Columbia River Gorge Commission

Tensions surface over public records liabilities, while the Gorge Commission crosswalks its climate plans with new Oregon and Washington mandates. Plus: The push for ADUs, new Vital Signs agricultural data, and state budget friction.

The Gorge Commission’s April 2026 Economic Vitality committee fails to reach a quorum again, stalling key housing talks, while the Communications committee finalizes new media rules and tracks Klickitat's frozen permitting rollout.

March brought two revealing Gorge Commission meetings: rulemaking moved ahead, disaster-recovery changes became usable, climate equity took center stage, and the agency’s new communications push quickly led to restored video archives and a more proactive public-facing strategy.

Skamania County made its case before the Gorge Commission’s Economic Vitality Committee on housing, sewer, tax base, and forest policy. But with no quorum, the committee could only discuss possible next steps, offering an early look at how it may approach the Scenic Area Act’s economic mandate.

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.

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.

The Gorge Commission spent hours debating disaster-recovery rule changes after the Rowena and Burdoin fires. While counties and survivors urged urgent action, unresolved tribal consultation and federal approval concerns stalled a vote, leaving rebuilding timelines uncertain.