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Dispatch Squatch

Dispatch Squatch

A mysterious cryptid who occupies the woods of Skamania county, and shares a love of Gorge Gossip.

📍 Skamania County

⚡ Special Report: Cascade Renewable Transmission: an underwater power line with a long road ahead

Cascade Renewable Transmission, an underwater HVDC power line proposal in the Columbia River Gorge, is now in formal federal review. Here’s what the project looks like, what escalated at recent hearings, and how to submit practical comments to help shape next steps (deadline Feb. 4).

🏊Pools, Poles, & PUD bills - Community Meetings Across Klickitat County - Jan '26

From yard shaming to flag-raising, January’s smaller public meetings brought big energy: Dallesport’s levy talk, Tree Board’s "Treefest" plans, Pool District’s construction push, and Goldendale’s 200-ft flagpole. Read the full scoop on what’s growing, building, and flying high in the Gorge.

🏔 Storm Recovery, Public Lands Tensions & Gorge 2030 Signals – Skamania BOCC Jan ’26

January was a dense month for Skamania County commissioners. Across three meetings, the board navigated storm recovery, federal land-management challenges, public-safety funding pressures, and early signals about the long road ahead for the Gorge Management Plan 2030 process.

🔥 Gorge Commission Passes Disaster Recovery Amendment - What Changed, What Didn’t, and What Comes Next - 1/13/26

The Gorge Commission unanimously approved a major disaster-recovery amendment, aiming to speed rebuilding after the Rowena and Burdoin fires. But federal concurrence and staffing gaps still stand between new rules and real relief.

🏗️ Infrastructure, Airports & Accountability: Klickitat BOCC 1/20/26

Klickitat County’s January 20 BOCC meeting covered a wide range of issues, from routine but costly infrastructure work, to airport growth and taxation, to growing pressure on staff capacity and public records compliance.

🏡 Gorge Commission Debates "Cheater ADUs" & Looks Ahead on Tribal Consultation - Dec 2025 Committee Meetings Round-up

From debating “cheater ADUs” to navigating tribal consultations, here’s what happened across three December Gorge Commission committee meetings, and what it means for housing, transparency, and the next Gorge Management Plan.

🪏Who’s In Charge, What’s Funded, and When We Break Ground - Jan 2026 Bridge Meeting

The Bridge Authority kicked off 2026 with updates on federal grant delays, tribal agreements, and stormwater design. Monitoring equipment is going online, and all commissioners were reappointed. The decision on new co-chairs was postponed to a future meeting.

🚨Public Safety & Stabilization: Klickitat BOCC 1/6–1/13

Klickitat County’s early-January BOCC meetings focused on stabilizing public safety staffing, restructuring Emergency Management, approving routine infrastructure work, and setting priorities for a cautious 2026. Here’s what changed, what escalated, and what’s next.

🏔 New Year for Skamania BOCC, WSU Updates, & Dog Mountain Shuttle Uncertainty - 1/6

Skamania commissioners kicked off 2026 with routine approvals, leadership assignments, and early warning signs to watch this year, including uncertainty around Dog Mountain shuttle funding, public safety concerns, and long-term planning tied to the Gorge Management Plan 2030 Update.

🧭 2025 Year-end Pathfinding for Klickitat BOCC: 12/30-31 recap

Klickitat County closed out 2025 with a hiring freeze, budget adjustments, public defense contracts, and groundwork for major 2026 decisions on housing, energy, infrastructure, and emergency systems. Here’s what changed, and what to watch next.