Friends of the Columbia Gorge

Protecting the Gorge Since 1980 Spring 2007 Newsletter

Inside: Let’s Clear the Air Page 4

Cape Horn Clean-Up Page 7

Measure 37 Victory Page 8 Friends of the Columbia Gorge

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Angie Moore CHAIR Nancy Russell CHAIR EMERITA Cynthia Winter* VICE CHAIR Dick Springer SECRETARY Karen Johnson TREASURER Ken Denis AT-LARGE MEMBER Rick Ray* AT-LARGE MEMBER Chris Beck Broughton H. Bishop Bowen Blair, Jr. Ed Caswell Susan Crowley* Christine Knowles* Janice Newton Aubrey Russell Pat Wall

FRIENDS OF THE COLUMBIA GORGE LAND TRUST Take Action for Gorge Air! BOARD OF TRUSTEES Aubrey Russell CHAIR he Gorge • Address all major sources of air pollution, both Christine Knowles* SECRETARY/TREASURER Jurgen Hess* National Scenic Area Act and within and outside the Gorge. Dustin Klinger Management Plan require state • Include an effective combination of regulatory Nancy Russell Tagencies to adopt air quality strategies. and voluntary measures. Bowen Blair, Jr. (non-voting trustee) Unfortunately, the Department Jim Desmond (non-voting trustee) of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has • Specify timetables for implementation and measurable goals for air pollution reduction. STAFF neglected taking any serious action to Nathan Baker STAFF ATTORNEY address Gorge air pollution. Visibility and Send comments today to: Kelley Beamer CONSERVATION ORGANIZER air quality continue to worsen while large Stephanie Hallock, Director, Justin Carroll EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT industries continue to pollute Gorge air. Department of Environmental Quality Peter Cornelison* FIELD REPRESENTATIVE 811 SW 6th Avenue, Portland 97204-1390 Kevin Gorman EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Please urge DEQ to adopt a [email protected] Jane Harris DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR comprehensive Gorge air quality and Michael Lang CONSERVATION DIRECTOR visibility strategy this year that will: Or take action online at www.gorgefriends.org. Marilyn Lipko DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT Kate McBride* LAND TRUST MANAGER • Protect and enhance air quality and Above photo: Mount Adams and Burdoin Mountain Rick Till LAND USE LAW CLERK visibility in the Columbia Gorge. as seen from Tom McCall Point. Photo: James Holloway Renee Tkach* OUTDOOR PROGRAMS COORDINATOR * Gorge residents

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT Active citizen support makes the difference! Your actions for Legal Counsel: Gary Kahn Gorge protection are crucial to our success. Contact your Senators and Representatives using Newsletter Design: Kathy Fors and the information below, or check www.senate.gov or www.house.gov for other offices. Kathleen Krushas (To the Point Publications) Editor: Betsy Toll Oregon Washington Sen. Gordon Smith, (202) 224-3753 Sen. Patty Murray (202) 224-2621 PORTLAND OFFICE , 522 SW Fifth Avenue, #720 http://gsmith.senate.gov/public/ http://murray.senate.gov/email/index.cfm Portland, Oregon 97204 Sen. Ron Wyden, (202) 224-5244 Sen. Maria Cantwell, (202) 224-3441 (503) 241-3762 http://wyden.senate.gov/contact/ http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/ Rep. David Wu, (202) 225-0855 Rep. Brian Baird, (202) 225-3536 GORGE OFFICE 205 Oak Street, #17 Rep. Earl Blumenauer, (202) 225-4811 Rep. Doc Hastings, (202) 225-5816 Hood River, Oregon 97031 Rep. Darlene Hooley, (202) 225-5711 Rep. Norm Dicks, (202) 225-5916 (541) 386-5268 Rep. Greg Walden, (202) 225-6730 You can email your Congressional Representative www.gorgefriends.org Rep. Peter DeFazio, (202) 225-6416 by logging on to www.house.gov/writerep/

