FRIENDS OF THE COLUMBIA GORGE
AUGUST-OCTOBER 1994 NEWSLE'I"I'ER 319 S.W. Washington Street, Suite 301, Portland, Oregon, 97204 Telephone: (503) 241-3762 Friends of the Columbia Gorge invites you to our 14th Annual Summer Picnic Rooster Rock State Park (Oregon) Sunday, August 14, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Special Attraction: "Curare" Caribbean Steel Band, 12:30 p.m. to 2:15p.m.
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Rooster Rock with four Mazamas on top, 1915. We furnish: Lemonade, iced tea and cookies You furnish: Lunch, chairs, blanket, suntan lotion, any games you'd like to share and lots of friends Costs: $3 I car entrance fee and $4/ family donation for the band Directions: From Portland, take I-84 east to exit 25, the Rooster Rock State Park exit. Follow the exit ramp to the entrance of the park. Pay $3 at the day-use booth, turn left and park in any parking area on the right. Our section is between the parking lots and 1-84. There is a kitchen shelter that is signed "B-2". Look for Friends of the Columbia Gorge banner. Bingen Cogeneration Plant Threatens Legal Update
Air Quality for Gorge Residents Friends v. Secretary of Agriculture, he Klickitat Energy Partnership, a people who testified opposed the plant. Columbia Gorge Commission T group of local and Northwest busi The Council, however, voted 4 to 1to issue This is the second suit filed over the nesses, is planning to build a natural gas a "mitigated determination of non-sig Skamania County Land Ordinance which, fired cogeneration plant at the SDS Lum nificance" (DNS), which means the part although mostly consistent with the Man ber Mill in Bingen, Wash. The plant will nership can proceed with the plant if they agement Plan, contains a "sunset clause" produce process steam for the mill and take certain steps to mitigate the air and that requires certain events to occur by electricitythatwill be sold to the Bonneville noise pollution. Jan. 15,1995orthe0rdinanceterminates. Power Administration (BPA). The Friends' believe that there are The Ordinance also shortens the time pe The partnership consists of Cogen too many unanswered questions about riod by which lands in the Special Man eration Services Inc. of Portland, Inland the effects this project will have on the agement Area become General Manage Pacific Energy Corp. of Spokane and SDS environment (such as smog). Therefore, ment Area if a landowner offers to sell the Lumber Co., Bingen. we have requested that BP A do a full property to the Forest Service at fair mar The proposed plant will emit carbon Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). ket value and the Forest Service does not dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monox The City of Hood River has made the acquire it. ide and airborne particulate matter, as same request to the City of Bingen. The Congress authorized millions of dol well as produce noise. Forest Service also is concerned about the lars in economic funds for counties with At two public hearings conducted air quality impacts and will be notifying approved land use ordinances. Allowing by the Bingen City Council recently, most Bingen by letter of its concerns. a county to approve an ordinance, get its share of the money and then terminate the ordinance, undercuts Congress' intent. Lauri Aunan Hired as New The first lawsuit, filed in Superior Executive Director of the Friends Court in Skamania County, was unsuc cessful. It is now on appeal to the Wash fter an extensive interview process, Rick Ray, Chairman of the Friends, ington Court of Appeals. A Friends of the Columbia Gorge is says, 'We are very pleased that La uri has Friends v. Gorge Commission pleased to announce that Lauri Aunan accepted our offer and look forward to 1 will be the New Executive Director of getting to know her. She has all the expe Friends has filed lawsuits against Friends of the Columbia Gorge. rience we were looking for in an executive rules promulgated by the Gorge Com La uri comes to us with a strong envi director and feel fortunate to have some mission which give their Executive Direc ronmental issue background. She is an one with her background." tor and the Commission authority to ap attorney with legal, po- ....------....,..