Columbia River Gorge Compact
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| Columbia River Gorge Compact | |
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| Formation date: | 1987 |
| Member jurisdictions: | 2 |
| Issue(s): | Natural resource management |
| Compact website | |
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The Columbia River Gorge Compact is an interstate compact between Oregon and Washington. The compact provides for the management of the natural resources of the gorge such as enacting regulations for maintenance and preservation. This compact is also congressionally consented.[1]
History
In 1986, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act created a scenic area that stretches 85 miles on both the Washington and Oregon sides of the Columbia River. In addition to designating the national scenic area, the legislation called for the creation of the Columbia River Gorge Commission. The commission's goal was to protect the region's natural resources while allowing for economic growth. A year later, both states adopted legislation enacting the compact.[2]
Governance
The compact officially created the Columbia River Gorge Commission to oversee management of the gorge. The commission is composed of 13 members: three appointed by each governor, one appointed by each of the six counties surrounding the gorge, and one (non-voting) appointee from the U.S. Forest Service.[3]
The commission is charged with carrying out the provisions of the compact, which includes:
- setting policy for protecting the non-federal lands in the gorge
- serving as an appeals board for scenic area land use decisions
- supporting counties and constituents that administer land use ordinances
- stimulating economic development through grants and loans[3]
Text of the compact
The legislature of each member state passes the laws with certain modifications, but the core of the legislation remains the same.
See also
External links
- The Council of State Governments - National Center for Interstate Compacts
- Columbia River Gorge Compact
- Columbia River Gorge Commission
- Compact history
Footnotes
