Clark County is on the hunt for a public-spirited individual ready to step up and serve on the Columbia River Gorge Commission. They're looking to quickly fill a vacancy for an unexpired term slated to kick off on June 1 and run through June 30, 2027. The commission, tasked with the lofty responsibility of guarding the natural splendor and cultural significance of the Columbia River Gorge, serves as a critical cornerstone in the burgeoning balance between preservation and development within this scenic wonder.

The selected volunteer will be joining a cadre of thirteen commissioners who are his or her esteemed peers in the effort. These commissioners are selected by a patchwork of authority, with the Governors of Washington and Oregon each appointing three members, and each governing body of the six counties within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area – namely Clark, Skamania, and Klickitat in Washington, plus Wasco, Hood River, and Multnomah in Oregon – choosing one. To round off this mix, the Secretary of Agriculture picks a non-voting member to add a federal perspective. But the work they do is not simply for accolades; it's a commitment, one the chosen person might choose to renew at the term's end as commissioners are eligible to serve no more than two consecutive terms.

This is an opportunity to be involved in one of the area's most prestigious conservation efforts. Since its congressional greenlight in 1986 and the subsequent birth of the bi-state Gorge Commission in 1987 through the Columbia River Gorge Compact, the commission's mission has been clear. They are to steadfastly enforce, implement, and develop policies that will protect and enhance the scenic, natural, recreational, and cultural treasures of the gorge, according to Clark County's announcement.