Greenprint Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Greenprint?
Why do a Greenprint for Deschutes County?
Why Now?
Is the Greenprint part of Deschutes County's planning effort?
Does the Greenprint deal with existing public lands?
What kind of land is the Greenprint looking at?
How can the Greenprint help fund land conservation?
Who is involved with the Greenprint?
What is a Greenprint?
The Greenprint is a voluntary approach for conservation that engages the community in developing the priorities for land conservation and recreation opportunities. These priorities ecisions are based on interactive maps that highlight key opportunities to protect important scenic views, enhance wildlife habitat and create new trail connections--as identified by the local people who use them.
This plan will help guide future conservation investments in parks, trails and wildlife habitat, in order to protect and enhance these important resources and our quality of life.
Why do a Greenprint for Deschutes County?
More than most, our county's prosperity is directly tied to the local quality of life. People and new businesses are drawn here because of our scenery, recreation opportunities, and abundant wildlife. Through the Greenprint, we can ensure future conservation investments in Deschutes County will benefit the local economy, by improving access to existing public lands and rivers, creating new, close to home recreational opportunities or protecting the most important wildlife habitat, and scenic views. Ultimately we believe that by enhancing the local quality of life through conservation purchases, we create the conditions that will pay off in the future with jobs and investments.
Why Now?
The current recession is an important time for the community to think about what we can do to maintain and hopefully enhance our competitive advantage, ensuring that people continue to find Deschutes County a desirable place to live, relocate a business to, and invest in. Right now is also the most cost-effective time to invest in land and water conservation. Thinking ahead is the only way we can make sure our community continues to be such a great place to live and work.
Is the Greenprint part of Deschutes County's planning effort?
No. The Greenprint is a non-governmental approach to land conservation for habitat and recreation. The Greenprint process is led by several non-profit organizations including the Deschutes Land Trust, as well as local park districts and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The Greenprint is intended to guide investment, not regulation.
Does the Greenprint deal with existing public lands?
No, not directly. The Greenprint is designed to allow the community to identify important private lands that the Deschutes Land Trust and others should look to acquire for the community, should those lands become available. Many of the properties may surround or be adjacent to existing puiblic land that could provide new access or a greater degree of wildlife habitat protection. However, the Greenprint is not intended to guide the management of exisiting public lands.
What kind of land is the Greenprint looking at?
That's where we need your help. Do you know of a property that could someday provide new access to the river or connect two existing trail systems? Is there important wildlife habitat or a migration corridor we should consider? Are you interested in the opportunities that projects like Skyline Forest present for recreation, wildlife, and your scenic view? Remember, this is your chance to tell us what's important to your quality of life. Take the survey today!
How can the Greenprint help fund land conservation?
The Greenprint is an essential component of any strategy for accessing existing funds and securing new public and private funds. Having a collaborative process and regional vision for land conservation and recreation strengthens the collective efforts of all the organizations involved and makes our local proposals--like those to protect Skyline Forest--more competitive on a regional and national level. Simply stated, the community’s vision will be more compelling than that of any single organization.
Who is involved with the Greenprint?
Lead partners include: Deschutes Land Trust, Bend Park and Recreation District, and the Trust for Public Land. Other supporting partners include: City of Bend, City of LaPine, City of Redmond, City of Sisters, Oregon Parks & Recreation Department, Redmond Area Park & Recreation District, Sisters Park & Recreation District, and Deschutes County.
For more information, contact Brad Chalfant, executive director of the Deschutes Land Trust.
