Deschutes County commissioners vote 2-1 again to approve Thornburgh Resort fish, wildlife mitigation plan

(Update: Commissioners weigh in before and after final vote)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Deschutes County commissioners affirmed their 2-1 vote Monday to approve a revised fish and wildlife management plan for the long-debated Thornburgh Resort west of Redmond, with each commissioner again stating why they think it’s the right -- or wrong – thing to do.

Unless a new round of appeals are filed of the sort litigated for nearly 20 years, the decision could move Thornburgh, with parts already under construction, closer to a full opening.

“It’s no surprise to anyone I do not support the decision,” Commissioner Phil Chang said, saying he still favors the hearings officer’s “well-reasoned” concerns with the plan, as well as those raised by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Chang said he believes the plan “does not provide adequate assurance mitigation water will be provided in the right places” to assure no loss of habitat.

Colleague Tony DeBone said he disagreed and that “there appears to be net benefits for fish and habitat” in the revised plan.

He acknowledged the “big-picture” concerns in the area about drought and water supplies, adding: “But water rights are water rights."

Commissioner Patti Adair, who appeared virtually from her office due to a head cold, agreed and in fact repeated DeBone’s words: “Water rights are water rights. It does appear they have their water rights.”

After the vote, Chang weighed in once more on the long-contentious matter.

“You can have water rights,” he said. “They can allow you to take water, they allow you to exchange water. That does not guarantee there will be no net loss of habitat.”

The long-proposed and debated Thornburgh Resort west of Redmond over the years has seen more appeals and litigation than likely any other resort in Oregon history.

The Thornburgh resort master plan, along with a fish and wildlife mitigation plan, were initially approved by Deschutes County way back in 2008. But with a new wildlife mitigation plan being adopted in 2022 over new water concerns, county commissioners had to decide whether the resort follows old guidelines, or new ones.

The Thornburgh Resort has been in the works since 2005. Project developer and resort owner Kameron DeLashmutt told NewsChannel 21 last week, "We're dedicated to making Thornburgh the most environmentally sensitive and ecologically friendly project in the west, if not the United States."

He's wanted to build the Thornburgh Resort, named after his grandparents, for nearly 20 years. But years of litigation, appeals, and opponents of the project have threatened to stop him and derail his vision.

DeBone explained last Wednesday why he voted "yes" on an updated redaction of the Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Plan, despite ODFW and Warm Springs tribal concerns.

"The Deschutes flow and the Crooked (River) coming in and water coming in through the Three Sisters Irrigation District -- they all start to come together, so it's going to help the reaches in there of fish and wildlife habitat," DeBone said.

County commissioners voted 2-1 two weeks ago to give approve the fish and wildlife mitigation plan that would allow the nearly 2,000-acre resort to fill its lakes and reservoirs. A final vote came Monday.

Thornburgh will have to follow new guidelines under the revised plan that reflects water-saving measures.

"We have agreed to not build one (of three) golf courses that was approved," DeLashmutt said, "We've agreed to not build some lakes, and some other water-intensive amenities that were approved (earlier)."

DeBone said, "They're going to get their water rights, and they are going to be able to proceed for the land use that's been authorized."

But this may not be the end of all those appeals.

Opponents of the resort, including Central Oregon LandWatch, say another appeal is likely to the state Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) over several organizations' continued concerns about impacts on the area's water and wildlife.

DeLashmutt says he feels there isn't much more Thornburgh could do to be more eco-friendly.

"For 20 years, we've had opponents that have said, 'You should build less golf and use less water.' Those same opponents, when we agree to build less golf and use less water -- they're still unhappy."

With Central Oregon being a resort hotspot for several decades -- despite criticism by many who don't want more -- DeBone is on board with Thornburgh finally getting to build.

"What makes us different than other places, is destination resorts," he said.

DeLashmutt isn't giving up on his resort after coming this far.

"It's a legacy project for us," he said, "and we've just had an incredible amount of support and advocates and people who have stood alongside us and beside us to help us."

Work is under way on the property, under various earlier approvals on elements of the "luxury community" with a private lake, golf course and the amenities one would expect. A total 950 single-family homes are permitted to be built on the resort, which sits on almost 2,000 acres. If it clears the hurdles, DeLashmutt said they'd like to open the resort by early 2024.