What is the Gorge Commission?
The Columbia River Gorge Commission was established in 1987 to develop and implement policies and programs that protect and enhance the scenic, natural, cultural and recreational resources of the Gorge, while encouraging growth within existing urban areas of the Gorge and allowing development outside urban areas consistent with resource protection.
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Office Hours
The Columbia River Gorge Commission’s office will be open Monday through Thursday, 8 am to 5 pm. Due to budget reductions and staffing availability there are times that the Gorge Commission office is closed on short notice. We apologize for the inconvenience this presents to those of you who are requesting our services. Please contact our office before you come, to ensure that staff will be here to assist you. Thank you.
Hours of Planner-on-Duty:
In order to provide consistent high-quality customer service with our limited staff, the Gorge Commission Planning Department has set office hours for planning assistance. Planning assistance is available Mondays from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and Thursdays from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. To schedule a 10-minute appointment during these times, please call the Commission’s Planning Assistance Line at (509) 493-3323 extension 231 and leave a detailed message with your name, property or project address, and a daytime telephone number. Thank you!
Cross Currents: 25 years of the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Act. Click here to watch video.
New Zoning Map Resource Available!
View National Scenic Area land use desigations with aerial photographs and tax lot lines by clicking here.
We have created an interactive map on the National Geographic and ESRI sponsored map service. It's a work in progress but you can check it out here.
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Current Topics
Portland State Population Research Center: The Center presented the OR Population Forecast Program (www.pdx.edu/prc) at the February 10th Commission meeting. Please use this link to view the PowerPoint.
Urban Area Boundary Legal Descriptions Project: The Commission has been working with professional surveyors, consultants, and stakeholders to produce clearly defined legal descriptions for the 13 urban areas in the Scenic Area. Please use this link to access materials.
Administrative Assessment: Researchers from the Center for Public Service in the Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University and from the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington presented its findings and recommendations from an assessment of the Commission's responsibilities under the National Scenic Area Act and interstate Gorge Compact. The team's findings are below.
 Legal Assessment
CRGC Comparative Assessment
CRGC Organizational Assessment
CRGC Synthesis Report
Assessment Team PowerPoint Presentation
Interim Recreation Strategy:
The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Recreation Report and Recommended Interim Strategies is a management tool that will be used by resource protection and public recreation managers who manage publicly owned land outside of the urban areas. Prepared by an Interagency Recreation Team, including Gorge Commission staff, this document contains interim strategies that address some pressing recreation and resource management issues using the existing capacities of the member agencies.
Recreation Report and Recommended Interim Strategies
Coal and Oil Transport Resolution: The Columbia River Gorge Commission unanimously endorsed sending a letter and resolution to the governors of Washington and Oregon regarding the Commission’s deep concerns about coal and oil transport though the Columbia River Gorge.
CRGC Resolution on coal and oil transport
CRGC Letter to Governor Inslee regarding coal and oil transport
CRGC Letter to Governor Kitzhabor regarding coal and oil transport
Collaborative Engagement Assessment: Oregon Consensus and the Ruckelshaus Center presented the results of more than 80 interviews with stakeholders and regional leaders in the Scenic Area. Read press release and report. View presentation.
The Columbia River Gorge Commission has asked the Oregon Consensus program and the William D. Ruckelshaus Center to conduct a series of individual and group interviews with a wide range of stakeholders and regional leaders to identify aspirations, concerns and willingness to find common ground for resource protection and community development in the Columbia River Gorge. Read press release
The Columbia River Gorge Commission has produced a booklet that describes the unique resources in the gorge and the Commission's responsibilities under the Act. Download it here.
Come to the Gorge: Economic Flow. Watch the video.
Vital Signs Indicators Project investigates resource indicators for adaptive management...Developing a system of measurements to assess the health of Gorge resources and the implementation of the National Scenic Area Act. Read more...
Contact your elected official
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