On the cover: Mount Hood as seen from Coyote Wall in Washington on a very good Gorge air quality day. 2 Photo: Darryl Lloyd

Director’s Letter

t our annual meeting last and a Portland woman named Nancy month, Friends of the Russell about protecting the rest of Columbia Gorge honored the area. Today, several thousand acres Aa woman who has been a Gorge at Rowena Plateau and Tom McCall wildflower enthusiast for decades Point are protected because of Barbara and has a passion for buying land to Robinson’s first steps. protect it. If you assume I’m talking • Another example of Barbara’s about Friends’ founder Nancy extraordinary contributions can be Russell, this time you would be found surrounding the Columbia wrong. Gorge Discovery Center. Walking Friends of the Columbia Gorge the grounds of this beautiful facility, presented a Lifetime Achievement it is hard to imagine that this land award to Barbara Robinson. Barbara once held a cement plant. Barbara has has been a tireless volunteer for the put in hundreds of volunteer hours Gorge and her contributions span Photographer Ken Denis and Executive Director Kevin Gorman rehabilitating the land and planting beyond this organization’s history. present a Lifetime Achievement award to Barbara Robinson at native species. What surrounds the For nearly 30 years, she has watched Friends’ 2007 Annual Meeting. Photo: Bob Hansen Discovery Center today is a labor of over the eastern Gorge as a dutiful Barbara’s love. mother watches a beloved child. Let me give you three examples: • Finally, Barbara helped lead the effort to open the Klickitat Trail • Nearly 30 years ago, Barbara fell in love with the area now and today serves on the Klickitat Trail Conservancy board of called the Rowena Plateau. A lover of wildflowers and dramatic directors. She is the embodiment of consistency: leading hikes, landscapes, she knew cattle grazing could destroy it, so in participating in work parties, and patiently working with the state 1978, using her own limited resources, Barbara purchased and federal agencies as they work to improve the trail. 34 acres on the Plateau for $5,000, two years before Friends of the Columbia Gorge was founded. Soon after, The Nature Friends awarded Barbara a beautiful framed photo of the iconic Conservancy purchased the parcel from her for the same eastern Gorge petroglyph She Who Watches. But it is perhaps more price, and Barbara began talking with Oregon State Parks appropriate to refer to Barbara Robinson as She Who Gets Things Done.

For nearly 30 years, she has watched over the eastern

Gorge as a dutiful mother watches a beloved child. Kevin Gorman Executive Director

Friends of the Columbia Gorge works to ensure that the beautiful and wild Columbia Gorge remains a place apart, an unspoiled treasure for generations to come.

Barbara Robinson shares her knowledge and love of the Gorge with hikers of all ages. Photo: Kevin Gorman 3 Let’s Clear the Air in the Columbia Gorge Declining Gorge air quality requires action by agencies

By Michael Lang, Conservation Director, [email protected]

