Public Lands Closures Have Some Impact, But Some Still Go Out

Public land closures in the Gorge may have dissuaded some from coming to the Gorge, but some apparently came anyway.  The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that despite public lands closures, visitation to those lands remained high as people converged at parks, sites, and trails.  The Sheriff’s Office says agencies in and around Skamania County contacted dozens of recreationalists over the weekend and issued citations to many of them.  Hood River County Forestry Director Doug Thiesies told County Commissioners during a virtual worksession Monday that the Commission’s closure of the County Forest on Thursday did have some effect, estimating use was reduced by 70 to 80 percent, but there were still some on the trails.  More than a dozen federal, state and local agencies in and around the Columbia River Gorge have been engaged in a social media campaign to encourage outdoor enthusiasts to “do the right thing” and comply with public health directives to stay home and reduce the spread of COVID-19.  Those agencies have temporarily closed lands and water access to adhere to state executive orders.

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