Columbia River Gorge Commission faces funding cuts in proposal

The latest budget proposal from the Legislature could mean the end for the Columbia River Gorge Commission, which was established four decades ago to protect the national scenic area. An amendment introduced March 27 by Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, stripped $4.4 million allocated to the Columbia River Gorge Commission from the state House of Representatives’ proposed 2025-27 biennium budget. Couture, who did not say why the commission funding was removed, introduced the amendment during a House Appropriations Committee meeting. Although the House has now adopted the Senate’s proposed budget, the two chambers still have to reconcile any budget changes, like the Gorge funding, before presenting a budget package to Gov. Bob Ferguson for approval. Funding for the Columbia River Gorge Commission accounts for a fraction of the state’s $77.8 billion biennium budget, about 0.6 percent of 1 percent. “The Columbia River Gorge is one of the most unique, stunning and ecologically significant landscapes in the country, supporting 13 vibrant communities,” Krystyna Wolniakowski, executive director for the commission, said in a news release Tuesday. “Defunding the commission would leave these communities and vital conservation efforts without the coordination and oversight that has been in place for nearly four decades.” Wolniakowski said the commission plays a crucial role in protecting the scenic area’s forests and agricultural area, while also helping create a sustainable economy. She said the agency doesn’t purchase land, remove properties from county tax rolls or charge permit fees, instead relying on state appropriations. The agency was prepared for a mandatory budget reduction but not a complete elimination, said Renee Tkach, conservation director for the nonprofit Friends of the Columbia Gorge. The House had previously proposed a 6 percent reduction, and the Senate had proposed an 8 percent reduction. “That just came out of nowhere. That amendment basically defunded the Gorge Commission’s budget,” Tkach said Tuesday. Tkach said although there was no specific reason given for eliminating the commission’s budget, it’s undoubtedly linked to the state’s budget deficit. “We’ve been hearing from our lobbyists and in our meetings in Olympia that they are really prioritizing bills and legislation that save a life or educates a child. Those are the top priorities right now,” she said. Should the Legislature pass a budget without providing funding for the commission, it is likely to trigger a legal battle. “The state of Washington is legally obligated to fund the commission by the Columbia River Gorge compact, which is a binding contract. It’s an interstate compact and a state law all rolled up into one,” Tkach said. Because of the bistate compact, a reduction or elimination in funding from Washington would have to be matched by Oregon. That would leave the agency entirely without funding, which Tkach said would be unprecedented. She said the compact would still be in place and the national scenic area would have to be managed, but there would be no one to do the work. “The governor’s office is very concerned about what’s happening in the House and Senate, and also what is legally obligated by the state, which I think was completely ignored in the amendment when it was introduced and passed,” Tkach said. Ferguson has until the end of the legislative session on April 27 to approve the budget proposals. Shari Phiel: shari.phiel@columbian.com; 360-562-6317; @Shari_Phiel About the project: Community Funded Journalism is a project from The Columbian and the Local Media Foundation that is funded by community member donations including The Cowlitz Tribal Foundation. The Columbian maintains editorial control over all content. For more information, visit columbian.com/cfj.

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