SALEM — The fate of Central Oregon’s Metolius Basin looks to be back in the spotlight at the Capitol.

Jefferson County commissioners have given the preliminary green light to develop destination resorts near the community of Camp Sherman, and legislation that would have stymied those resorts failed after a political standoff in the 2007 session.

Yet there are signs that the controversy will resurface when the new assembly convenes in 2009.

The state’s venerable and influential land use watchdog group, 1000 Friends of Oregon, announced in a fundraising letter this week that it will try to block plans for two Metolius basin resorts that are on the drawing board.

“We are committed to stopping new destination resorts in the Metolius Basin and preventing hundreds of homes and overnight units from destroying this natural treasure,” wrote Bob Stacey, director of the Portland-based nonprofit.

Meanwhile, the resort developers have poured money into the campaign funds of several lawmakers, a sign that they too don’t believe the tug of war is over.

Landowners in Camp Sherman — including state Sen. Betsy Johnson, D-Scappoose, whose family owns a retreat surrounding the headwaters of the Metolius River — as well as the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have filed appeals to block the resorts.

But state courts and the Land Use Board of Appeals have not overturned the new Jefferson County maps, adopted in late 2006, that would allow the developments to proceed. One of the envisioned resorts would include homesites and golf courses; the other would be an eco-resort with primitive cabins and trails.

Rick Allen, a former Madras mayor who is lobbying for one of the resort developers, the Ponderosa Land and Cattle Co., said the latest salvo over the Metolius appears to be more for fundraising purposes, and makes some misstatements.

For instance, the proposed Ponderosa resort, which would cover potentially 10,000 acres, would draw water from the Deschutes River Basin, not the Metolius, Allen said.

“It seems to be a backlash to resort-mania, but while resort-mania may be going on in Deschutes County, Jefferson County has not one destination resort,” he said.

Allen said he hasn’t heard of any specific bills that are being drafted, but he wouldn’t be surprised to see some.

As such, Ponderosa Land and Cattle Co. has remained active politically: It donated $28,750 to Oregon campaign funds in the past year, the bulk of that to Republicans. However, $8,000 was given to Democrats this month.

Among potential discussions that could affect the resorts: Gov. Ted Kulongoski has asked state agencies to consider whether existing laws are sufficient to protect unique places like the Metolius.

The river, which emerges from springs near the base of Black Butte and flows north to its terminus at Lake Billy Chinook, is a world-renowned trout fishery.

State Sen. Ben Westlund, D-Tumalo, who sponsored the ill-fated bid to block the resorts in 2007, won’t return in 2009 because he is running for state treasurer, but he will be tracking the debate closely, said his campaign manager, Stacey Dycus.

“We are not aware of any specific legislation at this time, but it will require legislation to protect the Metolius,” she said. “What this battle represents is a desire on the part of many people to revisit the destination resort law and determine if it is meeting what it was intended to do when it was passed.”

In the fundraising letter, 1000 Friends Director Stacey said his group will focus on not just the Metolius but also other resorts planned in Central Oregon.

“These resorts — if built — would be the equivalent of eight cities the size of Sisters, Oregon,” he said. “Resort-mania has gone too far, and it must be brought back into balance.”