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About The Hood River news. (Hood River, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2015)
G REATER G ORGE A2 Hood River News, Wednesday, July 1, 2015 www.hoodrivernews.com PRESERVING A SPECTACULAR VIEW Cape Horn Waterfall Overlook set in stone By DAN TRUJILLO Camas-Washougal Post-Record Hikers are in for a treat once they approach the Cape Horn Waterfall Overlook. Falcons, hawks, eagles, os- preys and seals have already been spotted from this spec- tacular, and now safer, panoramic viewpoint along the 7.7-mile trail in the Washougal-to-Stevenson cor- ridor of the Columbia River Gorge. The landscape is so tran- scending, it might take visi- tors a minute or two to regis- ter the sound of water cascad- ing down the cliffs to the left. “This is truly an example of what dedicated partners, in- credible volunteers and finan- cial supporters can accom- plish by working together,” said Cape Horn Conservancy President Teresa Robbins. “Viewpoints like this one serve a broad spectrum of emotions. We are interested in stewarding a spectacular trail, not a mediocre one. This is an example of spectacular.” Robbins and her husband, Keith Brown, began laying the groundwork for the new overlook in January. “We talked to the forest ser- vice about keeping these viewpoints intact. They were concerned about safety is- sues,” Brown said. “This pro- ject is an example of multiple partnerships stepping up to make sure these views are safe and protected for hikers and families to enjoy.” After the U.S. Forest Ser- vice surveyed the land and de- veloped a design, Cape Horn Conversancy and Friends of the Columbia Gorge members got to work with volunteers in March hauling 10 tons of stone down a quarter mile path. Michael Byrne, a mason from Portland, rounded and carved all of the rocks into place. “I wanted to honor the Co- lumbia River Gorge, and its spectacular beauty,” Byrne said. “I also wanted to honor all of the masons who have done work throughout the Gorge. It was done with ham- mers and chisels, and feathers and wedges.” Byrne thanked Robbins and Brown for giving him an opportunity to display his work in the Gorge. They are already collaborating on an- other overlook nearby with the five tons of remaining stone. “Keith and Teresa have a vision and a passion. This overlook is just a small part of that,” Byrne said. “Without those two, and all of the vol- unteers, it wouldn’t have hap- pened. “A mason’s name is never on the work. I’m a big believer in that,” he added. “The river and the view speak for them- selves. I don’t want people to even notice the stone work.” Avid Cape Horn Trail hik- ers Sarah Lord and Barb Beach are blown away by the new waterfall overlook. Lord was one of the many volun- teers involved in this project. “It makes a heart-altering view possible for people who wouldn’t have the courage to access it,” Lord said. “This place is so accessible and so stunningly beautiful. Those two things make this my go-to trail. This trail keeps me alive.” Beach said she won’t forget stepping out to the edge for the first time, without fear of falling. “This view takes my breath away, it absolutely takes my breath away,” she said. “And, it feels so secure. The whole picture is just surreal.” The lower section of the Cape Horn Trail opens July 16. Robbins, Brown and volun- teers constructed an informa- tional kiosk and bus shelter at the Skamania County Transit Station. The main trail head is located across Salmon Falls Road from the parking lot. Brown said Washougal High School student Tim Sea- man helped build the kiosk and shelter for his senior pro- ject. Robbins said she hopes to have an official dedication for the kiosk and the waterfall overlook in September. No matter how many times they walk the access route, Photo by Dan Trujillo, Post-Record THE CAPE HORN Waterfall Overlook provides hikers with a spec- tacular, and now safer, view of the Columbia River Gorge. Mem- bers of the Cape Horn Conservancy and Friends of the Columbia Gorge worked with volunteers to haul 10 tons of rock down a quarter mile path. Brown and Robbins approach the Cape Hor n Waterfall Overlook in awe. “What feels good about this is working on something that you know is going to last for generations,” Brown said. “This is some place I want my kids, grandkids and their g randchildren to have around, so they too can have these incredible views and landscapes to feed their souls,” Robbins added. Groups clash in court over Columbia River Basin salmon plan By GOSIA WOZNIACKA The World PORTLAND (AP) — Fed- eral authorities defended their latest plan for mitigat- ing damage to salmon and steelhead imperiled by hy- droelectric dams in the Co- lumbia River Basin. In oral arguments in U.S. District Court on Tuesday, the government argued its approach is resulting in more salmon surviving at dams, juvenile fish migrat- ing faster to the ocean and record numbers of fish re- turning to restored habitat. But conservation and fishing groups, Oregon and the Nez Perce tribe, which challenged the plan in c o u r t , s a i d i t ’s d e e p l y flawed. They said it won’t lead to the recovery of wild fish populations, because many have not achieved the promised benefits and are barely hanging on. Most of the returning fish were ar- tificially bred in hatcheries. Thirteen species of salmon and steelhead are listed as endangered or threatened under the En- dangered Species Act in the Columbia River Basin. The plan’s various