November 1999
CGWA led the way in the formation of a recreation coalition to improve facilities along the Columbia River. In July, the Columbia Gorge Recreation Coalition successfully applied for $3,678,000 in construction funds from the National Scenic Area. The Gorge Commission unanimously approved the application with the suggestion that Drano Lake, Skamania County, on Washington State Hwy 14, be added to the list of sites. In November, Drano Lake was brought into the roster of Coalition projects boosting the total funding request to $4,193,000. The Commission has in turn recommended that the Forest Service prepare funding requests for federal fiscal years 2000 and 2001. A joint effort to work with Congress to appropriate the funding will follow.
The application concentrates on recreational access to the Columbia River in the middle and eastern portions of the Scenic Area--specifically in Skamania, Hood River, and Wasco Counties. The Coalition members propose to develop and improve five sites: in Oregon, Viento and West Mayer State Parks and the Mosier Waterfront; in Washington, Drano Lake and the Hatchery.
The Coalition is a partnership of the CGWA, Oregon and Washington State Parks, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the City of Mosier, Washington Fish and Wildlife, Skamania Parks and Recreation and the United States Windsurfing Association. We will be working diligently to get the projects into the federal budget and to get the funds appropriated. In addition to the recreational benefits from these projects, improvement of recreational amenities in the Gorge is also important to the growth of the Gorge economy.
By improving existing sites and looking for new places to sail, the Association believes that windsurfers will be able to spread out to many places along the Columbia River for a more enjoyable time of sailing.
We have received letters of support (to date) from the following:
- Steve Pribyl, Biologist, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Al McKee, Chairman, Skamania County Board of Commissioners
- Robert L. Meinen, Director, Oregon Parks & Recreation Commission
- Dotty DeVaney, Director, Wasco Co. Planning & Economic Development
- Bill Koss, Manager of Planning and Research, Washington State Parks
- Janet Holen, President, Columbia River Gorge Visitors Association
- Curt and Elaina Mathisen, White Salmon, Washington
- Ron Wyden, US Senator - Oregon
- Lee Musgrave, Maryhill Museum of Art
- Bob Montgomery, Oregon State Representative
- Arlene Johnson, Executive Director, Skamania County Chamber of Commerce
- Steve McNab, Region 4 Manager, Oregon Department of Transportation
- Ted Ferrioli, Oregon State Senator
- Earl Blumenauer, US Congressman - Oregon
- Dianne Sherwood, Acting Director, Klickitat County Port District
- Tamer Kirac, Executive Director, Mid-Columbia Economic Development
- Tobin White, General Manager, Port of Cascade Locks
- Aaron Kilgore, President, White Salmon River Steelheaders
- Greg Walden, US Congressman - Oregon
- Anita Gahimer, Executive Director, Port of Skamania County
- Gordon H. Smith, US Senator - Oregon
- Jim Honeyford, Washington State Senator
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