Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

WASHINGTON and OREGON / Multiple National Forests / Congressional District: Multiple
Member(s): Rep. Brian Baird, Doc Hastings, Greg Walden, and Earl Blumenhauer
Location
Purpose
Purchase
Opportunities
Partners
Cooperators / Acquired to Date
Method / Acres / Cost ($)
Purchase / 19,246 / $64,243,565
Exchange / 17,032 / $0
Donation / 600 / $0
Other / 2,294 / $0
Partners / 970 / Unknown
FY 2010 Enacted
Method / Acres / Cost ($)
Purchase / 0 / $0
President’s Budget FY2011
Method / Acres / Cost ($)
Purchase / 350 / $850,000
PendingFuture Request
Method / Acres / Cost ($)
Purchase / 210 / $500,000
15 miles east of Portland and stretching 83 miles east to the Deschutes River
To protect and enhance values for which it was designated—significant scenic, cultural, recreational, and natural resources within the Gorge.
Phased purchase option from The Trust for Public Land for 160 acres. Two other land trusts and two private parties have also offered to sell land to the United States.
The Trust for Public Land, Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust, and Columbia Land Trust
Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust, Columbia Land Trust, Friends of the Gorge, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Columbia River Gorge Commission, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, Pacific Crest Trail Association, Cape Horn Conservancy, local county support, and numerous recreation and hiking clubs.
Project
Description / The Columbia River Gorge, just eastof the Portland Metropolitan Area and home to nearly two million people, is a national treasure recognizedby Congressin 1986 with passage of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act. The Act designated Special Management Areas to aid in the protection of highly sensitive resources. It is these vulnerable areas that are the focus of land acquisition efforts.
Characterized by dramatic, black basalt cliffs towering 4,000 feet above the river, the Columbia River Gorge contains an exceptional combination of spectacular vistas, unsurpassed recreation opportunities, multicultural history, and abundant natural resources. Over 70 waterfalls tumble from the glaciers and snowfields of Mt Hood, including Multnomah Falls, the second highest year-round waterfall in the U.S. and a top tourist attraction in the State of Oregon. Geology and climatic conditions combine to create complex plant communities with many rare and endangeredspecies. Proximity to large urban centers, natural beauty, and recreation opportunities—including hiking, mountain biking, camping, boating, fishing, rock climbing, white water rafting, world-class windsurfing and kite boarding—attract four to five million visitors each year.
Properties available for acquisition include:
  • Major Creek Phase II ($247,000 - 159 acres). The acquisition will complete a significant effort in partnership with the TPL to acquire important lands in this area. The remaining two parcels are comprised of steep canyon topography bisected by tributaries of Major Creek. One is heavily forested with a perennial creek and ½ mile of riparian vegetation, while the other is heavy to oak and other dry site vegetation. Acquisition will consolidate boundaries, expand protection of Major Creek tributaries, maintain a diversity of habitats, and simplify landownership for the recreating public.
  • Western Pacific Timber Parcel, Major Creek($343,000 - 278 acres). These parcels are located in the East Fork Major Creek drainage. Approximately 171 acres are inside the NSA boundary and have a designation of Special Management Area (SMA) Open Space; the remaining 108 acres are outside the NSA boundary. Approximately ½ mile of the East Fork Major Creek flows through the western parcel. Its steep, timbered canyon walls also embrace three separate tributary creeks and an additional ¾ miles of riparian habitat. This is a key acquisition for connectivity to existing National Forest System (NFS) land, and will reduce NFS landownership boundary.
  • Miles parcel, Major Creek ($ 250,000 - 30 acres). The property is located in the lower Major Creek drainage zoned Open Space. It is comprised of high priority pine/oak habitat in which fir has been moving into the area at the expense of the oak. Acquisition would enable stand treatment to take the stand back to the native pine/oak mix.Approximately 1,800 feet of Major Creek forms the eastern boundary of the parcel and would provide access to the creek bed for management and monitoring. It is also a readily definable boundary as compared to the current stair step boundary.
  • Friends of the Columbia Gorge parcel, Aldrich Butte ($ 350,000 - 80 acres). This parcel has long been a priority acquisition for the NSA. It is comprised of steep forested slopes bisected by Cedar Creek. Aldrich Falls, also known as Cedar Falls, is on the property. Public lands surround the property (80 percent NFS land, 20 percent Beacon Rock State Park). It is partially visible from several Key Viewing Areas (Hwy. 14, I-84, Columbia River). Acquisition would eliminate the need to reopen the one road providing legal access to the parcel. This 1800’s era road is located on NFS land very near ponds and other sensitive habitats. Reopening this road has the clear potential to degrade these resources.
  • Columbia Land Trust parcel, Cape Horn ($ 160,000 - 13 acres). Approximately 25 miles from Vancouver, WA, the Columbia Land Trust currently has a conservation easement and a purchase option on a parcel that sits in a key location for the proposed Cape Horn Trail. A County Park-and-Ride across the street would serve as a parking lot and trail access point. Use of this parking facility would be at no cost to the Forest Service and would eliminate the need for Forest Service planning and construction of a trailhead facility for the Cape Horn Trail. This parcel adjoins NFS land to the south and west, county road to the east, and private land to the north. There are two small wetlands near the south boundary of this parcel.

O&M Cost / Estimated “start up” costs: $5,000 / Estimated annual maintenance: $1,500
USDA Goal / Maintain diverse habitats, sustain a congressionally designated area, conserve open space, and enhance outdoor recreation opportunities.