A Call to Action

Action Alert! Join us at the Circuit Court

On August 3rd at 8:30am the Judge will decide whether to undo the 2002 original land trade between Hood River County and Meadows. In this trade, Hood River County gained 786 acres more or less of forest land from Meadows and gave 640 acres more or less of public lands in the Crystal Springs Watershed to Meadows along with over a million dollars. In a separate process, the County made those public lands that went to Meadows newly eligible for a massive 450-unit destination resort.

Where: Hood River County Circuit Court - 309 State St - Courtroom 1

When: 8:30am

Please come and show your support at the Circuit Court! The more people in the courthouse the better. We will set up a coffee station outside the courthouse at 8:00am. Come early and chat before we all find our seats for the proceedings.

Background:

Back in 2002, Thrive Hood River paused this court case about the original land trade and entered into mediation with Hood River County and Meadows. Thrive hoped to find a deal that was economically viable for Meadows while still maintaining our wild spaces, farmland, forests, and livability of the valley through Oregon's land use codes. This mediation resulted in a deal signed by Thrive, Meadows, and the County, in which the parties agreed to the permanent protection of the North slope of Mt. Hood through a land trade: "The Clean Sweep". While extremely excited about the "Clean Sweep" as a mutually agreeable solution, we kept this original court case open as a backup in case the land trade was undermined.

Two decades later, Meadows is backing out of the "clean sweep" land trade deal. They asked the Judge to dismiss our 2002 court case about the original land trade. Fortunately, Circuit Court Judge John A. Olson ruled in Thrive's favor that our case was legitimate. This ruling allowed our case to continue forward and will now be decided upon at the Circuit Court Hearing on August 3rd.

For two decades, Thrive stood by its word to enact the "clean sweep" land trade. Now, because of Meadow's decision to pursue options not outlined in our mediated deal, protecting Mount Hood's North Side means resuming our challenge of the original 2002 land trade. 

Oregon's Senate Bill 100 turns 50

As we mentioned in our January newsletter, Senate Bill 100 was signed into law on May 29th, 1973, which makes 2023 the 50th Anniversary of Oregon's land use planing program!

DLCD (Department of Land Conservation and Development) has created a fun 50th Anniversary Storymap that features quotes about Senate Bill 100 from a variety of people across the state. Number seven on the storymap features Jennifer Euwer from Hood River County!

Save the Date

Our annual H is for Harvest date is set!

Please mark your calendars to come join us at The Ruins on October 27th in the evening.

This year’s event will consist of a week-long virtual auction from October 20th-27th, and an in-person celebration on October 27th at The Ruins. The auction will feature local experiences, art, food, wine and much more to showcase our beautiful valley.   

Protecting Hood River’s farmland, forests, wild places and the livability of its cities and rural communities since 1977.

Thrive Hood River

www.thrivehoodriver.org