North Central Public Health District Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell recommended that Wasco County opt-in to Governor Kate Brown’s face covering order currently in effect in seven counties.  McDonell told Wasco County Commissioners on Wednesday that numerous studies are now showing that populations where at least 50 percent of people are wearing masks in public settings are able to significantly reduce transmission of COVID-19.  She added that it doesn’t appear Wasco County is getting that rate of face covering use, and if the County is going to be realistic about reducing transmission she recommends opting-in to the state guidance.  McDonell said Wasco County’s total of COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic is now at 56, an increase of four from Tuesday’s numbers.  County Commissioners will consider her recommendation at a meeting next Wednesday.

Hood River County’s increase in COVID-19 cases since an outbreak in late May seems to be diminishing.  County Health Department Health Officer Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg says many of the 89 cases that have been reported since the pandemic have recovered, and more will reach that point soon.  He estimated about 70 cases are listed in the County, and more will reach that point this week.  Van Tilburg says recreational social gatherings continue to be the main source of cases in the County, .and that face coverings that are now required in indoor public settings in the County help reduce transmission rates.  He also encourages people to continue to wash their hands, stay home when sick, and employ physical distancing.  

A statewide public health order is requiring people in Washington state to wear facial coverings in most indoor and outdoor public settings. A separate proclamation requires even more stringent requirements on Yakima County, one of the areas hardest hit by the coronavirus. In addition to being covered by the statewide mandate on masks in public, there will now be a legal requirement that prohibits people from entering a place of business _ either indoors or outdoors _ without first donning a mask. Under that same proclamation, businesses in Yakima County are prohibited from allowing a customer to enter a business, or conduct business with a customer in any public space unless the customer is wearing a face covering. The orders take effect Friday.

Wasco County Commissioners joined with The Dalles City Council and the Port of The Dalles in approving a resolution opposing revisions to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Management Plan they believe would unfairly restrict growth for cities in the Scenic Area by severely limiting the size of urban growth boundary expansion requests.  The current proposal would limit UGB increases to one percent or 20 acres.  County Commission Chair Scott Hege said the limitations being considered would stifle economic development in the Gorge.  The Gorge Commission is holding a public comment meeting via ZOOM on Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Northern Wasco Parks and Recreation District will open its swimming pool July 1, but it won’t operate as usual.  District Executive Director Scott Baker says they will have 90 minute open swims at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. each day with limitations on the numbers of people that can be on site during any one session.  He added they worked with North Central Public Health District to develop a safe operations plan.  Swimmers should arrive in their swimsuit, showered, and ready to get into the pool.  The pool lobby, concession stand, and locker rooms will be closed.  For full information, go to nwprd.org.  The Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District announced the Hood River Aquatic Center will open on Thursday.  That facility has established an online reservation system for its various sessions, and is available at hoodriverparksandrec.org.

There will be a one-hour full closure of the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge early Friday morning.  It will for a scheduled full height maintenance lift of the bridge’s lift span.  The closure will be from 5:00 a.m. until 6:00 a.m. on Friday.  Early morning commuters are advised to avoid the bridge during the closure.

The Dalles Public Works Department will be flushing fire hydrants over the next few weeks, weather permitting.  Fire hydrants are flushed in order to clean out deposits, sediments and rust from distribution pipelines, help minimize water quality problems, test fire protection water pressures, exercise hydrant valves, and identify hydrants needing repair or replacement.  Motorists and pedestrians are asked to avoid driving or walking through the water coming directly from a hydrant while it is being flushed.  Occasionally main flushing causes water flowing from a tap to be discolored from stirred up sediment or milky white caused by tiny air bubbles.  Although discolored water won’t make you sick, you can flush the pipe by running the water for several minutes before drinking or washing.  If the water does not clear, contact The Dalles Public Works office at 541-296-5401.

Due to better than expected sockeye fishing, sockeye and hatchery steelhead angling and retention in the mainstem Columbia River will close effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday morning.   The closure includes the mainstem Columbia River downstream of the Oregon-Washington border, about 17 miles upstream of McNary Dam.  The combined sockeye return to the Columbia River includes fish destined for the Snake River, which are listed as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act.  Through June 21, anglers downstream of Bonneville Dam have kept an estimated 2,721 sockeye, exceeding the 1 percent ESA take limit allowed for combined non-treaty fisheries based on the preseason forecast of 246,300 fish.  In-season projections for sockeye and summer Chinook abundance should be available early next week, which will help determine fishery options moving forward into July.

Neither Hood River or Wasco County had reported any new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday as of the early afternoon.  The latest numbers from the Oregon Health Authority released Tuesday afternoon included cases the two counties had already reported locally on Monday.  Hood River County is at 89 cases and Wasco County at 52.  The OHA reported 191 new COVID-19 cases in its Tuesday update to move the total to 7,244.  Deaths remained at 192.  Washington state officials said on Monday they listed 190 new cases, moving that total to 28,870 cases with 1,276 deaths.  Klickitat County late Monday adjusted its total to 53 COVID-19 cases, explaining that one previously reported case turned out to not be a County resident.  In addition, the state of Washington has changed its total for Skamania County back to three after initially reporting two new cases over the weekend.

The Dalles City Council voted unanimously to support a resolution opposing revisions to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Management Plan they believe would unfairly restrict growth for cities in the Scenic Area by severely limiting the size of urban growth boundary expansion requests.  How UGB expansions could be sought has been a long-discussed question with the Columbia River Gorge Commission.  The Dalles Mayor Rich Mays says the revisions under consideration won’t work for cities, noting a proposed limitation of 20 acres is only half the size of Sorosis Park.  The City Council resolution says the revisions are inconsistent with the federal act that created the Scenic Area and preclude growth opportunities for urban areas in the Gorge.  Wasco County Commissioners will discuss a similar resolution at their meeting on Wednesday.