FRIENDS OF THE COLUMBIA GORGE

Summer 2004 Newsletter

(continued on page 7)

Friends of the Columbia Gorge, joined byColumbia Riverkeeper, 1000 Friends of

Oregon, and a group of Columbia Gorgelandowners and businesses, has filed anappeal in the Oregon Court of Appeals chal-lenging the Columbia River GorgeCommission’s recent adoption of the revisedManagement Plan for the Columbia RiverGorge National Scenic Area.␣ The revised planfails to protect the Columbia River Gorge fromlogging and overdevelopment.

The parties to the lawsuit cite numerousreasons for the challenge, including inad-equate protection of scenic landscapes, forests,clean water, and salmon habitat; the increaseof industrial and commercial uses; the failureto adequately protect farm and forest landfrom overdevelopment; and the failure to maplandslide-prone areas and avoid zoning theseareas for residential development. The revisedplan opens the most sensitive areas of theColumbia Gorge to “forest health logging”and fails to protect even one acre of forestwithin the Columbia Gorge from chainsaws. ␣

During revisions, the Gorge Commissionweakened protections provided by the Man-agement Plan despite receiving more than2,000 citizen comments urging strongerprotections.␣ The Commission’s adoption of the

By Michael Lang, Conservation Directormichael@gorgefriends.org

Friends LeadsChallenge to RevisedManagement Plan

Friends is challenging the revised Management Plan to ensurestrong protections for the irreplaceable scenic landscapes of theColumbia Gorge, like this majestic view from Tom McCall Point.Photo: James O. Holloway

Special Insert:Fall Hiking Brochure

2

Executive Director’s LetterNearly six years ago, I stepped out onto Pioneer Point for the first time. Onthe Washington side near Cape Horn, directly across the river from AngelsRest, Pioneer Point offered spectacular views and significantly less trafficnoise than its popular Oregon neighbor. A proposed trail leading thereprovided much more ecological diversity than many other Gorge trails. Therewas just one problem: Pioneer Point was a public-land peninsula surroundedby private land, blocking hopes of creating a Cape Horn Trail.

That might have been the end of the story except for DaveCannard, a Vancouver businessman and one of threefounders of Friends of the Columbia Gorge. In 1996, Davepurchased property on Cape Horn to hold until the U.S.Forest Service could purchase it from him for a trail. In Junethis year, the Forest Service finally purchased the 67-acreproperty.

The acquisition of Cape Horn was a long and difficultprocess. Dave and the Forest Service butted heads fre-quently, and it appeared that a reasonable deal would neverbe reached. But both parties hung in there because they sawthe value of public purchase and the potential of a populartrail. Their persistence finally won the day.

Cape Horn’s potential continues to grow. In 1998, three keyproperties for the trail were in private hands. Today, thosethree properties are publicly owned.

Anyone who travels the Gorge in the summer knows thattrailheads such as Angels Rest are packed. Demand isincreasing for invigorating Gorge hikes with great views close to Portland.The Cape Horn Trail and Pioneer Point can provide that experience.

More than that, trails can benefit local communities. Skamania County islooking to draw in visitors for tourism dollars, and the town of Stevenson istransforming before our eyes. Just as many Angels Rest hikers travel on toMultnomah Falls for food and drink, the Cape Horn Trail would likely drawhikers into Skamania County’s business establishments.

It took eight years to secure public ownership of this important link of theCape Horn Trail. Let’s hope it’s not another eight years before the public isout enjoying this special recreational gem.

Sincerely,

Kevin GormanExecutive Director

P.S. On August 1, Friends moved our Portlandoffice downstairs one floor, staying in the historicYeon Building. Our new address is 522 SW FifthAve., Suite 720, Portland, OR 97204.

Mission StatementFriends of the Columbia Gorge shall vigorously protect the

scenic, natural, cultural and recreational resources within theColumbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

We fulfill this mission by ensuring strict implementationof the National Scenic Area Act; promoting responsible

stewardship of Gorge lands and waters; encouraging publicownership of sensitive areas; educating the public about theunique natural values of the Columbia River Gorge and the

importance of preserving those values; and working withgroups and individuals to accomplish

mutual preservation goals.—Adopted November 20, 1997

Kevin Gorman and his familyhiked on the proposed CapeHorn Trail in 2000.photo: Ken Denis

3

Spring and Fall Hikes

Our spring hiking season broughtboth long-time gorge lovers and

newcomers out to explore the Colum-bia Gorge. Cathy Robart, ourAmeriCorps member and OutdoorPrograms Coordinator, did a great jobcreating a 59-event program thatserved experienced hikers andnovices alike.