------. La uri replaces Pau prove land use applications even when litical and administrative lette Carter-Bartee, who the Land Use Ordinance and the Manage experience-and she has resigned last spring. ment Plan prohibit the use. To invoke the been involved in numer Lauri is excited to special rule, the landowner must claim ous issues at both the state begin her new position. that he or she is left with no reasonable and national levels. "I am honored to join the economic use of the property. Most recently, she Friends, who have done Friends is very concerned about this was Environmental Ad so much to protect this special rule because it grants "variance" vocate/Policy Director for unique and beautiful re authority to the Commission not autho the Oregon State Public source," she says. "I look rized in the Management Plan or in the Interest Research Group forward toworkingwith Act. Further, there is not sufficient criteria (OSPIRG). She is respon all of you as we continue to guide the decision makers. sible for developing all the fight to save the Notice of Intent to Sue facets of a program to ad- Lauri Aunan, new Director Gorge." vocate recycling and solid Photo by Joe Walicki La uri's first day on Friends has sent a 60-day notice of waste policy: legislation, the job will be Monday, intent to sue the Gorge Commission, For public education materials, research Aug.8. est Service and Washington Department projects, media communication and grant "As a member of the Executive Com of Natural Resources regarding the fail writing. mittee of the Board, I look forward to ure of these agencies to regulate forest Her other experience includes work working with her," says John Reynolds, practices in the SMA, as required by the with the Sierra Club, the material use Vice Chairman of the Board. "We trust Act and the Management Plan. No agency program of the National Environmental our members will find Lauri as skilled has stepped forward to take on the re Law Center and private law practice. and enthusiastic as we do." sponsibility. While we hope that a lawsuit As if that weren't enough, La uri lives Come to our annual picnic Aug. 14 will not be necessary, we feel this is the in the National Scenic Area and is familiar at Rooster Rock State Park to meet our only way to protect the sensitive resources with the Gorge Management Plan. new Executive Director, La uri Aunan. in the NSA. (See related story, Page 4.) 2 Citizens' Efforts Stall Project BOOK REVIEW Quarry Could Alter Gorge View Forever By Joe Walicki Friends' Conservation Director r id-Columbia Asphalt Company, eral government at a cost of $2.5 million. M operating a quarry near Bingen, The Friends is working closely with The Traveler's Guide to The Historic Wash., has applied to Klickitat County for the Columbia Gorge Audubon Society to Columbia River Highway, edited by Ken a permit to expand its existing quarry urge our Klickitat County members to Manske,M&A Tour Books, Gresham, OR, from 8 acres to 58 acres. write letters and/ or testify before the 63pages, wireboundattop,3-1 /2" x9",45 If this project is approved, huge scars County Commissioners to urge that a full photographs, maps, $7.95 postpaid. will deface the Gorge face for hundreds of Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) be years. It will change the steep hillsides prepared by the landowner. This well researched booklet is ideal from natural basalt cliffs, benches and On July 5, the commissioners voted for history buffs and travelers who want talus slopes to bright loose rock with huge to send the project back to the planning to know all about the historic highway scars visible up and down the Gorge. The department for more consultation with from Troutdale to Dodson. It's well orga effects of the expansion will be seen from the landowner. The landowner can re nized with clear maps, photographs, mile Washington SR 14, Hood River, 1-84 and duce the size of the proposed expansion, markers indicating possible stopping the Historic Columbia River Highway or let it stand as is. If he decides to make points along the highway, and little (HCRC). The HCRC from Hood River to no changes in the proposal, the county known facts. Mosier is a critical viewing area, and is planning department may require him to For instance, just 2.3 miles east of being rehabilitated by the state and fed- do an EIS. Multnomah Falls is the Oneonta bridge and a tunnel that was filled with rubble and abandoned in 1966. There's a picture Update on Section S(o) of the tunnel on page "Oneonta Gorge 2". he Forest Service has developed a ventsalandownerfromrepeatedlybring