News Updates from the NFH On Cabin Fees

As a result of work by many including those who have contacted their legislators AND our Cabin Associations the Congress will consider a moratorium on the upcoming fee increases related to the most recent appraisals for a year or until such time as they have had a chance to review the issues related to amending/ changing the CUFFA rules. This is by no means certain and only notice by the Forest Service should be considered final, but its not bad news and gives cabin owners hope that their pleas will get a fair hearing.

In order that the Cabin Coalition 2/NFH is properly armed to carry our message to Congress they ask all cabin owners NATIONWIDE to complete a survey. Please follow the link if you are a cabin Permittee ...
NFH Cabin Survey

CUFFA Review Cabin Coalition 2 with OFHA & NFH Links

C2 has been extremely busy this summer working toward obtaining a hearing. No new news yet, but we remain hopeful. Important meetings are taking place in California and Oregon this week and next, with Senator Feinstein's staff and Senator Wyden's staff.

The following week, Sept. 23-25, a key group of C2 representatives will return to Washington D.C. to introduce the C2 fee model proposal to the Forest Service and key politicians.

In tandem, we are working on gaining political support for a moratorium to save cabins in peril this next season when high 2010 permit bills become due.

Click to see added recent newspaper articles to the OFHA web site

In these articles the distinction between a lease and a permit were made to the reporters. It seems the news can't quite distinguish between the two.

Calls and emails with your feedback on the C2 fee model proposal, participating in regional Think Tanks and providing support have all been appreciated. It is gratifying how many Oregon cabin owners are engaged and closely watching the C2 efforts, hoping for a resolution to the current CUFFA appraisal situation.

An update of the activities in Washington, D.C. should be emailed to us in late Sept.

Check out the NFH Blog as it contains the latest NFH information.

The Station Fire in southern California has consumed a number of cabins. A sad end to summer for those folks.

VERY LATE NOTICE of IMPORTANT MEETING affecting Cabin Owners and Camp Sherman Property Owners!

This message is intended as notice for anyone checking this site that might be in Camp Sherman and have an interest in attending an important meeting scheduled by the Jefferson County Commissioners to hear what we guess is a description of some VERY IMPORTANT land use changes they wish to impose on property owners in the Metolius Basin.

We'd have posted this earlier had we known

The meeting is scheduled for 6PM tonight, Sept 2nd, at the Camp Sherman Community Hall.

You may check with the Camp Sherman Store to verify the time has not changed.

PS: After the fact it turns out the Commissioners intended this session as a 'meet and greet' during which they wished to get a flavor of what the Camp Sherman people would like to see in an implementing management plan, following the designation of the Metolius Basin as an "Area of Critical Concern".

More on this meeting in a subsequent article. Check back later.

Clarification on Newsletter Article!

Recently we published the MRFHA August/Sept Newsletter and in it an article entitled "MRFHA Membership Unraveled". Unfortunately the article was NOT factual, misstating the conditions for membership in the Cabin Owners Association and who could vote. What the article SHOULD have said is...



Regular membership includes persons who meet the following conditions: they hold special use permits, or are cabin co-owners and/or are family members of permittees or co-owners . . . and . . . have paid all dues.

Associate members are those who have been designated as such by a majority vote of the board of directors and have paid the annual dues. (Currently there are none)

Other member classes may be determined by the board. (Currently there are none)

MRFHA Bylaws do not allow proxy voting. To have a vote a member must be present when a vote is called. Therefore, by way of an example, a family member, friend or cabin co-owner who is present at a meeting but NOT a member of the association may NOT vote when a vote has been called for.

Having said all this our practice regarding a these issues has always attempted to follow the intent of the by-laws.

Comming Events!

Several Events coming on the river that you won't want to miss include:

1. The pancake breakfast on Sunday the 6th, at th4e Camp Sherman Community Hall.
This year the event is sponsored by the Camp Sherman Historical Society. Hours are 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM.