The focus of our hiking programnow includes natural history, culturalhistory, environmental awareness,wildlife and birds, and Lewis andClark, in addition to Friends’ signa-ture wildflower hikes. Members-onlyevents were very well-attended, andwe will expand those offerings nextspring.

The fall hike season runs September24 through October 30. Check the hikeinsert in this newsletter for details, orcheck www.gorgefriends.org. CallCathy at 503-241-3762 x106 for moreinformation. ■

Electronic TechnologyVolunteers

Friends’ volunteers have steppedup to the challenge of creating a

comprehensive archiving system forour electronic photographic collection.

Volunteers Lori Letterhos and NellJohnson are developing a comprehen-sive protocol and a powerful databaseto catalogue and search the thousandsof photos we maintain that documentland uses, development, publicactivities, meetings, hikes, and thenatural beauty of the Gorge.

The new archive will be a cutting-edge tool for saving, finding, andusing the stunning Gorge photo-graphs that members and supportershave donated for use in our publica-tions, our legal program, land acquisi-tion work, and on our website. ■

Volunteer Celebration

Friends’ volunteers celebrated agreat spring hiking and stew-

ardship season at our secondannual Volunteer Potluck Barbecueat Bridal Veil on June 26.

Hike shepherds, office volun-teers, policy activists, and steward-ship volunteers rolled up theirsleeves to work before the picnic.We collected camas seeds, spreadbark chips along footpaths, andhauled away blackberry in themorning while board members setup the grill and prepared the feast.

Volunteers and board membersenjoyed barbecued chicken, veggieburgers, summer fruits, salads, andice cold drinks. Thank you, every-one, for your contribution to awonderful season of hikes andstewardship work. ■

Citizen Involvement Update

Friends’ Outreach &Volunteer HappeningsBy Betsy Toll, Volunteer Coordinator, betsy@gorgefriends.org

Get on the List

Sign on to Friends’ Activities andUpdates email list. We send postseach month about hikes andmember activities, along withaction alerts and information onurgent Gorge protection issues.

Send an email with “PleaseSubscribe” as your subject tobetsy@gorgefriends.org and geton the list today!

Above: Volunteers Pat Van Der Zanden (l)and Tyrus Monson (r) enjoy the bounty at theFriends’ Volunteer Potluck Barbecue.

Left: Volunteer Marshall Scheider, age 12,carefully collects camas seeds at Bridal Veil.Photos: Ken Denis

4

In the Courts and in the Field…By Nathan Baker, Staff Attorney, nathan@gorgefriends.organd Katy Daily, Conservation Organizer, katy@gorgefriends.org

Conservation and Legal Program Highlights

habitat. Many ancient lots near theeastern Skamania County bordercontain oak woodland habitat thathelps maintain one of only threeknown remaining populations ofwestern gray squirrels in Wash-ington State. The squirrels aredependent upon large, old mixedoak and conifer forests and are

extremely susceptible to humandisturbance. In spring 2001,Friends appealed the County’senvironmental determination.

Meanwhile, the Columbia RiverGorge Commission determined thatthe ordinance was inconsistent withthe National Scenic Area Manage-ment Plan. The County appealed

this determination and aSuperior Court Judge agreedwith the County, reversingthe Gorge Commission’sdetermination. Friendsappealed to the WashingtonState Court of Appeals.

As Friends prepared ourlegal arguments for chal-lenging the ordinance andenvironmental determina-tion, the County realizedthat its new definition of“lot” would likely causemore problems than itsolved. Its vague criteria

Friends Resolves “Ancient”Subdivision Appeals

This summer, Friends cooper-ated with Skamania County to

resolve two longstanding legalappeals. As a result, the Gorge’ssensitive scenic and naturalresources will be better protectedfrom overdevelopment.

In December 2000, SkamaniaCounty adopted an ordinance thatamended the County’s definitionof “lot.” The ordinance violatedthe Columbia River Gorge Na-tional Scenic Area Act because itallowed lots in pre-1937 subdivi-sions that were never recognizedunder modern zoning standardsto each be separately developedwith a dwelling. These pre-1937subdivisions are commonly called“ancient” subdivisions.

