Support Friends' Legal Work

Despite the fact that Clark County, Washington, contains less than 3 percent of the acreage in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, lately the pressures to develop land in the county are consuming most of our legal team’s time at Friends of the Columbia Gorge.

And many of these decisions in Clark County have far-reaching implications concerning the overall health of the Gorge, threatening to disrupt the community and threatening public health, safety, and welfare for decades to come.

Friends' legal work emphasizes protection of the Columbia Gorge's resources and enforcement of Scenic Area land use laws and rules to protect this national treasure for future generations. 

Since our first landmark conservation victory—the passage of the Scenic Area Act in 1986—Friends has litigated to protect Gorge resources in hundreds of legal cases and appeals. At any given time, Friends is participating in multiple legal cases involving energy development, residential sprawl, and a variety of other issues affecting the Gorge.

The ongoing costs of defending Scenic Area rules means we must depend on our supporters for special gifts. The consequences of unchecked land development would be far-reaching and long-lasting, not only for community members but also for the National Scenic Area and all its unique resources.

The laws that protect the Gorge are only as strong as their implementation. Can you make a special gift today to support this crucial work?

 
 
If you have any questions or would like to donate by phone, please call Membership Coordinator Hannah Anderson-Dana at 503-241-3762.

To donate by mail, please send your check to:

Friends of the Columbia Gorge

123 NE 3rd Avenue, Suite 108

Portland, OR 97232

 

Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge (photographer: Debbie Asakawa)