Establishing a trail connection between Bend and Sunriver is an exciting and complex concept. There are a variety of options for how this could be done, each with advantages and disadvantages. Currently you can already hike or bike the whole route, with some parts of the route on dirt roads. Other new alternatives include linking trails that the Forest Service and ODOT are working on. The key is to find a route that minimizes impacts to wildlife and the protects the health of the river. One concerning proposal would build a bridge and increase development along a stretch of the Deschutes River just south of Bend.
The debate over a bridge on the Deschutes River has a fair amount of history. Below are some of the relevant dates for context.
- 1987 – The Oregon Legislature protects portions of the upper Deschutes River as a State Scenic Waterway.
- 1988 – Oregon voters approve Measure 7 protecting an additional stretch of the upper Deschutes State Scenic Waterway.
- 1988 – Congress protects this stretch of the upper Deschutes as a Wild and Scenic River.
- 1996 – A management plan for this stretch of the upper Deschutes State Scenic Waterway was finalized with input and support from agencies, Tribes, irrigation districts, and local governments.
- 2015 – Bend Parks and Recreation requests Oregon State Parks Commission amend rules to allow for a bridge. State Parks begins a thorough public process including multiple public meetings and comments.
- 2016 – February: Oregon State Parks Commission concludes public process and decides not to weaken the bridge rules.
- 2016 – December: Oregon State Parks again starts a second public process to vet the potential of weakening the bridge rules. This includes hiring an outside facilitator, public open houses, and a stakeholder group that meets for several months.
- 2017 – State Parks decides, based on their public process, to not open or weaken the bridge rules for a second time.
- 2017 – HB 2027 is introduced in the legislature to change the no bridge rule to a statute. The bill passes the House but not the Senate.
- 2018 – HB 4029 is introduced. This would upgrade the no bridge rule to a statute. It would also encourage various agencies to work to find an alternative route connecting Bend to Sunriver by trail, bypassing this stretch of river and sensitive wildlife areas. Despite broad bipartisan support the bill ran out of time in the short session of the legislature.
- 2018 – A facilitated stakeholder group was convened to see if consensus could be reached. The conclusion of this process resulted in Bend Parks and Rec Board resolution (No. 419, February 2019) removing the bridge from their 5 and 10 year plans and no new legislation has been introduced since.
- 2019/20+ – City of Bend Transportation plan is considering a southern crossing bridge (including for vehicles) that would not be in the contested location but several miles downstream. Timeline is likely more than several years out and not without funding and logistical hurdles.