2. The Camp Sherman Historical Society is sponsoring the showing of a Luther Metke video and an ice cream social on Saturday, August 15 at 6:45 PM at the Community Hall. A 27-minute documentary was produced several years ago about pioneer Camp Sherman log home builder Luther Metke. It was nominated for an Academy Award. The maker of the video will be there to talk about its production and relate stories of working with Luther. A small donation is requested.

Hope you can make one or both!

Eradication of Non-Native Plants

**Feedback Opportunity Ends August 10**

The Forest Service has developed a plan to control existing infestations of invasive plants. A Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) has been issued suggesting three (3) potential courses of action and disclosing the expected environmental consequences of the plan.

The three alternatives analyzed in this DSEIS are:

1. A No-Action Alternative.

2. The Proposed Action, prescribing a combination of herbicides with mechanical, manual, and cultural control methods.

3. An alternative designed in the same manner as the Proposed Action, with an emphasis on reducing the risk of herbicides entering the water.

Comments will be accepted by various means:

Electronically to comments-pacificnorthwest-deschutes@fs.fed.us.  Electronic comments will only be accepted at this e-mail address, and may be part of the e-mail or in an attachment using only Microsoft Word, rich text format, or Adobe PDF.  The subject line must read, Invasive Plant Treatment Project.

 

Phone: 541-383-4769

Fax: 541-383-5531

Written comments may be mailed to:

Deschutes National Forest Headquarters

1001 SW Emkay Drive, Bend, OR 97702.

 

·Please identify the comment with the Invasive Plant Treatment Project.

 

 

For more information, please visit:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/invasiveplant-eis/site-specific/DES/info/DSEIS/

Or, contact Beth Peer at 541-383-4769.

Nothing is more expensive than a missed opportunity

 

'Wood in the Stream'

The Forest Service Fish Biologist, Mike R. confirms the FS intention to place large logs & trees in the Upper River of the Metolius near Riverside Campgrounds this September...'before the Kokanee arrive to spawn'. This effort is part of the fish habitat restoration project in the hope of creating a stronger fishery and making the river more inviting for the return of native fish species long since absent. Much has already been done down stream as part of the project.

We plan to photograph it now in its present state and AFTER, in what the Forest Service calls 'it's more natural state'. We hope to publish those photos so all can judge. We expect they'll do a good job.

The upper river is magnificent in its view towards the headwaters with Black Butte in the distance. We can all hope the new view doesn't suffer.

So What's New With You?

So...what are YOU doing with your 'summer vacation', such as it is? And are you getting to the River anytime soon? We certainly HOPE so. It's been a marvelous summer so far.

And what's happened since we last wrote here? Oh, not much...unless you count:

1. Permits Reissued
2. Lot Appraisals done and new Permit fees set for 2011
3. CUFFA challenges accelerating, in an attempt to make the FAIRNESS part work
4. Metolius Basin protected by an act of (State) Congress as Governor signs law
5. More yard debris picked up (at your driveway) that EVER before at no new cost
6. Trees in Metolius for fish habitat program advances, working its way toward Tract C
7. MRFHA Annual meeting was held, and well attended considering it was on July 4th.
8. Forest Service struggles to adopt workable procedures for Trusts to hold Permits
9. Black Butte, North East Side, lightening fire burns over 550 acres, though only a modest threat to the Basin at any time
10. People return to the River to enjoy and recreate with families and friends

Ok, there was lots more that has happened, but that's a good thumb nail. Check here at this blog regularly to get breaking news updates of consequence to cabin owners on the Metolius.

If you need to know more about any issue listed here, or have a general question about the Metolius and the MRFHA Cabins contact us at info@mrfha.org

*** Danger Danger Will Robinson! ***

Some important news for viewers who raft the Metolius!

Please see the map showing the location of a log that is spanning the Metolius River adjacent to Candle Creek campground and a picture of access from the campground. The water is very swift in this section and the log is not visable until you are almost on top of it. In addition the log is easy to access from the campground side and might be considered an Attractive nuisance.

Michael Riehle, Fishery Biologist, Sisters Ranger District
PO Box 249, Sisters, OR 97759, email: mriehle@fs.fed.us
Phone (541)549-7702