2015 Oregon State Parks Columbia River Gorge Management Units Plan Columbia Roll On by Slater Smith The mission of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is to provide and protect outstanding Where the Ponderosa spires Columbia, roll on natural, scenic, cultural, historic and recreational sites for the enjoyment and education of present and Reach far into the sky Through the forest and the stone. future generations. :KHUHWKHÁRRGVRIDQFLHQWWLPHV If the Rio Grand is strong, Carved canyons over miles My Columbia is bold And great volcanic mounts Stand guard before the sea Looking forward over years Columbia, roll on On the warm winds from the east Oregon Parks & Recreation Department This is as close as I can be May the trailhead never close 725 Summer St. NE, Ste C Or the canopies recede Salem, OR 97301-0792 Remember Celilo Falls May the salmon runs be strong Info Center: 1-800-551-6949 :KHUHSHRSOHÀVKHG\RXIURP\RXUVDQGV $QGÀOO\RXXSZLWKDZH egov.oregon.gov/OPRD/index.shtml And traded there in peace May the river’s quiet course For they declared it neutral land Inspire other songs Then the Bonneville Dam rose, As the Columbia rolls on Traded history for lights, Title: Oregon State Parks Columbia River Gorge Management Units Plan, 2015 To drown the old dance halls $QGÁRRGWKHODQGIRUSRZHUOLQHV But as long’s the stars are out at night The Columbia rolls on Prepared by: Integrated Park Services Division, OPRD Columbia roll on Through the forest and the stone If the Mississippi’s long, My Columbia is old Publication Rights: Information in this report may be copied and used with the condition that credit From the Rockies to the waves is given to Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. This report has been prepared for in-house They laid the railroad lines use and will not be made available for sale. Photographs and graphics may not be reproduced 7RULYDO*UHDW3DFLÀFUDLOV for reuse without permission of the owners or the repositories noted in the captions. ‘til the highway took its place as the steamboats of the age brought lumber to the sea when Mr. Guthrie sang, “It’s close to heaven as I’ve been” Cover Images: Rowena Curves, Crown Point, and Bridal Veil Creek, OPRD 2014 It’s as close to heaven as I’ve been So Columbia roll on ii | Columbia River Gorge Management Units Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS Section One: Existing Conditions i How to Use This Plan.......................................................................................................................5 ii The Role of Oregon State Parks ...................................................................................................7 CHAPTER 1: Introduction and Planning Approach ..................................................................... 11 CHAPTER 2: Regional Context ....................................................................................................... 17 CHAPTER 3: Cultural and Natural Resources ............................................................................. 25 CHAPTER 4: Visitor Experience Assessments ............................................................................... 45 Section Two: Analysis CHAPTER 5: Public Involvement ..................................................................................................... 99 CHAPTER 6: Needs, Constraints, and Opportunities ..............................................................111 Section Three: Plan Proposals CHAPTER 7: Values, Goals, and Strategies .............................................................................121 CHAPTER 8: Visitor Experience Plans and Recommendations ...............................................131 Section Four: Plan Implementation CHAPTER 9: Plan Implementation ...............................................................................................187 CHAPTER 10: Project Phasing ......................................................................................................215 CHAPTER 11: Land Use: Reviews and Approvals ....................................................................219 CHAPTER 12: Stewarding the Plan .............................................................................................227 CHAPTER 13: Appendices ............................................................................................................231 Table of Contents and Figures |iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Tammy Abbott, Sign Program Coordinator Local Governments Julie Osborne, Park Historian City of Cascade Locks -- Honorable Tom Cramblett, Mayor Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission Nancy Nelson, State Parks Archeologist City of Hood River -- Honorable Arthur Babitz, Mayor Jay Graves, Chair, Congressional District 3 Alex Philips, Bicycle Coordinator City of Mosier -- Barb Ayers Cal Mukumoto, Vice Chair, Congressional