The Columbia Gorge Manifesto

The following list has emerged from my many travels within the Columbia Gorge for hiking and photography. My dream for the Gorge is that I see these things happen in my lifetime.

1. A permanent ban on large-scale development projects (over ½ million visitor count per year) within the Gorge Scenic Area and any cities inside its boundaries.  
2. Riverside trails on Oregon and Washington sides of the river
3. Increased funding for trail construction and maintenance
4. Lengthen the season of operation for popular trails where gates limit access, such as Herman Creek
5. Pedestrian and bicycle pathways on Bridge of the Gods and Hood River bridges
6. The restoration of Celilo Falls
7. Reopening of lost Native American heritage sites to their tribal owners
8. Scenic pullouts on I-84 and SR-14 for photography and sightseeing 
9. Reduction of haze through decommissioning of the Boardman coal power plant and large-scale cattle operations 
10. Implement clean-air programs in the Portland/Vancouver area to reduce pollution from urban sources 
11. A ban on wind turbine placement within 20 miles of the Scenic Area boundary 
12. Restoration of the Old Columbia River Scenic Highway as a pedestrian and cycling trail 
13. Restoration of salmon runs to historic numbers before dam construction
14. A ban on clearcut logging within the scenic area boundaries, and immediate restoration of existing clearcuts.  Logging methods that do not result in visual impact would still be allowed.   
15. Removal of invasive species such as Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius), English Ivy (Hedera helix), Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus armeniacus), and Evergreen Clematis (Clematis vitalba)
16. Wildlife-friendly lane barriers on I-84
17. Protection of pristine water sources within the Scenic Area boundary
18. A ban on transportation of hazardous substances through the area, including imported trash, chemicals, and radioactive materials  
19. Sensible limits on cumulative impact to ensure large numbers of small projects don't destroy resources piece by piece.  
20. Provide careful, independent monitoring of critical resources such as species diversity, air and water quality, and scenic vistas to minimize unanticipated exploitation of protected resources.  
21. On all projects with environmental impact, levy mitigation fees to fund efforts to create or restore compensatory habitat so the project has no net impact.  For projects with risks such as invasive species introduction or chemical spills, fees would go into an escrow account to pay for cleanup efforts and fund restoration work for other items herein.  

How you can join me in this dream and make it reality: