An Assessment of South Wasco County Livability Issues

INTRODUCTION

Like many frontier places, South Wasco communities have experienced “spiraling down” economies over the

past couple of decades, which impacts quality of life for many residents. Founded in 2015, the South Wasco

Alliance (SWA) is a grassroots organization with a mission to develop a sustainable local economy, strong

community, and improved living standards through local and regional alliances for people in South Wasco

County Oregon. As SWA and partners work to create opportunities for “spiraling up” sustainable economies

and livability, it comes with the threat that South Wasco communities, which are located in an emergent

recreational area situated between the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and Central Oregon, may

be “loved to death.” Labeled as the “amenity trap” by Headwaters Economics, seasonal tourism puts pressures

on the natural environment, housing stock, infrastructure (roads & water systems), and public services that

could have negative effects on the local community, unless navigated thoughtfully by proactively addressing

factors identified in this report. If such steps are not taken, longer-term residents could miss out on newfound

prosperity.

PURPOSE

SWA seeks to balance economic prosperity with residents’ quality of life. To this end, SWA commissioned this

assessment to document the assets and needs of nine livability issues in South Wasco County so that SWA and

other community partners can prioritize efforts and secure funding to improve quality of life for all residents.

KEY FINDINGS

Economic development, housing, early child education, and behavioral health emerged as higher

priorities for SWA to address now. For these issues, community residents prioritized them higher, documented

needs were higher, assets were lower or moderate, and momentum for change was higher or moderate.