By the County’s own estimate,as many as 1,731 ancient lots werepotentially eligible for develop-ment under the ordinance.

Incredibly, the County deter-mined that its ordinance wouldhave no significant impact on theenvironment, even though manyof the ancient lots were in highlyvisible locations and in areascontaining sensitive wildlife

would lead to headaches for theCounty Planning Department indetermining which ancient lotscould be resurrected under theordinance.

Shortly after Friends filed ourlegal brief in the court of appealscase, the County decided to closethe Pandora’s box it had opened.On June 14, 2004, the SkamaniaCounty Commissioners repealedthe “lot” definition. In response,Friends withdrew both appeals.

If Friends had not challengedthe County’s actions, many of theancient lots would likely bedeveloped today. Development ofthe lots would have significantlymarred the scenic landscapes andwildlife habitat of the ColumbiaRiver Gorge. ■

Measure 37

This November, Oregon voterswill decide the fate of Measure

37, a dangerous ballot measure withfar-reaching environmental reper-cussions. If passed, Measure 37would gut Oregon’s land-useplanning system.

Advanced by Oregonians inAction, the measure would changeOregon law to require local govern-ments to compensate landownersfor any loss in land value caused bypast or future changes in zoning. Ifgovernments don’t have fundsavailable—and no funding source isidentified—they simply can waiveenforcement of laws.

Parcels in continuous ownership(reaching back to parents andgrandparents) qualify for thisspecial treatment, but neighboringproperty with newer owners wouldnot. The result would be thescattershot repeal of zoning protec-tions without public notice or input.

(continued on page 5)

Friends’ legal actions helped protecthabitat for sensitive species like thiswestern gray squirrel.Photo: ©Laurie Excell

A 60-lot “ancient” subdivision wouldhave fragmented habitat and carved

up this view from Cape Horn.photo: Michael Lang

5

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon)has introduced the long-awaited

Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilder-ness Act of 2004. This bill woulddesignate some 35,000 acres of theColumbia River Gorge and 140,000acres surrounding Mount Hood as newwilderness.

At hearings in Portland and HoodRiver this spring, more than 85% ofthose testifying supported this pro-posal. On June 7, Congressmen GregWalden (R-Hood River) and EarlBlumenauer (D-Portland) co-hostedtheir second Mt. Hood Summit, focusedon the wilderness proposal. Publicsupport was overwhelming. Congress-man Walden remarked, “What I takeaway from this summit is that passionhas gotten stronger… The need to dosomething is real.” ■

The three-year clock ran out thisspring for U.S. Forest Serviceacquisition of Gorge properties

offered by willing sellers. However,several landowners recently signedone-year extensions, so public acquisi-tion of these high-priority landscapes isstill possible.

Although the Forest Service needsapproximately $14 million for theremaining purchases, the President’sFY05 budget earmarked just $1 millionfor Gorge land acquisition.

In an effort to secure a $5 millionallocation for purchase of two high-priority properties, Friends sent adelegation to lobby Senate InteriorAppropriations Committee members onCapitol Hill. The delegation included alandowner who told senators of hisfamily’s efforts to preserve forestland byminimizing logging.

The Senate budget will be releasedin September; a final budget may notbe decided until after the Novemberelection. For more information, visitwww.lewisandclarklandscapes.org. ■

By Katy Daily, Conservation Orga-nizer, katy@gorgefriends.org

These old-growth cedar forests would be permanently protected under the wildernessproposal. photo: Oliver Dalton

The initiative covers farm and forestrypractices, watershed protection onprivate lands, and land-use planning.

Friends is committed to stoppingthis initiative, which would strip away apowerful tool against the overdevelop-ment of Oregon. ■

TAKE ACTION:We need lots of help to defeatMeasure 37. Contact Katy Daily,katy@gorgefriends.org,503-241-3762 x110, or theTake a Closer Look Committee,campaign@takeacloserlookoregon.org, 503-222-2734.

