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The scenic area includes areas specifically designed for development. The Gorge scenic act intentionally planned for economic development to take place within the gorge. They realized that allowing development in specific areas protected the remaining natural and scenic beauty. Both sites proposed have been identified for development from the inception of the Scenic Gorge Act.

However, as a Portland environmentalist, I was deeply concerned about the proposals. So I drove out to both sites, several times, and walked the property in question. Walking the land and reading the Gorge Act cover to cover changed my mind.

Promoting recreation and tourism is a core purpose of the Gorge act. We should be supportive of these healthy, recreation based economic projects that move the local economy away from resource extraction and heavy industry. The more people that can visit and appreciate the beauty of the gorge, the better. Only when people appreciate nature will they support conservation and responsible development. Environmentally conscious citizens would do better to focus their energy on the giant copper mine slated for southwest WA- a proposal far more destructive to our watersheds and eco-system.

posted 5 years, 2 months ago
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