ecent newspaper headlines say it in the Gorge. High levels of nitrogen pulp mills, other industrial sources, cars all: “Scenic and Acidic,” and “Bad oxides, ammonia, and sulfur dioxides are and other mobile sources. Air Days Ahead for the Gorge.” adversely affecting Gorge ecosystems. Acid Recent studies such as the “Cause R The is one of deposition in the eastern Gorge reaches of Haze in the Gorge Report”1 and America’s natural scenic treasures and an the acidity of vinegar and is harming “Who is Polluting the Columbia icon of the Pacific Northwest. And it is sensitive plant, fish and wildlife habitat. River Gorge”2 identify two significant also one of the most polluted airsheds of Cultural resources important to Columbia sources of air pollution located east of all protected areas in the West. Despite Gorge Tribes such as rock images and the Gorge near Boardman, Oregon: requirements of federal and state laws petroglyphs are jeopardized by the effects Threemile Canyon Farms, one of the to protect air quality in areas like the of pollution. largest dairy operations in the United Columbia River Gorge, the agencies States, and Portland General Electric’s responsible for that protection have been Regional pollution sources aging coal-fired power plant. slow to respond. Major sources of air pollution are In 2005, Threemile Canyon Farms In 2007, certain opportunities could located at both ends of the Gorge. As reported that their 52,300 dairy lead to cleaner air in the Gorge, but this the only sea-level passage through the cows emitted up to 15,500 pounds can only succeed if the public speaks out Cascade Mountains, the Gorge acts like a of ammonia into the air daily, or 5.58 in support of significant Gorge air quality funnel. During summer, winds blowing in million pounds per year, or 75,000 improvements. from the west bring airborne pollutants pounds more than the nation’s largest generated in the Portland/Vancouver manufacturing source of ammonia air Air quality mandate metropolitan area. During fall and pollution. Ammonia emissions from The Columbia River Gorge National winter, winds carry pollution generated large feedlots and dairy operations form Scenic Area Act and its Management Plan predominantly to the east. ammonium nitrate, which causes haze. require protection and enhancement West of the Gorge, major sources of The worst measurements of haze in the of the Gorge’s scenic, natural, cultural, Gorge air pollution appear to be shipping, Gorge were recorded during winter and recreation resources, and adoption of a strategy for regulating air pollution affecting the Gorge. Related state laws require the Gorge Commission and state agencies to carry out their responsibilities in accordance with the Scenic Area Act. Yet 21 years after the Scenic Area Act passed into law, those agencies have not taken any meaningful steps to address air pollution in the Gorge. This inaction is not due to lack of information. Air quality in the Columbia River Gorge has been studied since 1993; numerous studies have also examined where Gorge pollution is generated and the effects it is having on resources. Monitoring and research shows that visibility is impaired 95% of the time 4 Let’s Clear the Air in the Columbia Gorge

and contained high levels of ammonium plant is uncontrolled for sulfur dioxide for large agricultural sources of air nitrate. Yet Threemile Canyon Farms has emissions and has obsolete controls for pollution like Threemile. Oregon will a permit for up to 90,000 head of cattle, nitrogen oxide emissions, pollutants which also move to adopt a federally-mandated which allows an increase of more than cause haze and damage to ecosystems. “Regional Haze Rule” to improve visibility 70% in their herd size. to “natural” levels in federally protected The PGE Boardman coal-fired Action this year airsheds in Oregon by the year 2064. power plant is the largest source of sulfur Action to address air pollution in the In 2006, Oregon’s Environmental dioxide and nitrogen oxides in the state Gorge may finally gain traction in 2007, Quality Commission responded to public of Oregon. The Forest Service has studied the deadline for air quality agencies to demands for meaningful reductions of emissions from the PGE Boardman adopt a Gorge-wide strategy to protect toxic mercury emissions and adopted new Plant and determined that they are a and enhance air quality in the Gorge. In rules to reduce mercury emissions from major cause of air pollution and visibility April, an Oregon State Senate committee the PGE Boardman plant. Staff of the impairment in ten wilderness areas, one passed amendments supported by farmers, Oregon Department of Environmental national park, and the Columbia River environmental groups, and downwind Quality (DEQ) originally proposed Gorge National Scenic Area. Yet this power landowners requiring stronger standards adoption of weak rules drafted by the Bush administration. Only after hundreds of letters poured into the agency from citizens demanding meaningful standards Action to address air pollution in the Gorge may finally did the agency change course. This was an important lesson: agencies gain traction in 2007, the deadline for air quality agencies responsible for environmental quality do to adopt a Gorge-wide strategy to protect and enhance air not automatically assume that citizens want clean air and a healthy environment. quality in the Gorge. We need to make it clear to DEQ that we don’t want the Gorge to be poisoned by mercury; we expect them to implement and enforce high standards for air quality. Citizen action is imperative to demand that these agencies take action now to reduce air pollution in the Columbia Gorge. See our Gorge Air Quality alert on Page 2, or check www.gorgefriends.org to take action online today.