District 4 Jean Thompson, Communications & Marketing City of the Dalles -- Richard Gassmen Brad Chalfant, Congressional District 2 Alice Beals, Real Estate Specialist City of Troutdale -- Honorable Doug Daoust, Mayor Wendy Veliz Buck, Congressional District 5 Kammie Bunes, Acquisition and Property Specialist Hood River County Community Development -- Eric Walker, Chief Planner Sharon Rudi, East of the Cascades Brady Callahan, GIS Program Coordinator Multnomah County Commission -- Jeff Cogen, Adam Barber Robin Risley, West of the Coast Range David Quillan, GIS Technician Wasco County -- Joey Shearer, Planner Ty Conley, GIS Developer Vacant, Congressional District 1 Tribes Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation -- Johnson Meninick OPRD Executive Staff Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde -- Reynold Leno, Tribal Chair Lisa VanLaanan, Director Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde -- Dustin Kennedy MG Devereux, Deputy Director Agencies Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians -- Robert Kentta, Cultural Resources Scott Nebeker, Interim Assistant Director, Operations Bonneville Dams -- Greg Web Director Roger Roper, Assistant Director, Heritage Programs Bonneville Lock and Dam Visitor Center -- Barry Patrick, Supervisory Park Ranger, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians -- Delores Pigsley, Tribal Chair Chris Havel, Associate Director, Communications Natural Resource Specialist Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation -- Les Minthorn, Chair, Columbia River Gorge Commission -- Darren Nichols; Angie Brewer, Planner; Board of Trustees OPRD Staff Terry Cullen, Pricipal Planner; Linda Maddox, 1991 Member Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation -- Teara Farrow Ferman, Valleys Region Staff Columbia River Gorge Visitors Association -- Casey Roeder Cultural Resources Protection Pgm Mgr, Dept. of Nat. Resources Dennis Comfort, Valleys Region Manager Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission -- Paul Lumley, Executive Director Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs -- Austin Green, Tribal Chair Kevin Price, District Manager Dept. of Interior - U.S. Geological Survey -- Richard Waitt, Geologist Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs -- Sally Bird, Cultural Resources Andrea Berkely, Region Natural Resource Specialist Friends of the Columbia Gorge -- Peter Cornelison; Kevin Gorman, Executive Nez Perce Tribe -- Patrick Baird Steve Janiszewski, Region Operations Support Manager Director Tammy Baumann, Region Visitor Experience Coordinator Friends of the Historic Highway -- Jeanette Kloos Recreation Mark Stevenson, Park Manager, *RYHUQRU·V2IÀFH.DWH6LQQHU5HJLRQDO6ROXWLRQV&RRUGLQDWRU Association of Northwest Steelheaders -- Doug Briggs, Sandy River Chap. Glenn Littrell, Park Ranger Supervisor *RYHUQRU·V2IÀFHRI'LYHUVLW\ Cascade Paragliding Club -- David Blizzard Steve Kruger, Park Ranger Supervisor Hood River County Fish and Wildlife -- Henry Buckalew, Forester and Trails Columbia Gorge Racing Association -- Bill Symes Dorothy Brown-Kwaiser, Gorge Interpretive Ranger Coordinator Columbia Gorge Running Club Mid-Columbia Economic Development -- Jeff Helfrich, Board Member &ROXPELD*RUJH:LQGVXUÀQJ$VVRFLDWLRQ*UHJ6WLHJHO Headquarters Staff Mosier & Rock Creek Watershed Council -- Nancy Fitzpatrick Columbia River Orienteering Club Jaime English, Interim Integrated Park Services Manager National Marine Fisheries Service Columbia River Volkssport Club Ben Hedstrom, Assistant Planner National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration -- Scott Rumsey Fort Dalles Rider’s Association Ian Matthews, Assistant Planner Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife -- Mike Moore; Don Vande Bergh Gorge Equestrian Club -- Heidy West Ron Campbell, Park Master Planner Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries -- Jason McClaughry, Gorge Photography Club Carrie Lovellette, IPS Division Assistant Eastern Oregon Regional Geologist Hood River Area Trail Stewards Claire Maulhardt, Planning Intern Oregon Department of State Lands -- Lynne McAllister, Alwin Turiel Hood River County Forest Rec Trail Committee, Equestrian Rep -- Ruth Chausse Elizabeth Auvil, Planning Intern Oregon Department of Transportation, Region 1 -- Kristen Stallman, Scenic Area Hood River Saddle Club -- Barbara Hicks Jim Morgan, Stewardship Manager Coordinator Hood River Yacht Club Noel Bacheller, Botanist Oregon Marine Board -- Rachel Bullene Mazamas -- Lee Davis, Executive Director Vanessa Blackstone, Wildlife Biologist Oregon Regional Solutions Group Mountain Home Canoe Club -- George Mills Craig Leech, Park Forester Port of Cascade Locks -- Paul Koch Native Plant Society Laurel Hillmann, Coastal Program Coordinator The Dalles Dam -- Kelly Thomas, Project Manager Northwest Trails Alliance -- David Roth, Director