TERRYDONNELLY
Russell first began exploring the gorge in search of wildflowers.
Congress considered many proposals to
protect the gorge, but all had failed until
Nancy Russell came along.
and recreational resources for the growing Northwest. But
all had failed until Nancy Russell came along. And while
no one claims that she single-handedly created the
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, it would not
have happened without her. Her experience illustrates
how a person with vision, dedication, and drive can protect a beloved place, says Bowen Blair, senior vice president and national director of projects for The Trust for
Public Land. “If Nancy taught us anything, it was to keep
fighting to protect what’s important.”
Blair should know. In the 1980s, just a few years out
of law school, he was recruited by Russell to serve as
TPLFILEPHOTO
Recruited by Russell to be the Friends group’s executive director,
Bowen Blair went on to manage TPL’s conservation efforts in the
gorge.Opposite: Data for the Columbia River Gorge map was made
available by the U.S. Geological Survey, EROS Data Center, Sioux Falls,
South Dakota.
