Snowden Community
Fire Danger Today: HIGH
COMMUNITY SERVICES
- Call or Text 988 for Suicide Prevention and Crisis Lifeline
- WAGAP (Washington Gorge Action Programs)
- 24-hour crisis line for domestic violence/sexual assault: 844-493-1709
- Bingen office: 800-755-1192 or 509-493-2662. Services include: Food Bank, Emergency Housing, Housing Assistance, Domestic Violence Assistance, Youth Center, Financial Programs.
Latest News:
Concerned about the decision of the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) to continue allowing fireworks in the county on the 4th of July? Consider sending a letter to the BoCC, as Snowden resident Dawn Stover has done in her well-reasoned letter of 22 May, 2025. In this letter, Dawn suggests a partial ban on fireworks to limit them to places that can most easily be protected by firefighters.
The June 2025 Underwood Conservation District newsletter is now available.
Congratulations to the Snowden Wildfire Prevention Committee (SWPC) for installing 7 new burn ban signs at the access points to Snowden! The signs were funded by a grant from the WA Department of Natural Resources. This grant also paid for a Possible Evacuation Routes and Emergency Preparedness brochure to be delivered to the mailboxes of Snowden residents.
Recommended Ways to Monitor Wildfire Status: Facebook Group for monitoring the latest wildfire info: Columbia Gorge Wildland and Fire Information Page. Free iPhone and Android app for monitoring latest wildfire info: Watch Duty. Website for monitoring wildfire activity: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/.
In preparation for the 2025 wildfire season, consider completing the Wildfire Ready Neighbors! survey at the WA Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website. You will receive an In-Person Visit By a Wildfire Expert, who will help you create a Wildfire Ready Plan just for you that works for your property, budget, and lifestyle. They can also provide information about groups that can help you make the recommended changes.
There’s a cost-sharing program available through the WA DNR that provides financial assistance for individual forestland owners to complete wildfire resilience and forest health projects.
Underwood Conservation District (UCD) also offers free, in-person Wildfire Resilience Assessments. See the UCD Wildfire Resilience Program page.
The Klickitat County Planning Department is beginning a two-year process to update its outdated 1979 Comprehensive Plan for the county (link to current plan). The Comprehensive Plan is “the primary land use document to implement the community’s vision for future growth and development while protecting livability, culture, natural resources, and the environment.” A draft of the updated plan is to be completed by the end of June.
Adopting a Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) is a WA State requirement for all cities and counties, under the Growth Management Act. Its purpose is to establish local regulations to protect critical areas, which are defined as “critical aquifer recharge areas, fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas, frequently flooded areas, geological hazardous areas, and wetlands.” A proposed revision to the CAO for Klickitat County is being considered.
The CAO seems to be “on hold” while under appeal from the Yakama Tribe. The Land Use Committee will keep watch for any activity.
Volunteer Firefighters Needed! The West Klickitat Regional Fire Authority is working to improve our wildfire preparedness, fight fires as they occur, and improve our fire rating (Public Protection Classification), so that we won’t have our homeowner’s insurance canceled. The greatest need is for additional volunteer firefighters, especially at the Mountain Brook station (at 959 Snowden Rd.).
Fire Chief Wes Long says “My idea is to recruit and create a force of people up there who may not be necessarily completely qualified [to be firefighters] but are fully capable of working in a DEFENSIVE mode only for structure fires while forces are coming from town to slow fire progression down.” If you are interested in becoming part of the team, at Mountain Brook or elsewhere in the West Klickitat area, call 509-493-2996.
Check out the new Emergency Preparedness page!
Information about upcoming community events can be found on the GorgeCurrent Events Calendar and also on the Mt. Adams Chamber of Commerce Events Calendar.
Gorge MakerSpace offers classes for youth and adults in wood working and woodturning, laser cutting, 3D printing, blacksmithing, art, sewing, embroidery, painting on fabric, DIY & home repair, and robotics. For more info and to sign up see: Gorge MakerSpace.