That's how the pages are numbered T policy that clarifies some ambigu ing an offer and then rescinding the offer, according to sights along the highway. ities in Section 8(o) of the NSA Permanent a process which would cost the Forest The guide also indicates where pic Management Plan. This policy will help Service thousands of dollars in appraisals nic areas and rest rooms are located mitigate the potential burden that hordes and other administrative costs. Friends of and even where to take pictures. At the of frivolous land sale offers could gener the Gorge supports the Forest Service end of the booklet is a short quiz on what ate. policy. you just read. Section 8(o) allows a landowner to However, the law firm of Haglund A very handy little guide, well rec offer Special Management Area (SMA) and Kirtley disagrees. The law firm sent a ommended. land for sale to the Forest Service for fair letter to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture market value as established by a qualified claiming that the provisions in the Forest real estate appraiser. If the Forest Service Service policy are "contrary to the spirit chooses not to buy the land offered at fair and intent of Section 8( o )". ;47'talldei4 t'J«ide to market value, the land reverts to General H&K asks the Secretary to reevalu Management Area (GMA) status after a ate these provisions accordingly, and if THE period of three years. the policy is not changed, they will seek Under the new policy, the landowner declaratoryreliefin the U.S. District Court. and the Forest Service share the cost of the The Forest Service is assessing the issues, HISTORIC appraisal equally. Also, a Section 8(o) but has not decided whether or not to offer can only be made once. This pre- change its policy. COLUMBIA~ RIVER Friends of the Columbia Gorge t -shirts, sweatshirts, nightshirts and aprons make great gifts. Buy now for the best selection, or wait until our next newsletter for a complete description.
To order, call Marna Moore, (503) 241-3762.
3 Scenic Area Forest Practice Guidelines Delayed
By Michael Lang regulate forest practices in the National and condemnation authority over private Forest Project Coordinator Scenic Area Special Management Areas. land, it lacks the regulatory authority to This creates a hole in the Management enforce the guidelines in the Manage he Washington Forest Practices Plan big enough for a fleet of logging ment Plan. T Board has requested a formal State trucks to drive through. The vast majority of non-federal for Attorney General's opinion determining Currently, the Forest Service con est land in the Scenic Area lies on the the state authority and obligation to imple sults with landowners and attempts to Washington side. Washington's Forest ment Scenic Area forest protection guide condition the forest practice to be consis Practice Board and Department of Natu lines. This action could delay implemen tent with the Management Plan. Though ral Resources clearly have the authority tation indefinitely and jeopardize forest the Forest Service has injunctive power and arguably the legal obligation to imple resources in some of the most visible and ment these guidelines. What is lacking is ecologically sensitive forest land in the You can make a difference! the political will to do so. Gorge. Write to Washington Governor Although some members of the For The National Scenic Area Manage Mike Lowry and the Forest Practice est Practices Board are supportive, others ment Plan, developed by the U.S. Forest Board now and ask them to protect the seem to be content to sit on the fence and Service and adopted by the Gorge Com forests in our national treasure by imple let the courts settle the issue. Regrettably, mission and the states of Oregon and menting Special Management Area the Governor's office has not become di Washington, established forest practice Forest Practice Guidelines. rectly involved in resolving this impasse. guidelines for the 34,000 acres of Special Two years have been more than Due to the lack of progress and the Management Area (SMA) forest land. The enough time to implement the protec threat to forest resources that this repre guidelines attempt to protect forest re tive measures that Congress, the legis sents, Friends of the Columbia Gorge has sources, such as scenic beauty and latures of Oregon and Washington, and given the Forest Practice Board, the Gorge biodiversity, while still