Have your say: what are best views?

Whether you are partial to the panorama from the Portland Women's Forum parking lot or the amazing change of scenery that greets the east bound motorist rounding the bend at milepost 51 on State Route 14, the commission wants to know what the very best of the best views are in your opinion.

As part of its Vital Signs Indicators Project, the commission is identifying several measures to assess changes in the scenic quality of the Gorge over time.

In consultation with a citizen advisory group and technical experts, the commission chose as one of its indicators the quality of views experienced while traveling along our scenic travel corridors: Interstate 84, the Historic Columbia River Highway and State Route 14.

Residents and Gorge visitors are invited to tell the commission what their favorite views of the Gorge are along each of the roadways mentioned above.

Up to three nominations per roadway will be accepted. The views with the most votes for each roadway will be included in the list of key Gorge views that will be monitored in the future by the commission.

Nominated views should be identified by either a name, like the Memaloose rest area on I-84, or road segment, like a quarter mile east of mile post 76 on SR 14. A general description of the view including direction and its current conditions would also be helpful.

Nominated views may be ones that used to be great but have become blocked or obstructed by vegetation over the years.

The deadline for submitting your favorite views is Dec. 5.

Submitting your nominations is easy. Just go to the Gorge Commission website at www.gorgecommission.org and click on "My Favorite Views."

Nominations can also be submitted by writing to Angie Kenney at Columbia River Gorge Commission, P.O. Box 730, White Salmon, Wash 98672.

Phone calls and faxes are also welcome: phone, 493-3323; fax, 493-2229.