1 Fenn, et al, Desert Research Institute, March 2006. 2 Dr. Dan Jaffe, PhD, Northwest Air Quality, Inc., Dec. 2006.

Photos taken from the Wishram air-quality monitoring station in the eastern Gorge on “good” (far left photo) and “poor” (near left photo) air-quality days. Photos: Courtesy U.S. Forest Service 5 Land Trust Scenic Landscape Preserved Trophy houses averted This particular parcel sits when she was a child. Kate directly across the river from describes those formative walks Kate McBride, Land Trust Manager Coyote Wall and is visible from as a motivating factor in her [email protected] numerous vantage points on becoming an advocate for land Washington SR-14. Two small protection. manufactured houses are The Land Trust will currently on the property, but eventually remove the current the real threat to this scenic structures, return the land to parcel was the economic its natural state, and pursue potential in replacing those possibilities for creating public dwellings with enormous park and trail opportunities in “trophy” homes boasting million- the future. dollar Gorge views. Instead, Nancy’s intention was to protect Land Sales/ the land, and her donation of Donations and this property to Friends of the Conservation Columbia Gorge Land Trust View looking west from the Russell property near Mosier. ensures that her intention will be Easement Inquiries Photo: Kevin Gorman honored. If you are interested in The property also carries joining Nancy Russell by n addition to Friends of the purchased in 2005, adjacent to special meaning for Land Trust donating property inside or Columbia Gorge Land Trust’s the east end of the city of Mosier. Manager Kate McBride. Kate’s outside the Gorge to Friends property acquisition efforts, The land’s open vistas provide great-grandparents once owned of the Columbia Gorge Iwe are currently setting the views across the river west to the property and she fondly Land Trust, contact Kate stage to facilitate the donation Underwood Mountain and east remembers many long walks on McBride at 541-386-5268 or and transfer of approximately toward Dalles Mountain Ranch. the land with her grandfather [email protected]. 600 acres owned by Friends founder Nancy Russell to the Land Trust. Over a span of nearly two decades, Nancy purchased 35 different Gorge properties to ensure their protection. About one-third of those parcels have already been transferred or sold into public ownership of agencies including the U.S. Forest Service, Washington State Parks, and Oregon State Parks. One of the more spectacular parcels Nancy currently owns is a 43-acre Oregon property she

The Russell property is visible for miles from both the Oregon and Washington sides of the river. Photo: Friends of the Columbia Gorge GIS

6 Outreach and Activities Spring Hikes ur spring hike season is in full bloom, with Omore member-only hikes, wildflower hikes, and special-focus outings such as geology, history, birding, and photography still to come. Check our schedule at www.gorgefriends.org/hikes and join us for a wonderful hike in the Gorge. Outdoor Programs Coordinator Wilderness Week, Renee Tkach. Photo: Angie Moore June 23 to July 1 riends staff members are leading hikes into New Faces at FGorge wilderness and proposed wilderness Friends areas, in partnership with Oregon Wild. his spring two new Gorge Sunday, June 24 – Lost Lake Circle, easy-moderate Tenthusiasts joined Friends’ 5 miles, with Hood River Field Representative staff: Renee Tkach as Outdoor Peter Cornelison. Programs Coordinator and Volunteers will help remove fencing at Friends Land Marilyn Lipko as Development Trust property on Cape Horn. Assistant. Photo: Friends of the Columbia Gorge Archives Renee has volunteered for Friends since 2003, spearheading creation of a citizens group to protect and Cape Horn maintain the Cape Horn Trail. A Gorge resident, Renee is now Clean-Up Party coordinating our hiking and stewardship programs. Renee Tkach, Outdoor Programs Coordinator Marilyn comes to us after [email protected] six years as development assistant for Sisters of the t’s spring clean up time at Friends of the Road Café. An enthusiastic Columbia Gorge Land Trust’s Cleveland hiker since moving to Oregon Property at Cape Horn. Two work parties are 12 years ago from a yoga Ischeduled, and we need lots of help. Mark your community in Massachusetts, calendar, grab your work gloves and boots, and Marilyn will be an avid member come lend a hand! of our Gorge protection team. Sunday June 9, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Help us take a big first step toward restoring this land to a more Beautiful Wahclella Falls is the destination for our June natural state by clearing cyclone fencing from a 30 Wilderness Week hike. Photo: Ken Denis couple of acres and preparing it for recycling. Saturday July 7, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Join us for a Wednesday, June 27 – Herman Creek, moderate 5 “chop and pile” day, cutting non-native plants and miles, with Conservation Organizer Kelley Beamer. piling them for removal. Located high on the bluff above Washington Friday, June 29 – Tanner Creek/Wahclella Falls, SR-14 between Washougal and Stevenson, the easy and family-friendly 2 miles, with Outdoor Cleveland property has stunning views to the east Programs Coordinator Renee Tkach. and will be part of the 8-mile Cape Horn trail. For more information including meeting places For details and directions, contact Renee at 503- and carpool information, contact Renee at Development Assistant Marilyn Lipko. 241-3762 x 103 or [email protected]. [email protected] or 503-241-3762 x 103. Photo: Angie Moore 7 Legal and Conservation Friends Prevails in Measure 37 Appeal

