By Wayne Nisley

In Washington’s Skamania County, timber once formed the backbone of the economy. Today, only one of the six sawmills that lined the Columbia River Gorge in the 1980s still operates, and much of the surrounding community has shifted away from its logging roots.

Industry leaders say the decline is the result of two main forces: federal land restrictions that limit access to public forests and a steady stream of lower-cost lumber imports from Canada. Together, these pressures have eroded the once-dominant timber economy in the Pacific Northwest.

The Trump administration has sought to reverse this trend with a series of proposals designed to give mills a fighting chance. Among them are plans to roll back the “roadless rule,” a Clinton-era policy that restricts logging and road-building on millions of acres of national forest land. Administration officials have also announced intentions to boost federal timber harvests by as much as 25 percent and to raise tariffs on imported Canadian lumber.

Supporters of these measures argue that increased access to public lands and stronger trade protections could help stabilize sawmill operations, create jobs, and ensure a more reliable domestic supply of wood products. “The industry has been in decline for decades, and these changes could finally bring some relief,” one regional logger commented.

Yet critics caution that policy shifts alone may not be enough. The region continues to face challenges from environmental lawsuits, high operational costs, and a housing market still adjusting to elevated borrowing rates. While tariffs may help level the playing field, Canadian producers remain a strong presence in U.S. markets and are likely to adapt quickly to new trade barriers.

For many in the Northwest, however, even modest policy changes represent hope. Mills that have struggled for years see the possibility of renewed investment if federal harvest levels rise. Communities that were built around timber work are eager to see if these efforts can revive at least part of their local economies.

The coming months will show whether the combination of tariffs and forest access reforms can breathe new life into the region’s timber sector—or if broader economic forces will keep recovery out of reach.