Fall 2017 Newsletter
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Friends of the Columbia Gorge Protecting the Gorge Since 1980 Fall 2017 Newsletter Inside Take Action Against Oil Page 2 Blue Skies & Big News: Gorge Towns to Trails Page 4 Hikes, Outings, Events & Stewardship Insert Friends of the Columbia Gorge An oil train heading west, near Bingen, Washington. Founder Nancy Russell, 1932-2008 Photo: Darryl Lloyd BOARD OF DIRECTORS Geoff Carr CHAIR Debbie Asakawa VICE CHAIR Kari Skedsvold SECRETARY/TREASURER Pat Campbell John Nelson* Greg Delwiche Kim Noah* Gwen Farnham Carrie Nobles John Harrison Lisa Berkson Platt Temple Lentz Mia Prickett David Michalek* Vince Ready* Patty Mizutani Meredith Savery Take Action! BOARD OF TRUSTEES – LAND TRUST John Nelson* PRESIDENT David Michalek* SECRETARY/TREASURER Pat Campbell Keep Fighting Oil By Rail Greg Delwiche If you live in Oregon, you are probably aware that the oil train safety legislation Dustin Klinger Barbara Nelson we were trying to pass this last session failed. Please contact your Oregon Rick Ray* representative and Governor Kate Brown to let them know you want oil safety John Baugher LAND TRUST ADVISOR legislation prioritized at the upcoming short session that starts in February. STAFF Contact Gov. Kate Brown: State Capitol Building Nathan Baker SENIOR STAFF ATTORNEY 900 Court Street NE, 160, Salem, OR 97301 Kyle Broeckel DEVELOPMENT AssISTANT Peter Cornelison* FIELD REPRESENTATIVE Phone: (503) 378-4582 Pam Davee DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Find your Oregon legislator online: oregonlegislature.gov Burt Edwards COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Kevin Gorman EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Stan Hall DIGITAL CONTENT SPECIALIST Kate Harbour MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR Vancouver Oil Terminal Decision Looms Maegan Jossy OUTREACH MANAGER Michael Lang CONSERVATION DIRECTOR And if you live in Washington, please take action right now for the Gorge. The Energy Kate Lindberg OUTDOOR PROGRAMS COORDINATOR Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) just held the last permit hearing for the proposed Kate McBride* LAND TRUST MANAGER Steve McCoy STAFF ATTORNEY oil terminal in Vancouver on August 22. As you know, that terminal is one of numerous Ingrid Nylen EVENTS AssISTANT proposals to increase oil exports through the Pacific Northwest, all of which would Ryan Rittenhouse CONSERVATION ORGANIZER result in more, dangerous oil trains through the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Renee Tkach* GORGE TOWNS TO TRAIls MANAGER Paige Unangst FINANCE DIRECTOR Area. Please urge Governor Jay Inslee to oppose any new oil terminals or refineries. David Williams GIS COORDINATOR, ENCORE FEllOW Sara Woods* LAND STEWARDSHIP COORDINATOR Contact Gov. Jay Inslee: Office of the Governor Sandy Wright DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR PO Box 40002, Olympia, WA 98504-0002 *Gorge Area Residents Phone: (360) 902-4111 PUblISHED AUGUST 2017 Stay Connected with Friends PUblICATIONS: Newsletter Design: Kathy Fors and Action Alerts: Stay updated on conservation threats to the Gorge and Kathleen Krushas / To the Point Publications how to take action. Editor: Betsy Toll / Lumin Creative Services Hiking e-news: Receive biweekly updates on Friends’ guided outings, PORTLAND OFFICE: 333 SW Fifth Ave., Suite 300, Portland, OR 97204 stewardship work party announcements, trail alerts, 503-241-3762 suggested seasonal hikes, and other hiking-related news. HOOD RIVER OFFICE: Monthly e-news: Keep updated on Friends’ work, upcoming events and 205 Oak St., Suite 17, Hood River, OR 97031 541-386-5268 news, volunteer efforts, ways to get involved, and more. WASHOUGAL OFFICE: Sign up at: gorgefriends.org/subscribe 887 Main St., Suite 202, Washougal, WA 98671 360-334-3180 /gorgefriends @gorgefriends @gorgefriends 2 Cover: Autumn beauty at Coyote Meadow, part of our Preserve the Wonder campaign. Photo: Debbie Asakawa Director’s Letter arly this summer, as the Columbia digging, Nathan uncovered an obscure River Gorge Commission’s hearing quote by Washington Senator Slade Gorton on Union Pacific’s rail expansion regarding railroads. During Senate debate Eproposal near Mosier progressed, a biblical on the 1986 legislation, Gorton stated on drama seemed to play out, David against the Senate floor that “the [Gorge] Commission Goliath. Our handful of underpaid but may require mitigation measures to ensure that dedicated attorneys faced down Union [railroad] activity will not adversely affect the Pacific’s platoon of high-priced lawyers. resources protected under the act.” Digging And just as David had his sling, Friends, deeper, Nathan also learned that the too, had a secret weapon: the irrepressible railroads had drafted and urged Congress to Senior Staff Attorney Nathan Baker, left, with persistence of our senior staff attorney, include language in the Act that would have Staff Attorney Steve McCoy. Photo: Michael Horodyski Nathan Baker. specifically exempted their activities from Nathan came to Friends in 2000, regulation, but Congress declined to do