allowing for some the governors ofboth states legally com Commission and the Forest Service a 60- timber harvest. mitted themselves to. Write to: day notice that, unless one of the agencies The Management Plan also directs The Honorable Mike Lowry undertakes regulation of SMA forest prac either the states or the Gorge Commission State Capitol, Olympia WA tices consistent the requirements of the to regulate forest practices on non-federal 98504-0002 Management Plan, it intends to file a de forest lands consistent with the protective claratory judgement action in court seek Forest Practice Board guidelines contained in the Plan. ing a determination as to which agency DNR-Forest Practice Division, Since the completion and adoption must regulate SMA forest practices. This POBox47012 of the Management Plan two years ago, will result in forcing one of the agencies to Olympia no agency has accepted the authority to WA 98504-7012 implement and enforce the regulations. Friends Testifies Before Gorge Commission on Land Acquisition Policy riends' Chairman Emeritus Nancy rization per year - $4 million in the case ationallands can be acquired, she said. F Russell told the Columbia Gorge of the Gorge - without additional Con "With a sure and defensible general Commission in May that criteria it was gressional authorization. Good criteria priority list, we will be in a strong position recommending for use by the Forest Ser and a strong acquisition list will encour to receive additional funding on an or vice for making land acquisition deci age funding so that key park and recre- derly and regular basis," she testified. sions in the Gorge are "too narrow" and restrictive. Defending previous Forest Service land acquisitions, Russell said it is im perative that the Forest Service, recogniz ing its broader constituency, have "sen sible and flexible" criteria to use to ac quire lands of important public value. According to Russell, important water frontproperties, such as Yung Ranch near Beacon Rock State Park and St. Cloud Ranch, might not have been purchased if the proposed criteria were in effect. The initial authorization byCon~ess for land acquisition within the National Scenic Area was $40 million. Russell Testifying on behalf of the Friends at a May 10 Gorge Commission hearing in The Dalles on the noted that a federally designated area can Forest Service's land acquisition policy are, l-r, Rick Ray, Board Chairman; Nancy Russell, receive 10 percent of its original autho- Chairman Emeritus; and Bowen Blair Jr., Board member. Photo by Joe Walicki 4 Featured Hike Herman Creek and Nick Eaton Ridge Trail Complex ( ith this issue, the Friends' news HERMAN CREeK W letter will begin reprinting hikes WORK C.!!NTER. from The Mountaineers' book, Columbia ( PARKINC:,) River Gorge: A Complete Guide, edited by CA~CADE : )t"" J::~O,.,rr: Philip N, Jones. The hiking section was LOC.K"'S ( 40b~• -"G~ ~Z::, ( • •.• • •• . H.,...-1;?....,""111 written by Joe Walicki, now Conservation Director for the Friends. l ~~PGROU~p CREEEEt..: ~O.'I / '·. ~~!•.""o (',..,:-::::...... POWER:LINE ":/ ~·· •.0~ PARKING Difficulty: Easy to strenuous. ••• .. \._ Child safety: Good. _z;;~:1 ·. ~... ~ ··.. ~(j) Time: Herman Creek Camp, 3 hrs.; trails )/~··.. \~~: -.~ \~ HERMAN 406, 408, 437, 447, 7 hrs. TO c-,~::-•• •• ••• " •· ,.!CAMP I~ • ' •• BRIOGorE. ~~ "• ". • "•• <10 Distance: Herman Creek Camp, 3 mi., OF -n4E ~··.. :+ • •• ~ round trip; trails, 7 mi., round trip. (;.005 )' • • . •• :·. ~ : 0 •• Elevation gain: Herman Creek Camp, ~ .. · v :··.~~ ··:-i> 800ft.; intersection of trails 408 and 437, ,~.·
Balsam Root, above, provided a tra-il-side attraction to hikers on Hiking Weekend, while others had their heads in the clouds, below, on the first half of the Augspurger Mountain/Cook Hill Hike. Photos by Ken Denis Hikers on the Augspurger Mountain/Cook Hill hike during Hiking Weekend were treated to exceptional views and great weather. Above are, l-r, Martha Smith, Charlotte Head, Sandy Siegner and Myrtle Alex. Photo by Joe Walicki
Droplets of water glisten from the colorful blossoms of this Penstemon, found along the Augspurger Mountain hike. Photo by Ken Denis
Columbia Gorge Notebook