Nathan Baker, Staff Attorney, [email protected]

n February, the Oregon Court of Act and an interstate compact, both landowners, appealed. Appeals upheld a Friends legal victory of which prevail over state law in the The Court of Appeals upheld and confirmed that Oregon’s Ballot event of a conflict. The text of Measure the Circuit Court ruling, stating that IMeasure 37 does not apply within the 37 recognizes this legal principle, and OIA’s “view of what the Scenic Area Columbia River Gorge National Scenic forbids claims challenging rules required Act ‘requires’. . . is artificially and Area. The ruling will help protect the by federal law. implausibly crabbed [and] cannot Gorge’s sensitive and unique resources. In spring 2005, two landowners be reconciled with the federal Act’s Measure 37, authored by the attempted to file Measure 37 claims comprehensive design and operation.” property rights group Oregonians in within the National Scenic Area. Shortly The court elaborated that “the Scenic Action (OIA), became state law in thereafter, the Columbia River Gorge Area Act provides for a degree of federal January 2005. The measure forces Commission sought a ruling from the oversight that belies [OIA’s] assertion that state and local governments to either Hood River County Circuit Court that the county ordinances in question are not compensate landowners for alleged Measure 37 does not apply to the Scenic ‘required to comply with federal law.’” reductions in property value caused Area rules. Friends intervened in the case Without protection as a National by land use and environmental laws or on the side of the Gorge Commission. Scenic Area, it is likely that parts of the to waive the laws, allowing harmful The Circuit Court held that the Gorge would already have succumbed development to proceed. Scenic Area rules are required by federal to development allowed by Measure 37 Fortunately, the Columbia Gorge is law and are therefore not subject to claims. Prior to the Court of Appeals protected by the National Scenic Area Measure 37. OIA, representing the ruling, several additional landowners

The Court of Appeals ruling protects the National Scenic Area from Measure 37 claims like this one on Hood River Mountain.

8 Photo: Friends of the Columbia Gorge GIS Gorge Gains These hills east of Hood River are in the National Scenic Area; they would be threatened with development if the landowner’s Measure 37 claim were allowed. Photo: Kate McBride More Public Land in 2007!

