Redmond, OR (January 29, 2024) — Thornburgh Resort, a 2,400-acre resort community in Redmond, Oregon, reaffirms its commitment to preserving the well-being of the second largest watershed in Oregon, the Deschutes River Basin.

As a community, Thornburgh has made a multi-generational commitment to preserving the health of the natural landscape, as well as the rivers and aquifers that maintain life in the region, by scaling back several previously approved aspects of the development, resulting in the use of 1/3rd less water.

Thornburgh has foregone the construction of previously approved amenities like a golf course, multiple lakes, irrigated parks, and green space, along with a 20% reduction in overnight lodging. In their place, the resort will focus on native landscaping, utilizing local flora to create a healthy, water-sensitive ecosystem. This is in addition to the original development plans, which proposed a development density of only 1/3rd what the county code allowed, with 65% open space, or 30% more than the minimum required.

In total, Thornburgh, in planning the community, has taken further steps than what is required, going beyond the minimum requirements, and pursuing a higher goal of environmental consciousness.

“Water is a crucial resource,” said Developer Kameron DeLashmutt. “Our goal is for Thornburgh to become the most environmentally conscious master-planned community in the West if not the U.S. We are actively taking these steps to steward our use of water so that we can preserve this land for future generations to come.”

“Within the resort master plan, we are committed to preserving the natural beauty of the rural setting by maintaining large areas of the natural environment,” said DeLashmutt. Thornburgh’s extensive natural lands will be enhanced with the development of extensive hiking and biking trails, championship golf, water features, and the addition of comfortable, authentic, classic high desert country homes. “It’s equally important that the individual homes and cabins fit sensitively into the relaxed landscape,” said DeLashmutt. “We plan on accomplishing this through the resort’s covenants, conditions, and restrictions which will require residents to focus on reduced water use through the use of low-flow fixtures and prescribed xeriscaping within managed landscaping envelopes for each lot. All of the golf and spa cabins, and many of the homes, will feature Tesla Solar Roof tiles and will be net zero for electricity.”

As a result, a home at Thornburgh will have much lower water and energy use than the average home in Central Oregon.

In addition, under Oregon law, Thornburgh is required to offset every single gallon of water it uses. In accordance with the law, Thornburgh has purchased and ceased pumping from existing water rights throughout the Deschutes Water Basin in a one-for-one offset of its forecast water use once the resort has been fully built out in 20 years time. Currently, Thornburgh’s water use is a tiny fraction of the amount of water that it has returned to the aquifer and rivers, resulting in a net positive impact on the Deschutes Water Basin.

Thornburgh reports its annual water use and mitigation under its approved Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Plan. The 2023 report shows that the development only pumped 0.41 acre acre-feet of water while leaving 200 acre-feet instream, and an additional 1,010.3 acre-feet in the aquifer. In total, for 2023, Thornburgh provided 1,210.3 acre-feet of water that would have otherwise been pumped, equating to a net benefit of over 394,375,189 gallons of water last year alone. Even at full capacity, Thornburgh’s water use is less than 5/100ths of 1% of the 3,500,0000 acre-feet of annual recharge in the Deschutes Basin and only 2/10ths of 1% of the Basin’s total water use of 775,000 acre-feet.

About Thornburgh Resort:
Thornburgh is a residential community nestled in the foothills of the Cline Buttes outside Redmond, Oregon. Set within a 40,000-acre juniper forest, Thornburgh offers the finest golf and club facilities, stunning mountain vistas, miles of private hiking and bike trails, lakes and beach club, swimming pools, state-of-the-art fitness and spa facilities, the pickleball and tennis complex, parks, kids camp, lawns, and superlative dining.

In every decision we make, our guiding principle is to combine native beauty and thoughtful design to create a naturally elegant lifestyle.

KTVZ – Thornburgh Resort developer presses on, but nearly 20-year land use fight with opponents still isn’t over