Snowden Community
Latest News:
For Essential Community Services (warming shelter locations, closed roads, food needs, domestic violence resources, info) dial 211 or go to https://search.wa211.org
The April 2025 Underwood Conservation District newsletter is now available.
The White Salmon Library has announced the programs that will be available for their April 2025 Wild About Nature series. More information about each program can be found on the library’s calendar.
The Port of Hood River plans single-lane closures of the Hood River-White Salmon Bridge on 21 to 25 April and 28 April to 2 May from 8:00AM to 3:00PM. They will be doing annual welding repairs. Flaggers will direct traffic. Expect delays.
This year’s annual Community Cleanup will take place on April 25 and 26, from 9:00AM to 5:00PM. More details are available at the Community Cleanup Facebook Group.
SAVE THE DATE: The Snowden Community Council, in partnership with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Mount Adams Resource Stewards, Underwood Conservation District, and the West Klickitat Regional Fire Authority, would like to invite residents to:
SNOWDEN WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, June 14th, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM
at the Mountain Brook Fire Station (959 Snowden Rd.)
Join us to learn about what YOU can do to prepare your home and family. Come talk to experts about what it takes to make your property fire-wise and get an inside peak at one of our fire stations.
Please carpool if possible. ADA parking is available directly in front of the station.
The Klickitat County Planning Department is beginning a two-year process to update its outdated 1979 Comprehensive Plan for the county (link to current plan).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.
To start the process, the County is planning a series of interactive community meetings to explain the Comprehensive Plan development process and get input from the public on the areas of concern that the plan needs to address and the goals and policies within each of the areas.
Come to one of the Comprehensive Plan Community Outreach Meetings and bring a neighbor!
The remaining meetings will be held from 6:00-8:00PM at all locations (in person only):
* Bickleton, Alder Creek Grange Hall, 304 Goldendale-Bickleton Rd. – April 17
* Dallesport, Community Center, 136 6th Ave. – May 1
More information is available in this document: Help Plan for the Future of Klickitat County.
CenturyLink (CL) Update (March 11, 2025) More Good News! The Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) questioned CenturyLink about the terms of the official Settlement Agreement (Called “2025 Plan of AFOR for the Washington State CenturyLink ILECs”. AFOR stands for “Alternative Form of Regulation”), at a public meeting on Wednesday, March 12, but no public comments were taken. There are plans to have a public comment hearing before the WUTC in the “not-too-distant” future. We will have more lead time and send out an alert before the public comment hearing.
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.
Micro Grants of up to $4,000.00 with a 0% match requirement are available through the DNR for projects that benefit the community. For details about these grants, contact Charlie Landsman, Community Resource Coordinator at WA DNR, Cell: (360) 972-4249, email: charles.landsman@dnr.wa.gov. There’s also a cost-sharing program available through the 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.
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.
The seasonal burn ban has not yet begun. Fire Danger: Low. More information about county burn bans, and what you can and cannot do during a burn ban is available on the KC Department of Emergency Management page.
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.
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/.
