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Environment :: National Scenic Area ActNational Scenic Area ActOverview | Map | Economic Development | Economic Development Grants | Contact Info OverviewThe Columbia River Gorge is a national treasure. The Gorge is a nearly sea-level passage through the Cascade range. It possesses a unique mix of scenic grandeur, diverse flora and fauna, outstanding recreation opportunities, and a rich multi-cultural heritage. In November 1986, Congress recognized the world-class significance of the Gorge when it passed the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act. The Scenic Area Act identifies two purposes:
The Scenic Area lies to the east of Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington. It stretches about 85 miles from the Sandy River in the west to the Deschutes River in the east in Oregon and from Gibbons Creek in Clark County to a line 4 miles east of Wishram in Washington. The Scenic Area covers portions of six counties: Clark, Skamania, and Klickitat counties in Washington, and Multnomah, Hood River, and Wasco counties in Oregon. (See the map for details on the location and boundaries of the Scenic Area)
To achieve the purposes of the Scenic Area Act, Congress called for preparation of a Management Plan that would treat the two-state, six-county area as a region. The Scenic Area is managed through a partnership between the bi-state Columbia River Gorge Commission, the U.S. Forest Service, Oregon and Washington state governments, six county governments, and four Native American tribes. The Scenic Area is divided into three categories of land: Urban Areas, Special Management Areas (SMA) and General Management Areas (GMA). Congress designated 13 cities and towns as Urban Areas: North Bonneville, Stevenson, Carson, Home Valley, White Salmon, Bingen, Lyle, Dallesport, and Wishram on the Washington side of the river and Cascade Locks, Hood River, Mosier, and The Dalles on the Oregon side. The Urban Areas encompass about 28,511 acres. They are exempt from the Management Plan, but are eligible to receive federal funds authorized to implement it. The Urban Areas will be the primary focus for future growth and economic development. The Special Management Area (SMA) includes 115,100 acres of the region's most sensitive lands, concentrated primarily in the western half of the Scenic Area. The U.S. Forest Service was given authority to purchase lands, or interests in lands, in the SMA, and the opportunity to exchange federal lands elsewhere for privately held lands within SMA boundaries. In some instances, Congress directed that the SMA lands be managed more stringently that those in the GMA. For instance, land divisions are prohibited, new homes are not allowed on parcels less than 40 acres in size, and forest practices are regulated for scenic, cultural, natural, and recreation concerns. The remainder of the Scenic Area makes up the GMA, which totals 149,004 acres and includes the Columbia River. The Gorge Commission was authorized to plan for the GMA. These lands blanket most of the eastern Gorge and are scattered in the central and west end of the Gorge. They are predominantly devoted to agricultural and forestry uses, but also contain areas of existing residential development. (Management Plan for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, 1992) Economic DevelopmentIn 1986, Congress created one of the most innovative partnership approaches to conservation in the nation -- the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Through the National Scenic Area Act, specific projects and authorized federal funds become central to an incentives-based program for protecting the Gorge. The Act envisions that six Gorge counties adopt land-use ordinances implementing the Scenic Area Management Plan in return for federal assistance with key efforts:
None of these are typical federally funded projects. Nor is the Scenic Area a typical federally administered area. Each is a partnership effort with significant cost-sharing among private, local, state, and federal partners. With the fulfillment of a $5 million federal investment, the Skamania Lodge Conference Center, in Skamania County has been completed with $20 million in other public and private investments. The Gorge Discovery Center, in Wasco County has generated $16.6 million in commitments, and promises to have total returns similar to Skamania Lodge. These projects best symbolize the entire Gorge effort. They are the most visible examples of the overall partnership approach to protect the Columbia River Gorge. As such, they become clear signs of each partner's commitment to fulfill the obligations outlined in the Scenic Area Act. Together, they are integral to the success of the National Scenic Area. Economic Development GrantsThe Columbia River Gorge has been a significant contributor to the economy of the Pacific Northwest for more than 10,000 years. The protection and support of that role is a key factor to ensure the success of the National Scenic Area. Encouraging growth in existing Urban Areas is important to maintain the vitality of the regional economy. The Act authorizes $10 million in economic development funds and directs Oregon and Washington to develop plans for local grants and loans. The Oregon Department of Economic Development and Washington Department of Community Trade, and Economic Development have joined together to formulate those plans, based on consultation with local governments, the Gorge Commission, the Forest service, and regional economic development advisory committees. Both states use this regional strategy to make loans and grants for projects which further the purposes of the Act. Program administration is conducted separately in each state. The economic development funding authorized in the Act supplements other state and federal resources that are used to support existing economic development programs. Appropriations would be distributed as Forest Service/State and Private Forestry grants. funding requests and timing are shown in Table 5. In Fiscal Year 1993 Congress appropriated $744,000 and $2,500,000 in 1996. Economic development funds are equally divided between the two states. Contact InformationFor more information on the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act contact: Dan Harkenrider, Area Manager, USDA Forest Service , (541) 386-2333 Jill Arens, Executive Director, Columbia River Gorge Commission , (509) 493-3323 For more information on the Economic Development Grant/Loan Program contact: Lee Curtis, Executive Director, Mid-Columbia Economic Development District , (541) 296-2266 |
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515 East 2nd Street | The Dalles, OR 97058 |
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