What is the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act?

The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act  has two purposes:

1. To establish a National Scenic Area to protect and enhance the scenic, cultural, recreational and natural resources of the Gorge; and,
2. To protect and support the economy of the Gorge by encouraging sustainable growth in existing urban areas and by allowing future economic development in a manner that is consistent with the above purpose.

The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area consists of 292,500 acres located in Multnomah, Hood River, and Wasco Counties in Oregon, and Clark,  Skamania, and Klickitat Counties in Washington.

The National Scenic Area is approximately 83 miles long—from the Sandy River to the Deschutes River in Oregon and from Gibbons Creek stretching east of Wishram in Washington.  The land in the National Scenic Area is both privately and publicly owned.

The Act, in addition to designating a National Scenic Area, required the preparation of the Management Plan for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.  The Management Plan:

• Details the land use designations within the National Scenic Area and the uses allowed within each designation;
• Provides specific instructions for the protection and enhancement of the scenic, natural, cultural, and recreational resources within the NSA; and
• Promotes economic development within the Gorge's existing urban areas.

Land Use in the National Scenic Area

The entire National Scenic Area is inventoried and assigned one of three designations:

• Urban Area (28,511 acres): Urban Areas, a total of  13 cities and towns in Oregon and Washington, are exempt from the regulations that cover the other lands in the National Scenic Area.  These communities are the main focus of the economic development programs created through the NSA.
• General Management Area (149,004  acres including 31,500 acres of the Columbia River): A variety of uses are allowed in the General Management Area (GMA),  primarily forestry and agricultural operations, with some rural residential development.  These uses can only take place within certain guidelines that ensure no adverse impacts to the Gorge's natural, scenic and cultural resources.
• Special Management Area (115,100 acres): Special Management Areas (SMAs) are the most sensitive lands within the NSA, and are located mainly in the western half of the Scenic Area.  SMAs are subject to more stringent management than other NSA lands.

Recognizing the restrictions that the Act placed on some SMA lands in private ownership, Congress authorized  the U.S. Forest Service to purchase certain sensitive lands from willing sellers. The Forest Service is also authorized to trade federal lands elsewhere for privately owned forestland with SMA designations.

However, landowners are not required to sell their land.  For those who do choose to sell, the Forest Service is required to pay fair market value as determined by an appraisal.

Because SMA lands are so sensitive, the NSA law requires protective measures, including:

• Prohibitions on land divisions;
• No new residential development on parcels less than 40 acres in size; and
• Regulation or prohibition of forest practices in consideration of scenic, natural, cultural, and recreational resources.

The Columbia River Gorge Commission

In addition to the Management Plan, the Act called for the creation of the Columbia River Gorge Commission (Gorge Commission).  The Gorge Commission is a regional body representing federal, state, and local interests.  The Gorge Commission has 13 members: three appointed by each of the governors of Oregon and Washington, one appointed by each of the six Gorge counties, and one (non-voting) representative from the U.S. Forest Service.

The Gorge Commission works to unite the Gorge in a unique partnership with the United States Forest Service, the States of Oregon and Washington, Native American Tribes, and the six counties within the Columbia River Gorge to monitor implementation of the Management Plan.

Much of the Gorge Commission's work involves land use and development in the Scenic Area.  The Act requires all new development and land use proposals to be reviewed for compliance.  This work is done by each of the Gorge counties, which were required by the Act to adopt land use ordinances consistent with the Act.  The Gorge Commission is required to monitor the actions of the counties and to ensure compliance with Gorge protection laws.

Gorge Protection Works

Gorge protection is good for the economy:

• Median household income in Gorge Scenic Area counties has grown faster than the average of all rural counties in Oregon and Washington.
• Tourisim and  travel-related spending, employment and payroll have increased steadily.  In 1995, tourism contributed $200 million to the Scenic Area economy, supported  3,000 jobs and a payroll in excess of $41 million.  In 1999, Skamania County had the highest tourism revenue per capita in the state of Washington.
• The NSA law authorized $20 million for economic development in the Gorge, including $5 million for Skamania Lodge, which is now the largest private employer in Skamania County.

Other benefits of Gorge protection and the Act:

• In addition to allocating economic  development funds, the Scenic Area  Act also authorized $10 million for recreation projects.
• $40 million was authorized to protect sensitive lands and compensate landowners through land acquisitions.
• The NSA law authorized $2.8 million for restoration of the Historic Columbia River Highway.
• More than 32,800 acres have been purchased by the Forest Service from willing sellers, preserving scenic vistas, rare plants, fish and wildlife habitat, and creating new parks for the public to enjoy.  Examples include the Sandy River Delta, Catherine & Major Creek open space area, and the Historic Columbia River Highway Trail.
• More than 77,000 acres of open space has been placed off-limits to logging, mining, and development.
• 64,000 acres of forest land and 75,000 acres of agricultural land has been protected from urban sprawl and residential subdivisions.

Rights of Gorge Landowners Protected

The Act protects the Gorge from urban sprawl and uncontrolled develoopment, yet it also allows private landowners to build on their property:

• Since 1986 more than 1,200 dwellings have been approved in the Scenic Area outside of urban areas.
• More than 170 new land divisions have been approved, creating hundreds of new parcels that may be developed.
• Out of 4,400 development applications submitted since the Act went into effect, more than 3,700 have been approved.

Gorge Protection is Threatened

Despite the success of the Scenic Area Act, there are always threats from development interests and others who would place private profit before Gorge protection.  It is important for everyone who values this unparalleled natural wonder to become involved in Gorge protection efforts.  Only through public involvement with the working partnership of federal, state, and local officials who implement the Scenic Area Act can we be assured that this priceless piece of our natural heritage is preserved for our children and future generations.