The Columbia River Gorge Commission, the bi-state agency responsible for the protection and enhancement of scenic, natural, cultural and recreation resources within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, has had its budget for the 2005-2007 biennium slashed by the Oregon House budget committee to just $548,336, only 63% of the $869,249 which was requested by Governor Kulongoski and which was passed by the Senate budget committee. This anemic level of funding proposed by the Oregon House would render the Commission unable to fulfill its core functions, which are to protect the scenic beauty and natural and cultural heritage of the Columbia River Gorge.

Next Steps

Since the House and Senate have passed different budgets, there will be a conference committee formed to reach consensus. We need to convince Oregon legislators that the Columbia Gorge is worth protecting and that the Gorge Commission must be adequately funded. We urge everyone who cares about future protection of the Columbia Gorge to edit the sample letter below, which will be sent to your Senator and Representative, supporting the Governor’s and Senate’s budget of $869,249.

For more information about the Gorge Commission, its budget, and critical programs that Friends of the Columbia Gorge feel need to be funded for adequate protection of the Columbia River Gorge, Click here.

Oregonians love the Gorge and want to see it protected. We can’t let the Oregon Legislature cripple the agency chartered to protect the Columbia Gorge by failing to fund its core programs. Please use the information in this alert and personalize the letter below. Let your legislators know about your connection to the Columbia Gorge and why protecting the Columbia Gorge is important to you and future generations of Oregonians. Please take ten minutes of your time to help protect the Columbia River Gorge!

Sample Letter

Dear                   ,

The Columbia River Gorge is a national treasure that must be protected for our children and future generations. Protection can only be assured by providing adequate funding for the Columbia River Gorge Commission.

I urge you to support the funding level of $869,249 in Senate Bill 5587 for the Gorge Commission's biennial operating budget. This is the minimum amount needed to fund the Gorge Commission's core functions which include protection and enhancement of scenic, natural, cultural and recreation resources within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and the encouragement of compatible growth and economic development within existing Gorge urban areas.

Oregonians over and over again support protection of one of our greatest scenic treasures. Please support the Oregon Senate's funding for Senate Bill 5587 and protect the Columbia Gorge for future generations.

Sincerely,

Your Name

Address

Phone

Email

What's At Stake?

Please protect the Columbia River Gorge

The Columbia River Gorge Commission is the bi-state agency responsible for the protection and enhancement of scenic, natural, cultural and recreation resources within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and the encouragement of compatible growth and economic development within existing Gorge urban areas. The Commission's funding is provided by appropriations from the Oregon and Washington legislatures.

Funding already at a critically low level

During the 2003-2005 biennium the Gorge Commission budget hit an all-time low. As a result, the Gorge Commission was unable to fulfill many of its core functions, which include overseeing protection of the Columbia River Gorge and its resources, enforcement of laws that protect the Gorge from destructive land uses and development, certifying economic development grants and loans for Gorge communities, and providing public services for Gorge residents and for all those who love the Gorge. Though the funding was at an all time low, the budget passed by the House is even lower – the agency cannot function at this level.

Friends of the Columbia Gorge is particularly interested in making sure the following critical priorities are funded:

I. Long-Range Planning Program Priorities:
A. Creating a baseline monitoring program for Gorge resources to assess whether the purposes and standards of the National Scenic Area Act are being fulfilled. Begin by funding the scenic resource monitoring program start up.
B. Review and update water resource protection standards.

II. Current Planning Program Priority
Increase monitoring and technical assistance to the counties. Review 75% of county land use decisions. Increase enforcement budget to handle 10-12 cases per year.

III. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Priority
A computer-based GIS data base is an important tool used by most planning agencies to ensure that new development protects water quality, important wildlife habitat and other sensitive resources. The Commission does not have a functioning GIS. Improve the GIS program by updating existing data layers, natural resource inventories and the parcel database. Biennial costs for both states: $77,000 ($38,500 for Oregon)

Oregonians love the Gorge and want to see it protected. We can’t let the Oregon Legislature render agency chartered to protect the Columbia Gorge useless by failing to fund its core programs. Please use the information in this alert and personalize the letter provided. Let your legislators know about your connection to the Columbia Gorge and why protecting the Columbia Gorge is important to you and future generations of Oregonians.