uch is happening these days in pected to be held in August or September appropriated $1,040,000 for the White M the Gorge. Here's an update of on the Forest Service's land use plan for Salmon Wild and Scenic River, but a Sen work in progress that is being monitored Catherine Creek and Major Creek- ar ate bill failed to appropriate any funds. by Friends of the Columbia Gorge: eas that have been in public ownership for The matter is now going to the Appropria Route 14 Master Plan: Studies are some time, but have lacked plans for pub tions Conference Committee, which is under way to arrive at a master plan for lic use and access. One issue to be ad expected to reach a decision before Labor theapproximately75-milestretchofState dressed is the problem of trespassing on Day. Route 14 on the Washington side of the private lands. If you are concerned about this ap Gorge. A draft vision statement and list Sandy River Delta: Look for the propriation, write to: U.S. Rep. Jolene of issues will be published soon by the Environmental Impact Statement to be Unsoeld (D-Wash.), 1527 Longworth ;Washington Department of Transporta released in the early fall. House Office Building, Washington, D.C., tion. Public meetings are expected to be Wild Rivers Funding: The hoped 20515, and/ or to U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks held later in the year. for Congressional appropriation for land (D-Wash), who serves on the Conference Catherine Creek/Major Creek Land acquisition along the lower White Salmon Committee, 2429 Rayburn House Office Use Plan: A one-day workshop is ex- River remains uncertain. The House bill Building, Washington, D.C., 20515. 7 MISSION STATEMENT Friends of the Columbia Gorge P.O. Box 40820 NonProfit Friends of the Columbia Gorge shall vigor Portland, Oregon 97240-0820 U.S. Postage ously protect the scenic, natural and cultural PAID resources within the Columbia River Gorge Portland, OR National Scenic Area. Address Correction Requested Permit No. 2623 We fulfill this mission by ensuring strict implementation of the National Scenic Area Act; promoting responsible stewardship of Gorge lands and waters; encouraging public ownership of sensitive areas; educating the public about the unique natural values of the Columbia River Gorge and the importance of preserving those values; and working with groups and individuals to accomplish mutual preservation goals. -Adopted February-3, 1994
Staff La uri Aunan* Executive Director Helen Ehelebe Bookkeeper/Office Assistant Gary K. Kahn Land Use Counsel Michael Lang Forest Project Coordinator MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS Marna Moore Receptionist/Clerk Kristen Pecknold Land Use Counsel Joe Walicki Conservation Director Friends of the Columbia Gorge wishes to thank the following people who have made Michael Weeks Land Use Intern memorial contributions since our last newsletter: *Gorge resident In memory of Helen Langille Carroll and Clyde Carroll Board of Directors Elizabeth Langille Trimble Rick Ray*, Chairman Nancy N. Russell, Chairman Emeritus In memory of Karen Carlberg Carr John Reynolds, Vice Chairman Lana Holman Michael P. Ryan, Treasurer Jeanne Norton, Secretary William Bell* SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS Broughton H. Bishop Bowen Blair, Jr. In honor of Bruce Russell's birthday Phyllis Clausen* Ames B. Hendrickson Debbie Craig Julia Ferreira Sherry R. Grove* Elmer Lierman* Kate McCarthy GORGE CALENDAR Sandra Mershon* Kate Mills Aug. 9,23 Gorge Commission. Yvonne Montchalin* Sept. 13, 27 Gorge Commission meetings are open to the public. They are usually James L. Olmsted Oct. 11,25 held every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at various towns in the Gorge. This Len Swenson* Mary Vranizan is a good place to find out the details of how the National Scenic Area *Gorge residents is managed. Call (509) 493-3323 for exact location and time.
Newsletter Contributors Aug. 21 Tour of Historic Columbia Gorge Villa, Bridal Veil. Joe Walicki, Managing Editor This is the home of the Franciscan Sisters; $25 includes champagne, Dean Smith, Editor barbecue and donation to Franciscan Montessori Earth School serv Ken Denis ing children2-1 /2 through 18. For more information, call Kathy Page Gary Kahn at the Earth School, (503) 257-0722. Michael Lang John Reynolds Oct. 15 & 16 Salmon Festival, Oxbow Park, Ore. Michael Weeks Fun for the whole family; guided salmon viewing walks, exhibits, Deadline for Nov. newsletter is Oct. 10 food, talks by Native Americans, hikes, music, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For Printed on recycled paper more information, contact Oregon Trout, (503) 222-9091.