About Us
Who we are & what we doEstablished In.
The Columbia River Gorge Commission was established in 1987 by the states of Oregon and Washington through an interstate compact, the Columbia River Gorge Compact.
Our Mission.
The Columbia River Gorge Commission's mission is to establish, implement and enforce policies and programs that protect and enhance the scenic, natural, recreational and cultural resources of the Columbia River Gorge, and to support the economy of the area by encouraging growth to occur in existing urban areas and allowing economic development consistent with resource protection.
What We Do.
The Gorge Commission works with the U.S. Forest Service to set policy for protecting the non-federal lands in the Gorge. We also serve as an appeals board for land-use decisions, support counties in administering ordinances and encourage economic development.
GORGE COMMISSIONERS
ACRES IN THE NATIONAL SCENIC AREA
STATES
COUNTIES
Columbia River Gorge
National Scenic Area
The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area extends 83 miles on both sides of the Columbia River and includes parts of six counties, three in Oregon and three in Washington, including a small piece of Clark County. It covers 293,000 acres; 70 percent is private ownership.
Columbia River Gorge
Commission
The Gorge Commission has 13 members. Twelve voting members are evenly divided between Oregon and Washington and between state and local appointees. The non-voting thirteenth member represents the federal government. The Commission hires an executive director and the executive director hires a professional staff.