Comment period extended for Upper Deschutes rules change
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department said Thursday it has extended the public comment period on a request from the Bend Park and Recreation District to amend rules for the Upper Deschutes State Scenic Waterway.
The amendment would remove language prohibiting crossings between Mile 171 and 174.6, and instead allow applications for bicycle/pedestrian crossings.
The comment period was originally scheduled to close Oct. 30 . The new deadline is 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20 .
The department said the comment period was extended to give all people interested in the topic enough time to submit opinions.
At an Oct. 28 public hearing in Bend, several neighbors near the proposed footbridge sites said they don’t want a new bridge in their backyard. They said it was not a good location and also would hurt wildlife and native vegetation.
State parks spokesman Chris Havel said Thursday they don’t expect to take the matter back to the Parks and Recreation Commission until next February at the earliest.
Havel said if the agency proceeds with a rule revision, they “have to consult a multi-agency group who signed off on the original river plan in 1996.”
Materials from the Bend hearing are online at http://bit.ly/deschutes-scenic. Audio from the meeting is online at http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/docs/deschutes-sww-hearing-20151028-edited.mp3
Public comment will be accepted until Nov. 20 in writing to OPRD, ATTN: Deschutes Rulemaking, 725 Summer St. NE Suite C, Salem OR 97301, or by email to oprd.publiccomment@oregon.gov . All comments must be received by 5 p.m. on Nov. 20.
