The U.S. Forest Service is closing three trailheads on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.  The three new closures are at Cape Horn Trail, Dog Mountain Trail, and the Lyle Trailhead of Klickitat Trail.  Cape Horn Trail is managed with support from Skamania County, who owns the Park and Ride lot that many use to access the site. Both the county and Cape Horn Conservancy, who helps maintain the trail, reached out to the USFS for support in closing the trail.  Dog Mountain Trail last weekend saw crowds on par with peak season, creating hazards along Highway 14.  Klickitat Trail is a Rails-to-Trails conversion that crosses multiple jurisdictions.  The USFS helps maintain the Lyle Trailhead, which sits on Washington State Park lands.  The closure of the trailhead is consistent with the Washington State Park decision to close all day use areas, including trailheads.  Scenic Area officials continue to evaluate risks at other “close proximity” recreation sites and anticipates more closures and restrictions with little advanced notice.  Updates will be posted on the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area website.

Port of Hood River Commissioners unanimously approved an extension of the seven-day suspension of all tolls on the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge that began last Friday.  Commissioners decided to continue the suspension of tolls for all users until May 1, or at a time that non-BreezeBy payments for tolls can be accepted.  Port and County public health officials have concluded that, since receiving cash payments for tolls in the toll booth would require workers to use Personal Protective Equipment, the cash tolling suspension should continue.  BreezeBy customer accounts will not be charged for tolls during this period.  All vehicle traffic will continue to be directed through the BreezeBy lanes at the toll plaza located on the Oregon side of the bridge.  Port staff will remain available to respond to emergencies or accidents on the bridge during the toll suspension.  All motorists are urged to adhere to the posted speeds on the bridge, especially the 15 mph maximum speed through the Toll Plaza.

Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust has closed its Mosier Plateau and Lyle Cherry Orchards preserves.  Trust Director Dan Bell said in a statement that people at crowded trailheads, parking areas, and overlooks have little opportunity to follow proper social distance guidance.  He said keeping the trails open at this time could present a very real risk to neighbors.  Bell added they will follow the guidance of health officials and work with community partners to determine when it is time to re-open trails on the Trust’s public preserves.

The City of Hood River is ordering all tourism lodging stays to cease immediately.  A statement from the City indicates Mayor Kate McBride made the decision in the wake of visitors flocking to the Columbia River Gorge last weekend despite statewide restrictions on public gatherings.  The order calls for property owners and managers to terminate reasonable steps to have tourist guests vacate by 1 p.m. Thursday.  All short-term rentals are prohibited until the declared emergency officially ends.  There are exceptions for current registered guests who will stay for a minimum of 30 consecutive days, essential personnel, individuals deemed vulnerable by the Hood River County Health Department, and other individuals authorized by the health department.

A National Guard convoy will be travelling the Interstate 84 corridor to La Grande to deliver 150 cots and blankets to a potential COVID-19 shelter.  Guard members are playing an important role assisting the State and Governor Brown to supply provisions and provide logistics to the response effort.  The North Central Unified Incident Command also said there is no truth to rumors about a closure of The Dalles Bridge.  ODOT Project Manager Cari Charlton told the command team that there are no scheduled closures due to COVID 19 or construction projects in 2020.  The Dalles Bridge will remain open to motor vehicle traffic.  For more information, visit Wasco County, Oregon – COVID 19 Information Center’s Facebook page or call 211.

North Central Public Health District is now asking all of its clinic clients to call first before coming.  Many services can be provided over the phone.  The clinic is still open to provide some services, but clients are asked to call 541-506-2600 and ask to talk to a nurse, who can determine whether an in-person visit is needed.  The “phone first” request applies to both the walk-in clinic and those with appointments.  Earlier, North Central Public Health had switched to providing home visiting and WIC appointments by phone.

Skamania County has closed recreational hiking in the County.  Undersheriff Pat Bond says that is in response to an influx of non-residents over the weekend that disregarded social distancing mesures.  Bond added that the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office is taking an educational approach to Governor Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” proclamation on Monday, saying they will look to educate violators of the order and use appropriate social distancing to gain voluntary compliance.  Skamania County has established an Incident Command Center for the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure continuity of services, re-supply of critical equipment to first responders, and maintain open lines of communication and up to date information.  There have been no COVID-19 cases reported in Skamania County.

The Hood River County Forestry Department is closing all recreational staging areas and their restroom facilities until further notice.  The closure includes Post Flats, Family Man, Binns Hill, and Pinemont Drive staging areas.  County officials say the closure is being done to promote social distancing and reduce the spread of the COVID–19 virus.  The trail system will remain open at this time.  Users are asked to take inclement weather conditions into consideration to limit damage to trails.  County officials say they recognize the trail system provides an opportunity for users to foster a healthy mental and physical state.  The goal is to keep everyone healthy and safe by adhering to the practice of social distancing and dispersed recreation on the tree farm.  For more information about specific staging areas in the County’s forest, please contact the Forestry Office at 541-387-6888.

Klickitat County Commissioner Jim Sizemore is urging property taxpayers to consider paying them in full in the month of April, rather than wait to pay half in October.  Sizemore says by doing that, it would ease concerns for the various junior taxing districts in County that rely on property taxes for their operating funds.  Sizemore says emergency medical services, the County’s two public hospitals, and fire districts all rely on those property taxes to maintain operations.

The United Way of the Columbia Gorge and the Healthy Gorge Initiative have launched the COVID-19 Gorge Community Response Fund to address the immediate needs faced by nonprofit organizations and their clients in Wasco, Hood River, Sherman, Klickitat, and Skamania counties  PacificSource Community Solutions has donated $25,000 and the Columbia Gorge Health Council matched that to start the fund.  Collective Impact Health Specialist Paul Lindberg says the non-profit sector has been impacted in a similar way as for-profit business have been, while dealing with community needs that will continue to need to be dealt with.  Those who would like to donate can do so at unitedwaycolumbiagorge.org/give.  To apply for funding, a simple grant application process to expedite funding to nonprofits providing essential services and experiencing the greatest impact is underway.  Application information is available at gorgeimpact.com.