n March, the U.S. Forest Service received $1 million in federal funding to purchase properties with high Iconservation value in the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area. The funding was part of a continuing resolution passed by the new Congress to carry out key federal programs until a 2008 budget is passed. With this funding, the Forest Service will purchase 17 acres adjacent to Bridal Veil Falls State Park along the Historic Columbia River Highway. The property offers a wonderful hiking opportunity to double-tiered Bridal Veil Falls and, with attempted to file claims within the currently designated as forestland in this purchase, a wheelchair-accessible trail National Scenic Area, demanding Hood River County. to the falls may also become possible. approximately 834 dwellings on 1,857 OIA has asked the Oregon Supreme Public acquisition of the Bridal Veil acres. The largest of these claims Court to review the case. If the land dovetails with Friends’ efforts to was filed by SDS Lumber Company, Supreme Court grants review, Friends enhance the recreational potential of calling for 293 dwellings on 1465 acres will remain involved. this popular area. Since 2001, Friends volunteers have devoted more than 1000 hours to removing invasive plants and restoring native vegetation on the bluff. Gorge Casino Plan Delayed Again We look forward to the opportunities that public ownership of this additional Kelley Beamer, Conservation Organizer, [email protected] land at Bridal Veil will provide. Federal purchase of land near Bridal Veil Falls he Bureau of Indian Affairs Oregon Department of Transportation could provide additional access to this camas announced last month that policy that requires three miles between field on the bluff. Photo: Angie Moore the agency is again postponing interchanges along major highways. Tthe release of its Draft Environmental Building a new interchange at the casino Impact Statement (DEIS) for the site could therefore mandate the closure proposed Columbia Gorge casino. The or consolidation of the existing exits, announcement marked the sixth time routing thousands of additional cars, the Agency has delayed release of its buses and semi trucks through residential environmental review, indicating that the neighborhoods. draft still contains major flaws. This traffic problem confirms that The Bureau’s latest delay coincides siting a 600,000-square-foot casino in with new concerns raised over a proposed the small town of Cascade Locks (pop. highway interchange in Cascade Locks. 1,100) would create countless unforeseen The proposed casino and its estimated problems. The Bureau of Indian Affairs three million yearly visitors would require now expects the DEIS to be released in a new interchange to accommodate the late June or early July, commencing a predicted influx of traffic. The proposed public comment period and a series of interchange is inconsistent with an public meetings. 9 Development Honoring at Annual Meeting

Jane Harris, Development Director, [email protected]

riends’ Annual Meeting was What future generations held on April 15 at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center in the would say to us today FDalles. Two hundred members listened to author and rancher George Rohrbacher if they could is: Don’t describe the politics, tribal perspective, and history of Celilo Falls and the rich drop the torch! commerce and community that was lost with the creation of The Dalles dam. Speaker George Rohrbacher tells the This year marked the 50th story of the flooding of Celilo Falls. anniversary of the flooding of Celilo, and Photo: Ken Denis historic photos of the falls and the Native Americans who fished and lived near the once-thundering waters for countless generations were on display. At the meeting, Friends also honored long-time member Barbara Robinson Picnic at the Shire with a life-time achievement award riends’ Annual Summer Picnic will be for her tireless efforts Fheld on Sunday, July 22 at the Shire, to preserve special property once owned by John Yeon, on landscapes in the Gorge More than 200 people enjoyed the Annual Meeting at the the Washington side of the river across including the Rowena beautiful Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. Photo: Ken Denis from . This beautiful site Plateau. was gifted to the University of Oregon’s Executive Director Kevin years,” he said, “and some are ready school of architecture when John died and Gorman asked members to keep the to pass it on. What future generations we have reserved use of the site through torch for Gorge protection burning. would say to us today if they could is: special arrangements with the University. “Some of you have just picked up the Don’t drop the torch!” Mark your calendars and join us July 22 torch. Some have been carrying it for for a day on the river. Our 2007 Summer Picnic will be on the river at the Shire. Photo: Diana Karabut Members Take Advantage of New Tax Incentive

riends members are taking distributions to be excluded from advantage of a change in tax gross income for federal income tax laws that allows donors aged purposes. However, no federal income F70½ or older to make cash gifts up tax deduction is available. Only outright to $100,000 from IRA accounts gifts from IRAs are eligible. without incurring income tax on the To take advantage of this wonderful withdrawal. opportunity to support the Gorge and The H.R. 4 Pension Protection save on your taxes, call Jane Harris at Act of 2006 allows qualified charitable (503) 242-3762 x102. 10 Special Gifts

