State Predicts Southern Oregon Haze Will Persist for Decades

PORTLAND -- Clearer skies are on the horizon for northern Oregon's Hells Canyon and Columbia River Gorge.

A state plan released this week projects that by 2018, more efficient cars and efforts to cut pollution by 80 percent at PGE's coal plant in Boardman should improve visibility in the wilderness areas.

There will be continued haze in southwest Oregon, however. Areas, like Crater Lake and the Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area, won't see much improvement, partly because of expected wildfires.

Andy Ginsberg of Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality says the state will study other manmade haze sources before the plan is updated in five years.

He says the state wants to return visibility to natural levels by 2064 - a national goal under the federal Clean Air Act.