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Methow Valley News July 1, 1999 Endangered Species Coverage Sun Mountain expansion uncertain Water having an economic impact on Methow Valley by Lee Hicks The uncertainty over water issues has already resulted in lost business for Sun Mountain Lodge, the Valley’s largest employer. "We’re already losing business," Sun Mountain board chairman John Barline said last Saturday. Barline said marketing director Rob Thorlakson "tells me that practically not a day goes by without him receiving e-mails asking if we are closed. And if not, when are we going to close." Sun Mountain is faced with a water shortage resulting from a delayed Forest Service permit to divert Wolf Creek into Patterson Lake, the lodge’s water supply. The permit was held up after the National Marine Fisheries Service missed deadlines in responding to Forest Service biological assessments related to endangered fish in the Methow basin. A large family group had planned to rent out all cabins at Patterson Lake below the main lodge, Barline said. But the group "is considering not even coming" now because of the water uncertainty. The group has expressed misgivings as to whether the lodge will be open, if there will be enough water to swim in Patterson Lake and whether there will be potential quality problems with the water. Barline said the lodge has attempted to reassure that group and other guests given the information it has thus far from federal officials. With no water being diverted from Wolf Creek, Patterson Lake is being drawn down to lower levels usually seen much later in the summer. Barline said the lodge plans to "maintain the place and stay open" through the water crisis. The Wolf Creek Reclamation Ditch, to which Sun Mountain belongs, has received a temporary special use permit from the Forest Service, according to district president Nim Titcomb. Titcomb said Monday (June 28) that Patterson Lake had dropped four feet since June 2 and that there would likely be only enough water to last through July. However, Titcomb and Barline said the district has yet to receive so-called "biological opinions" under the Endangered Species Act mandates. These could allow the ditch to build and operate a temporary "trap and haul" operation to return errant fish to Wolf Creek from the diversion. Barline also said a multi-million dollar expansion at the lodge, set to start in September, remains on hold. "We’re in such a state of flux at this time in regards to water that I don’t think we can start in September," Barline said. "Because it’s so unknown, how can I in good conscience recommend to them (the Sun Mountain owners and the Haub family) to spend $6 million more?" The Sun Mountain board was scheduled to meet Monday and Tuesday this week to discuss the expansion and other issues. The Wolf Creek restrictions are also affecting other users, including the Sunny M Ranch, managed by Bud Hover for the Haub family; Hover’s own ranch and the Moccasin Lake Ranch managed by Titcomb. The ditch has also been working with the Forest Service and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to design a long-term fish screen and bypass systems near the ditch headgates. That solution cannot be implemented until some time in the fall when stream flows drop. And NMFS must approve it. The Wolf Creek ditch has filed an appeal with the Portland regional office of the Forest Service alleging that failure to issue a permit this season created a loss of property rights under a "regulatory taking" by the federal government and, in effect, superseded state water rights. A similar argument has been made in a separate appeal by Early Winters and Skyline ditches. Early Winters is the only one of the three now operating. Opinion | Sports |
Local Interest |