Snowden Community
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:
The Klickitat County Burn Ban is set to go into effect Monday, June 2nd, for Zones 1, 2, and 3 (which includes Snowden). It will stay in effect until rescinded. More information about county burn bans, and what you can and cannot do during a burn ban is available on the Klickitat County Department of Emergency Management page.
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.
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.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! The Snowden Wildfire Prevention Committee (SWPC) is pleased to announce that we have received a micro-grant from the WA DNR. This grant is being used to support several wildfire prevention initiatives in our community, including the purchase of one fire danger level sign and eight burn ban signs. These signs will be placed at all access points to Snowden. A map will be provided shortly.
We are currently seeking volunteers to assist with installing these signs. While specific dates and locations are still being finalized, we are compiling a list of individuals who are interested in helping with this important effort.
If you would like to be added to the volunteer list, please email us at snowdencouncil@gmail.com. We will follow up with more details as the schedule is confirmed.
The April 2025 Underwood Conservation District newsletter is now available.
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.
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.
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.
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/.
