Northwest's National Treasure Could Tarnish
We live in a region abundant in beauty so much so that I think we often take it for granted. I’m Susan Allen when Open Range returns how the Northwest 85 mile long National Treasure could become tarnished. If you discount miserable weather conditions, nearly every trip I make down the Columbia River Gorge is spectacular and over the years they must number in the hundreds. Yet it’s been 25 years since delegation headed by Washington’s Sen. Dan Evans and Oregon’s
Mark Hatfield introduced legislation to have the Gorge designated a National Scenic Area. Since then National Geographic has ranked the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area 6th among 133 of the world’s Greatest Places calling it one of the best land-preservations programs in the nation. To maintain its beauty and development the twelve person Gorge Commission was established with half of its citizens divided equally between Oregon and Washington and appointed by both Governors. Since both states fund the commission staff given the current budget woes funding has reduced employees to part time amid fears that all funding will dissolve. Without a local Gorge commission the US Forest Service will take over maintaining the integrity of this stretch of land and as one member of the Gorge Commission representing Washington recently wrote “ would undermine the partnership built over the last 25 years between, state, local and tribal governments.” I’m Susan Allen reporting for Open Range
