Casino Opposition History
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement
History of Friends' Opposition
The "Bluff on a Bluff"
Gorge Communities Consider Casino Impacts
It has been ten years since casino proponents first put forth a plan to build a casino in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge. Since then, the development proposal has grown ten times in size and is estimated to attract three million visitors annually. Casino proponents have spent millions of dollars to turn this proposal into a reality, but they have been met with strong opposition among the public.
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposal was released in March 2008. The federal EIS was seriously flawed and written by consultants for the developers, ignores the real problems of a Gorge casino as well as the opportunities of an on-reservation casino. The EIS also downplays the effect on endangered Columbia River salmon despite a letter of concern from the National Marine Fisheries Service. As such, the EIS drew thousands of comments from the public opposing the Gorge casino and the environmental impacts it would bring. A final EIS could be released by early 2010.
History of Friends' Opposition
Since Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski announced in 2004 that he would
support the proposal by the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs to
build an off-reservation casino in Cascade Locks, OR.
casino, Friends of the Columbia Gorge has been active in building
a coalition opposed to an off-reservation casino in the heart of the
Columbia Gorge. Friends has joined forces with other environmental
groups, tribes,
businesses and faith-based groups to form the Coalition for Oregon's
Future. The group has advocated strongly to decision-makers that the Gorge is the wrong place for a casino complex.
Friends has also worked closely with Oregon Congressman David Wu who
has come out forcefully against the casino proposal and reinforced our
belief that the threat of an alternative Hood River site is a red
herring - neither physically buildable nor legally available for
gambling purposes.
Furthermore, Friends supported a
group of Cascade Locks residents opposed to the casino. The group,
Cascade Locks No Casino, has canvassed Cascade Locks and finding
that the community members are much more divided on this issue than the
city officials acknowledge. Cascade Locks No Casino has also
filed a legal suit stating that the Governor's decision to allow an
off-reservation casino violates Oregon's Constitution.
Friends has also joined with nine other conservation
groups opposing the casino and wrote a letter to former Senator Gordon
Smith asking him to oppose the casino. Friends also joined in an unusual alliance with the Oregon Restaurant Association and the Oregon Family Council to send a joint letter of opposition to former Secretary of Interior Gale
Norton, which we believe helped inform her decision to deny the compact.
The "Bluff on a Bluff"
The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs have proposed that if they are not allowed to build a casino in Cascade Locks, OR, they will build on land they hold in trust in Hood River, OR. However, studies have shown that building on that land is not logistically or financially feasible. Read Friends' position on why a casino in Hood River will never happen , as well as the full feasibility study showing why.
Read Friends' February 2008 press release on the feasibility study results.
Gorge Communities Consider Casino Impacts
In August 2008 the federal government sent a letter to Gorge communities asking them to weigh in on the potential impacts of a Gorge casino. Read the responses of the cities of Hood River, OR, and Bingen, WA, on potential detrimental impacts from a casino.
Read the Hood River News story covering the Hood River comments.
