Enforcing Protection Laws

Citizen Watchdogs

As the only conservation organization focused exclusively on protecting the Columbia River Gorge, Friends vigorously enforces the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act and other laws to protect this national treasure for future generations. The laws that protect the Gorge are only as strong as their implementation. Through its legal program, Friends uses these laws to protect the scenic, natural, cultural, and recreation resources of the Gorge from urban sprawl, mining, industrial and commercial activities, and other uses.

Litigation and Appeals

Since our founding in 1980, Friends has litigated to protect Gorge resources in hundreds of legal cases and appeals. Today, we litigate in cases involving energy development, gravel mining, residential sprawl, and a variety of other issues affecting the Gorge.

Friends’ Legal Docket

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Case Law

Land Use Review

The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act and other laws allow a wide range of land use and development activities in the National Scenic Area, as long as they do not cause adverse impacts to scenic, natural, cultural, or recreational resources. Friends tracks land use application notices issued by a variety of federal, interstate, state, and local agencies to ensure that proposed land use and development proposals will not adversely affect Gorge resources. Friends’ legal team reviews and comments on every publicly noticed land use application in the National Scenic Area. When necessary, we appeal land use decisions to ensure compliance with applicable law and protect Gorge resources.

For any questions about Friends’ legal program, please email Senior Staff Attorney Nathan Baker or Staff Attorney Steve McCoy.

Current Issues

Zimmerly Mine

Friends is working to stop the largest and longest-running land use violation in the history of the National Scenic Area, the Zimmerly mine.

Of the 50 wind turbines proposed on private land, 30 would have been visible from the Strawberry Mountain neighborhood in the city of White Salmon. Photo simulation by Applicant Whistling Ridge Energy, LLC. — Of the 50 wind turbines proposed on private land, 30 would have been visible from the Strawberry Mountain neighborhood in the city of White Salmon. Photo simulation by Whistling Ridge Energy, LLC.

Whistling Ridge Energy Project

This poorly sited wind energy project would have harmed important natural and scenic resources, but permission to build and operate the project has expired.