so. pages of materials the Gorge Commissioners straight out of law school. He immediately Nathan’s discoveries were interesting, had to review in hearing the case, they saw immersed himself in the rules of the but none of this was explicitly stated in the that legislative history, including Gorton’s Gorge Management Plan and the Scenic final legislation, so I wasn’t sure it mattered. statement, and relied on it to reject Union Area legislation. In fact, Nathan showed Turns out it does matter. When Oregon Pacific’s rail expansion project and underscore a dogged pursuit of all things Gorge. He courts are asked to interpret statutes, they the Commission’s authority over railroad began researching all the movies and TV must consider the legislative history to activities in the National Scenic Area. shows filmed in the Gorge, learning, among determine, if possible, legislative intent. What was once arcane congressional other things, that both Lassie and Charlie Union Pacific argued that the Gorge trivia has now made a difference on the the Lonesome Cougar had ridden the Commission had no authority over railroad ground, thanks to Nathan Baker and his love Broughton log flume near Underwood. activities and that Union Pacific’s own of the law, history, and the Columbia Gorge. So I wasn’t surprised when, three application for a Scenic Area permit was years ago, just for fun, Nathan was merely a courtesy. Nathan, however, made poring over the legislative history behind sure that the Act’s legislative history was Congress’s passage of the Columbia River presented in a legal brief arguing against Kevin Gorman, Executive Director Gorge National Scenic Area Act. While Union Pacific’s plans. Amid the 20,000 [email protected] 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. Cover: Autumn beauty at Coyote Meadow, part of our Preserve the Wonder campaign. Photo: Debbie Asakawa Early autumn colors near Mosier. Photo: Kevin Gorman 3 The Bridge of the Gods, reaching from Cascade Locks north to Washington. Photo: Cacophony / Wikimedia longtime visitors. The bridge’s prominence in the recent film Wild, based on Cheryl Blue Skies & Big News: Strayed’s popular book, prompted a dramatic increase in hiking along the Pacific Crest Trail, along with visitors eager Gorge Towns to Trails to cross the bridge or snap selfies mid- span. By some estimates, foot traffic to the Renee Tkach, Project Manager, [email protected] bridge –the Gorge’s latest must-see tourist destination – has increased as much as or many people, summer is a time for bring together private, public, and nonprofit five-fold. This has not only placed a strain rest, relaxation, and reflection – a sector partners committed to building a on current infrastructure, but increased chance to step back and slow down sustainable vision for Gorge recreation. safety concerns for hikers and pedestrians Fafter a busy and productive spring. But The charm and appeal of Cascade attempting to cross the bridge. on Friends’ Gorge Towns to Trails initiative, Locks and its iconic Bridge of the Gods is As part of its Gorge Towns to Trails this summer has seen a nonstop flurry of now spreading beyond Gorge residents and efforts, Friends has partnered with the activity. Those of us who live in and love this beautiful area stand to benefit for many seasons to come from the growing Old-growth cedar and fir momentum of support for creating a world- stands on Herman Creek Trail class system of trails around the Gorge. near Cascade Locks. The vision of a series of trails Photo: Debbie Asakawa connecting Gorge communities, businesses, and wild areas is one of the highest recreational objectives within the National Scenic Area’s management plan. Gorge Towns to Trails is an effort to make this vision a reality by creating a European- style hiking system that wraps around the Gorge, connecting communities with tourism, dispersing congestion, and creating contiguous wildlife corridors. To accomplish this ambitious feat, Friends has been working over the past six years to 4 Port of Cascade Locks, the Pacific Crest coordination with local communities and the Gorge. Over the summer, Friends Trail Association, and City of Stevenson to partner organizations.” The city council has held a number of community talks raise $18,000 to explore the feasibility of resolution also stressed the importance and special hikes to help build public a new pedestrian lane on the Bridge of the of Gorge Towns to Trails as a key tool to support to reach the campaign’s ambitious Gods. The result of months of talks between promote sustainable recreation and $5.5 million goal. Friends also has seen leaders of local jurisdictions on both sides alternative transportation options to significant progress this summer in its of the river, this critical infrastructure alleviate congestion at popular trailheads efforts to engage key community leaders improvement project would not only throughout the Gorge. in the Gorge Towns to Trails initiative. provide safe access for future pedestrians and bicyclists, but could create a key link with other Gorge trails, such as the recently completed Trail of the Gods in Skamania County.