Measure 37…(continued from page 4)

By Michael Lang, Conservation Director, michael@gorgefriends.org

Wilderness Bill Introduced

WILDERNESS BILLTAKE ACTION:Contact Rep. Earl Blumenauer andRep. Greg Walden and urge them tointroduce a Lewis and Clark MountHood Wilderness bill in the House:

Congressman Earl Blumenauer729 N.E. Oregon St., #115Portland, OR 97232(503) 231-2300Fax: (503) 230-5413

Congressman Greg Walden843 E. Main St., #400Medford, OR 97504(541) 776-4646Fax: (541) 779-0204

6

Funding Gorge Protection

DevelopmentDirector’s ReportBy Jane Harris, Development Director, jane@gorgefriends.org

Summer Picnic Highlights

Top left: Families andfriends enjoyed the viewand learned about scenicprotections.photo: Jane Harris

Top right: Bluegrassmusicians play in a shadyspot.photo: Ken Denis

Middle: Members enjoyeda fabulous potluck spreadof hot and cold dishes,fruits, salads, and desserts.photo: Betsy Toll

Bottom: Jane Harris andFriends’ founder NancyRussell.photo: Ken Denis

Than

ks fo

r the

gre

at tu

rnou

t!

24th Annual Summer PicnicDraws Record Crowd

The spectacular home and vineyards of Friends’members Barbara and Robert McCormick in Lyle

Washington was the site of our annual picnic on July18th. From the McCormicks’ garden high on a blufflooking west down the Gorge and south to Mt. Hood,our guests were delighted in a day of delicioushomemade foods, Full Sail Ale, a bluegrass band,games for the children, a hike on the Klickitat Trailand a chance to reconnect with old friends.

This year’s event was our largest picnic ever, withsome 150 members and supporters attending. Fami-lies played badminton and baseball and hiked acrossthe beautiful McCormick land to enjoy the views andexplore the new vineyards. Many new members camethis year, enthusiastic to learn more about the Gorgeand become actively engaged in its protection.

The picnic was followed by a short hike on thenewly created Klickitat Trail with Jim Minick of theKlickitat Trail Conservancy. Jim spoke to ourmembers about the critical role Friends played withcreation of the trail and in helping citizens createthe new non-profit Klickitat Trail Conservancy,organized to protect and promote the trail. ■

7

weakened plan comes on the eve ofthe Lewis and Clark Bicentennialcommemoration. The ColumbiaGorge has been rated as the nation’s#1 natural attraction along the Lewisand Clark Trail due to its largelyunspoiled landscapes. Thousandsof Lewis and Clark enthusiasts areexpected to visit the Gorge in2005-06.

New rules mean more highlyvisible development

If the revisions take effect, thepublic can expect more clearcutsand more development to marscenic Gorge landscapes. TheCommission’s revised plan deletesprevious guidelines requiring newdevelopment to be located to havethe least impact on scenic land-scapes; it also fails to address thecumulative visual effects of morethan 700 new houses and thousandsof new structures that have alreadybeen built in the Columbia Gorgesince the passage of the NationalScenic Area Act in 1986. TheCommission’s actions were con-trary to the recommendations ofexperts on a special National ScenicArea Committee of the AmericanSociety of Landscape Architects.

␣Inadequate protections forwater and salmon

Buffers currently in place toprotect fish-bearing streams in theGeneral Management Area (GMA) ofthe National Scenic Area are weakerthan in several locations outside theNational Scenic Area.␣ The currentbuffers for streams in the GMA are100 feet for fish-bearing streams and50 feet for intermittent streams. TheWashington Department of Fish andWildlife (WDFW) recommended 250-foot buffers for fish-bearing streamsand 150-foot buffers for intermittentstreams, but he Gorge Commissionignored WDFW’s recommendations.

With native fish runs in peril, theGorge Commission should

strengthen protection for salmonand their habitat.␣ Instead, therevised plan will allow agriculture,residential development, and septicsystems to be built within thefloodplains of salmon-bearingstreams in the Gorge.

The revised plan also fails toupdate wildlife and rare plantinventories, which are now 15 yearsbehind current scientific knowledge.␣

More commercial andindustrial uses allowed

The revised plan weakensprotection for scenic landscapes,forests and salmon streams while itallows more commercial andindustrial uses, such as outdoorcommercial events and fish process-ing plants. This is contrary to thesecond purpose of the NationalScenic Area Act, which encouragescommercial uses and developmentto be located in existing urban areas.␣The prospects of commercial events,including amplified music andalcoholic beverages, have manyGorge residents concerned for theirproperty values, rural quality of life,and their peace and quiet.