itera- tions have been litigated in court for more than two decades. The most recent plan — known as the biolog- ical opinion — was issued in 2008 to cover a 10-year pe- riod through 2018, and a supplemental plan was added in 2010. It was struck down in court in 2011 for de- pending too much on habi- tat improvements whose benefits are unknown. The plan’s latest version was is- sued in January 2014. The g roups in court clashed over which stan- dard of recovery should be used to measure success. The federal government ar- gued it can’t cause addition- al risks or harm to the fish, and it has met that stan- dard. The plan, said federal at- torney Michael Eitel, isn’t a plan for recovery. Rather, it asks whether fish will be “trending toward recovery.” This means one year’s re- turns must outnumber the previous year’s, regardless of whether that eventually leads to recovery or when. But the plaintiffs argued the government has set the bar too low. They said be- caus e energ y-producing dams are the main cause of fish mor tality, the plan must do more to protect and recover them. “A growing species is not the same as a recovered species,” said Todd True, an attorney with Earthjustice who represents environ- mental groups in the court case. What’s missing from the plan, said True, is a defini- tion of what constitutes re- covery and when approxi- mately it will be achieved. True criticized the uncer- tainty of habitat restora- tion, which is the plan’s main tool to improve fish survival; other plan compo- nents include reducing the effects of hatcheries on w i l d f i s h a n d ke e p i n g predators at bay, as well as improving fish passage at Gorge Days in North Bonneville Gorge Day celebrations are taking over North Bonneville on Friday and Saturday, July 10-11. All events take place in the North Bonneville City Park area. The weekend celebration, sponsored by the City of North Bonneville and orga- nized by the Skamania Coun- ty Chamber of Commerce, kicks off Friday morning with citywide garage sales that continue all day Saturday. Get your maps at Chevron gas station or City Hall. Beacon Rock Golf Course is offering a Gorge Days Box Lunch Spe- cial on Friday from 11:30 am until 2:30 pm in case you need sustenance to keep shopping throughout the day. On Friday evening, dinner and music will be provided at the basketball court in the middle of City Park. Skama- nia School PTO is cooking up a barbecue dinner at 5 p.m. Bonneville Hot Springs Re- sort & Spa will open their beer and wine garden as well. Stringed Migration, a four-piece Celtic and inter- national roots band, will pro- vide music at 5 p.m. Then, magician Jeff McMahon will take over at 6 p.m. At 8 p.m. is an Open Mic night. Saturday highlights include is the Gorge Days Car Show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — with 300 to 400 hot rods, classic cars and vehicles of every vintage expected — and a concert by Hit Machine at 4 p.m. Also happening Saturday are a fundraising pancake breakfast, Volkswalk, quilt display at Bonneville Event Center, bake sale, food ven- dors, a beer and wine garden plus a variety of arts and crafts and infor mational booths. North Bonneville HOOD RIVER NEWS (ISSN 07465823) is published twice weekly, every Wednesday and Saturday. Subscription rates: $42 per year prepaid ($36 for senior citizens, 65 and over) in Hood River County and western Wasco County, Oregon; and Klickitat and Skamania counties,Washington. Elsewhere, $68 prepaid per year. Known office of pub- lication, 419 State Ave., Hood River, OR 97031-2031. Periodicals postage paid at Hood River, Oregon. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to HOOD RIVER NEWS, P.O. Box 390, Hood River, OR 97031-0103. Community Library pre- sents family entertainment with Habiba Addo, West African music and dance. Re- turning to the park is the Kids Zone with an inflatable obstacle course and slide. New is 2015 is a free Saturday shuttle service, providing transportation around town to the garage sales and other activities. Park for the shut- tle near the tennis courts. For more information and the full schedule of activi- ties, visit www.gorgedays.net or call 800-989-9178. the dams. Plaintif fs said habitat can’t compensate for harm done in the “migratory corri- dor” where dams harm fish. Even where habitat has been restored, many fish popula- tions don’t replace them- selves, said Stephanie Par- ent, the lawyer representing Oregon. Plaintiffs also said the government has not ana- lyzed the effects of climate change and isn’t taking any a c t i o n s t o m i t i g at e fo r them. As a result, said Earthjustice attorney Steve Mashuda, it’s hard to know how much climate change’s ef fect could “erode or negate the predicted bene- fits” of government’s ac- tions to help salmon. Eitel, the gover nment lawyer, said the magnitude and timing of climate change are poorly under- stood and its effects on species vary, so additional actions were not planned to offset its effect. Critics also said the cur- rent plan rolls back some of Eat & watch the the spill ordered by U.S. Dis- trict Judge James Redden 10 years ago. In 2011, Red- den, who has since retired and stepped off the case, asked the government to consider whether removal of the four lower Snake River dams might be neces- sary — an action environ- mentalists have long called for, in addition to increased spill. T h e g ove r n m e n t s ay s breaching dams isn’t need- ed. 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