Overview 

In spring 2025, the Columbia River Gorge Commission—the bi-state agency created by Congress to oversee and protect the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area—faced the greatest threat to its existence in nearly four decades. In a surprise move, the Washington State House of Representatives voted to eliminate state funding for the Commission, despite the state’s legal obligation under the Columbia River Gorge Compact. That compact requires Washington and Oregon to contribute equally to the Commission’s budget, meaning a Washington cut would force an equal cut from Oregon, effectively eliminating the agency. 

If this had gone forward, the Commission would have been unable to carry out its essential mission of protecting scenic landscapes, wildlife habitat, farmland, and cultural resources across the six Gorge counties. Rural communities would have been left without coordinated land-use oversight, leaving the Gorge vulnerable to real estate pressure from outside money, sprawling residential and commercial development, and large-scale industrial projects that would forever alter the character of this treasured landscape. 

Friends’ Response 

Friends of the Columbia Gorge immediately mounted an aggressive public campaign to stop the defunding effort. We mobilized thousands of supporters to contact lawmakers, generated media attention, and worked with conservation allies and community members across the Gorge. When elected officials in Skamania and Wasco Counties attempted to mislead the public with inaccurate claims about the Gorge Commission, Friends set the record straight, clarifying the Commission’s role and exposing the misinformation campaign. We reminded lawmakers and the public that dismantling the Commission would undo nearly 40 years of bipartisan conservation progress and threaten the very framework that protects the Gorge. 

The Outcome 

Thanks to overwhelming grassroots pressure and strong advocacy from Friends and our allies, the Washington State Legislature reversed course and restored most of the Commission’s funding. The final budget included a 27% cut—significant, but far short of the devastating elimination originally proposed. While the Gorge Commission survived, the attempt revealed how vulnerable the agency remains to political attacks and short-term budget maneuvers. Friends continues to advocate for stable, long-term funding and stronger political support for the Commission, ensuring it can fulfill its mandate to protect one of America’s most unique and treasured landscapes for generations to come.