORE "GOLD-DARN" NEWS FROM BUCKHORN MOUNTAIN
Conservation groups continue to struggle with Battle Mountain Gold (BMG)
and the US Forest Service to protect clean air and water in the Okanogan
Highlands. A coalition of groups appealed in mid-March the final
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for what could be Washington's first
large-scale, open pit, cyanide-leach gold mine, proposed for Buckhorn Mountain.
Michael Mazzetti, president of the Okanogan Highlands Alliance (OHA) noted
that "The FEIS fails to minimize environmental impacts, ignores public
comments, and contrary to federal law, irresponsibly omits important information."
The Forest Service chose BMG's preferred design, which is one of the most
environmentally damaging (and the most profitable) of the seven alternatives
considered. The EPA recently sent a letter to Sam Gehr, the Forest Supervisor,
expressing profound reservations about the mine as it is currently
planned, and encouraging him to require it to be underground or canceled
altogether. The MVCC Board would like to endorse a statement of opposition
to the proposed mine as it is currently designed. MVCC members are
encouraged to contact the office with their preference on this issue.
AVOIDING THE COUNTY ROADSIDE WEED SPRAYING PROGRAM
Have you noticed all the dead trees left from last year when the county
sprayed along the roadside? A spokesman from the Okanogan County Traffic
& Vegetation Control Department blamed the killing on the inexperienced
employee assigned to do the spraying in 1995. The incident has increased
public awareness of the dangers brought about by the annual spraying of
toxic chemicals along our roadsides. Spraying this year is scheduled to
take place next week, but there’s still time, if you’re willing to manually
control the weeds, to protect your land adjacent to the road. All that
is required is a call to John Baker (422-4610) and the posting of some
no-spraying signs. John will send you a contract detailing your obligations
in controlling the weeds yourself.
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO HELP REDUCE LEGAL COSTS
David Bricklin, the Seattle lawyer who represented the MVCC in our successful
Supreme court challenge of the proposed Early Winters Resort, is leading
us again in our current appeals. He is being assisted by Mazama lawyer,
Chris Moore who is donating all of his legal work. To keep bills as low
as possible, we will be relying on Chris and other volunteers to do as
much of the work as possible on the case.
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