Letter to Mr. Glenn Casamassa, Regional Forester, Pacific Northwest Region - Jaime Herrera Beutler Urges Quick Reopening of Forest Service Recreation Access Points in Gorge, Gifford Pinchot

Letter

Dear Regional Forester Casamassa:
I am writing to request that the U.S. Forest Service utilizes proper social distancing safeguards to
quickly reopen and restore public access to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and
Gifford Pinchot National Forest recreation areas.
Other federal agencies like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are already reopening outdoor
public access areas, meaning that citizens have already resumed visiting the Gorge for
recreational purposes. Washington state opened several state-managed recreational areas on
May 5. By providing local residents more options for recreation destinations, we'll be giving
them more and potentially safer options if other sites are already "at capacity" under proper
social distancing restrictions.
I have also pressed U.S. Fish and Wildlife to open National Wildlife Refuges without
unnecessary delay, which would further disperse residents intent on visiting nature at a public
access point in Southwest Washington.
At a congressional hearing on May 6 focused on COVID-19, I questioned public health experts
well-versed in mental trauma and PTSD about the value of outdoor recreation in boosting
emotional health and the safety of opening public lands for use during this pandemic. They
strongly endorsed allowing public access to outdoor recreation, with the proper health guidelines
in place.
I noted that the Forest Service has said it will conduct a review to reopen developed recreation
sites by late May, but it's my hope and the desire of residents throughout this region that your
agency has been planning for restored access to these popular sites and that they can be reopened
without weeks of delay.
I appreciate your attention to this matter.

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