Scenic Area celebrates birth

Quickly, nearly 300,000 acres along both sides of the Columbia River — from the Sandy River to the Deschutes in Oregon and Gibbons Creek in Clark County to Wishram in Washington — fell under federal designation and protection.

The Act ushered in a new era of public partnership, rooting a dual charge for policymakers: protect the gorge’s natural beauty while encouraging economic development in the small cities dotting its expanse.

The deal didn’t come about by magic. In the 1980s, controversy over natural preservation was sparked by developments such as the Interstate 205 bridge linking Portland to Vancouver, and a proposed housing subdivision on a hillside across the river from Multnomah Falls.

Preservationists called on Oregon Sen. Mark Hatfield for help addressing what they deemed a growing threat to the region. Hatfield united a coalition, including famed architect John Yeon and Nancy Russell, the Portlander who co-founded Friends of the Columbia Gorge.

Activists and legislators hammered out a Scenic Area Act. Pushback was intense from business groups and logging companies, most vigorously from those in Skamania and Klickitat counties.

The bill failed in multiple incarnations in Congress only to be revived. The bill finally passed the Senate and House in 1986. It almost died by a pocket veto from Reagan.

Hatfield and Sen. Bob Packwood, who first introduced the bill, were reported to be “ecstatic” by the Hood River News on Nov. 19, 1986.

The legislation created the Gorge Commission, a 13-member appointed panel and staff that oversees land use and development policy for the two-state region.

Members include governor appointees and county representatives from the six gorge counties: Multnomah, Hood River and Wasco in Oregon; Clark, Skamania and Klickitat in Washignton.

The commission partners with the U.S. Forest Service, which oversees stringently controlled “special management areas.”

While tensions over land use in the region haven’t completely dissolved, a shared love of the gorge has bloomed over the years. Tourism, agriculture, industry, and natural preservation have found a semblance of balance.

The U.S. Forest Service celebrated the diverse uses the gorge enjoys in a news release marking the Scenic Area’s 30th birthday this month.

“Visitors and locals will undoubtedly celebrate the Scenic Area’s anniversary year in diverse ways: taking selfies at Multnomah Falls, seeking solitude in the Hatfield Wilderness, walking their dogs at Sandy River Delta, soaking in the scenery as they kiteboard or windsurf, or enjoying the fruits of the area’s bountiful agriculture,” wrote Rachel Pawlitz, the Forest Service’s community engagement and public affairs specialist.

The Gorge Commission remains active in charting the region’s future and partnering with local governments, despite hurdles as state and federal budgets dwindle, and stacks of backlogged work await a reduced staff.

Krystyna Wolniakowski, Gorge Commission executive director, stepped into her “85-mile long, 292,500-acre office” in September 2015. Under her leadership, the commission has adopted legal descriptions for urban areas in the gorge and launched the “Gorge 2020” Management Plan review.

“I’m very excited to be here as director for the 30th anniversary,” Wolniakowski said late last week.

“It’s just interesting how far we’ve come in the last 30 years, in the way (the gorge) has changed, while other parts have stayed the same.”

In a newsletter column, she described the commission’s duties as “challenging, but more important than ever, as we prepare for the next decade to preserve the special character, vistas and resources of the National Scenic Area — our jewel of the Northwest.”