The Hamilton Mountain trail offers January 20 - April 1, 2007 everything a Gorge hike should: great views, beautiful wildflowers, In memory of Bruce Klinger and few crowds. Kevin Gorman and Michelle Kinsella Photo: Oliver Dalton In Memory of Betty Gene Wellman Donald and June Hays

In Memory of Vic Clausen Jerry F. King

In Memory of Jim Cahill Marylyn and Letty Mayhew Gary and Linda Offerman

In Memory of Barbara McFarlane David and Gregory McFarlane

In memory of Taz Larson Jeffrey Richter

In Memory of Dorisann Balsinger James Stratton

In Memory of Eda Cooper Anne Taggard

In Honor of Nancy Russell Carol S. Newman

In honor of Jean Ellis’s 80th Birthday Mary Mimmack

Loowit Falls in Eagle Creek Canyon. Featured Hike: Hamilton Mountain Photo: Greg Lief, Liefphotos.com Distance: 6.5 miles with 2000-ft elevation gain

n late May, when many Gorge well-known Gorge waterfalls. Switchbacks wildflowers further east or near the along the main south ridge lead to expansive river are already gone, wonderful views up and down the Gorge. At these Ilate-spring color still splashes across higher viewpoints, it is easy to see how the elevations on Hamilton Mountain and Dog Bonneville Slide probably dammed the Mountain. Hikers can enjoy fabulous views Columbia, as told in the Native American and late-season wildflowers and avoid the story of the Bridge of the Gods, pushing the large crowds that flock to Dog Mountain river one mile to the south. by hiking up the Hamilton Mountain trail from Beacon Rock State Park. Directions: From the Portland area, take I-84 Hamilton Mountain offers a little bit East to Cascade Locks Exit 44 and cross the of everything a Gorge hike should: great Bridge of the Gods ($1) to Washington SR-14. views, waterfalls, wildflower meadows, Turn left and drive 6.5 miles to Beacon Rock and a good workout. A short way into the State Park. Turn right at the road to the picnic trail, hikers come to Hardy and Rodney area and campground and follow it up 0.3 mile Falls, two of the more beautiful but less to the picnic area and trailhead. 11 Know Your Gorge The Columbia Gorge goes to the birds

hile wildflower diversity is a great attraction of the Columbia Gorge, the WGorge also attracts a wide diversity of birds. A recent compilation from Columbia Gorge bird specialists Nearly 40% of bird species that breed in North reveals more than 300 bird species America visit the Columbia Gorge, including the in the Gorge, and new species are delightful Acorn Woodpecker (below) which has observed annually. The reasons for been sighted recently near Lyle, WA. bird diversity are unique ecosystems Photo: Greg Gillson, http://thebirdguide.com (sage-steppe, oak pine forest, Silver fir forest, etc.) with varied altitudes, in a populations will improve. Bird enthusiasts small concentrated area with a major are hopeful that we will see even greater river coursing through it. numbers of birds in the coming decades. Approximately 800 breeding bird For a complete list of bird sightings in species are found in North America, the Columbia Gorge, visit: http://community. and the Columbia Gorge is visited by gorge.net/birding/CGNSAchecklist.htm. nearly 40% of those species. With To volunteer on Columbia Gorge bird counts the restoration of wetlands at the such as the Lyle and Hood River Christmas Sandy River Delta and Steigerwald Bird Counts sponsored by Friends of the National Wildlife Refuge, conditions Columbia Gorge, contact Bob Hansen at that attract birds and support breeding [email protected].

Photo: Ken Denis

Non Profit U.S. Postage PAID Portland, OR Permit No. 2623 Friends of the Columbia Gorge P.O. Box 40820 Portland, Oregon 97240-0820