“Not only does this impact ourquality of life and reduce ourproperty values, it opens the doorfor more commercial developmentin the Gorge,” said EricLichtenthaler, of Corbett. “TheGorge Commission failed toevaluate the noise, traffic andimpacts on adjacent propertyowners of allowing commercialevents,” said Lichtenthaler.␣

Mr. Lichtenthaler is one of thecopetitioners in the appeal.

The revised Management Planis now being reviewed by the U.S.Forest Service. If the Forest Servicedetermines that the revised plan isconsistent with the Act despitethese glaring problems, our onlyrecourse will be to file a similarchallenge in federal court. ■

␣ ␣ ␣

Friends Challenges Revised…(continued from page 1)

Portland Office522 SW Fifth Avenue, #720

Portland, Oregon 97204503-241-3762

Gorge Office416 Oak Street

Hood River, OR 97031541-386-5268

Board of DirectorsAnn Wheelock, Chair

Nancy N. Russell, Chair EmeritaKen Denis, Vice Chair

Diana Karabut, SecretaryRick Ray*, Treasurer

Susan Garrett Crowley*, Member At-largeDick Springer, Member At-Large

Chris BeckBroughton H. Bishop

Bowen Blair, Jr.Ed Caswell

North Cheatham*Spencer DickKim Gilmer

Karen JohnsonChristine Knowles*

Janice NewtonJohn Reynolds

Missy RyanRoger Wendlick

StaffTeckla Anderson Development Assistant

Nathan Baker Staff AttorneyPeter Cornelison* Field Representative

Katy Daily Conservation OrganizerGlen Fullilove Land Use Legal Assistant

Kevin Gorman Executive DirectorJane Harris Development Director

Michael Lang Conservation DirectorCathy Robart AmeriCorps MemberBetsy Toll Volunteer Coordinator

* Gorge residents

Additional SupportLegal Counsel: Gary Kahn

Newsletter Design: Kathleen Krushas

Friends of theColumbia Gorge

www.gorgefriends.org

Friends of the Columbia GorgeP.O. Box 40820Portland, Oregon 97240-0820

Return service requested

Non ProfitU.S. Postage

PAIDPortland, OR

Permit No. 2623

IN MEMORY OF JEANNE FOSTER

THE WATER EXERCISE GROUP

VIRGINIA CHAPMAN

MELVIN HOLZNAGEL

DOROTHY M. FOLEY

IN MEMORY OF MARK & KATIE MCMANUS

RICHARD AND MARJORIE MCMANUS

IN MEMORY OF MRS. MURIEL WHITAKER

JAMES AND LINDA BROWNING

IN MEMORY OF OLIVER DALTON

TOM AND SANDRA ROUSSEAU

IN MEMORY OF JAMES F. MILLER

JIM AND ELEANOR MILNE

IN MEMORY OF JANICE BALDWIN

DONALD E. CLARK

IN HONOR OF RON & MARIA CRONIN

JAY AND THERESA BOWERMAN

IN HONOR OF VAUGHN & BARB

GROSSNICKLE

NEAL WOLFF

IN HONOR OF NANCY RUSSELL AND

FRIENDS' STAFF, BOARD AND VOLUNTEERS

JOHN AND KATE MILLS

Thank Youfor your special contributions

Know Your GorgeLate Summer BeautyBy John Reynolds, Friends Board member

At low elevations in the Gorge, late summer can seemlike a season short on blooming wildflowers. Butbelow Bonneville Dam in late summer, the Columbia

River’s level drops to expose portions of the riverbankcovered up earlier in the year. A variety of wildflowers bloomon these banks in the short period before the autumn rainsbegin and the river rises again.

To view the flowers, good shoreline access points are atBeacon Rock State Park and St. Cloud, both on the Washing-

ton side, and at Dalton Point on the Oregonside.

Members of the Composite family thatwildflower lovers can find in late-summerinclude: Columbia coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoriavar. atkinsoniana), sneezeweed (Heleniumautumnale), beggar ticks (Bidens frondosa and B.cernua) and Columbia River wormwood(Artemisia lindleyana). Various knotweeds(Polygonum spp.) and a small variety of euphor-bia (Euphorbia supina) can be found at theBeacon Rock shore, blooming amid many othersmall annuals. Wapato (Sagittaria latifolia),pictured here, is present in moist areas just eastof the St. Cloud shore.

Have fun botanizing! ■This Wapato is just one of the wildflowers that awaitlate summer Gorge explorers.