Each year, Friends of the Columbia Gorge advocates for pro-conservation legislation at the state capitols in both Salem and Olympia. We engage in this work through meetings with state senators and representatives, providing testimony at hearings, and mobilizing our supporters to join us in contacting their elected officials and participating in hearings.

Funding for the Gorge Commission (Washington & Oregon)

Advocating for the Columbia River Gorge Commission’s budget is essential for the continued preservation and stewardship of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The Gorge Commission plays a critical role in safeguarding the region’s unique natural beauty, biodiversity, and cultural heritage through effective land-use planning, conservation initiatives, and climate resilience strategies. To achieve these goals, both states’ budget allocations for the Gorge Commission must match, otherwise the Commission is allocated the lower of the two states’ budgets. This collaboration reflects the shared responsibility of both states in protecting the Gorge’s ecological and economic vitality, ensuring that it remains a thriving resource for future generations. By securing equitable funding, the Commission can sustain its work in balancing development with conservation, supporting communities, and maintaining this national treasure.

In March 2025, we learned that the Washington House Appropriations Committee had amended its budget to fully eliminate funding for the Gorge Commission, while the Senate retained funding in its version of the bill. We immediately launched an advocacy campaign to respond to this reckless decision with the goal of restoring the funding in the final budget. On April 27, the Washington State House and Senate agreed to fund the Columbia River Gorge Commission for the 2025–27 biennium.

While the Commission will be funded, it comes with a major challenge: Washington’s final budget included a 27% cut, funding the Commission at $1.6 million instead of the $2.2 million requested. Because Oregon is required by law to match Washington’s funding level, Oregon will also reduce its contribution by 27%.

This means the Gorge Commission will be operating with fewer resources at a time when strong, consistent management is more important than ever. Friends will continue vigorously advocating for the Gorge Commission’s budget in future years.

Stand Up to Factory Farms (Oregon)

Friends of the Columbia Gorge is a member of the Stand Up to Factory Farms coalition (SUFF), which brings together allies looking to combat the negative effects that Factory Farms have on the environment. While there aren’t any factory farms within the National Scenic Area, large-scale factory farms in the Lower Umatilla Basin release pollutants like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and ammonia, which lead to air quality issues and haze in the Gorge. During the 2025 legislative session, the coalition advocated for Senate Bill 80, which would place a moratorium on new or expanding large-scale confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in Groundwater Management Areas to protect impacted communities. Despite strong advocacy from Friends along with other member organizations of SUFF at a public hearing for SB 80, the bill did not move out of committee and thus will not be passed during this legislative session.

Recreational Immunity (Oregon)

During the 2025 legislative session in Oregon, we are seeking to make permanent the recreational immunity provisions that were passed in the 2024 legislative session. Recreational immunity allows public and private landowners to open their property to the public for recreation purposes without fear of liability should someone obtain an injury on their property. Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust has multiple properties with hiking trails that are open to the public. A strong recreational immunity law in Oregon is essential for our land trust properties to remain open to the public.

Get Involved

If you’d like to join us in testifying at the state capitols or contacting your elected officials on behalf of important legislation that can affect the Gorge, sign up for our Action Alert emails below. We’ll reach out to you when important issues are coming up for hearings or votes that we could use your support on.