The Wenatchee River is a place dear to so many of us living
in Chelan County. Our local waterway
affords excellent recreation opportunities-from hiking and biking, to rafting
and fishing. It’s also a habitat for many hundreds of species of birds, bugs,
fish and mammals. The iconic Wenatchee River and the animals that call it home
may be getting more protection soon-and with it some bonus public access. If
everything goes as planned, the Peshastin Mill will become property of the
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife sometime next summer.
The Peshastin Mill is currently owned by the Port of Chelan
County who in 2006 abandoned initial plans to turn the property into a business
park due to the expenses of developing the site. Last summer the Port of Chelan
County officially began looking for suitors to purchase the 14 acre site.
What this means is that the longest continual stretch of
undeveloped waterfront remaining between Leavenworth and Peshastin will be
protected and public access to the area will be allowed. Several local groups
saw the opportunity to preserve the natural qualities of this site and keep it
open to the public. The Complete the Loop Coalition (CTLC) and its partners
have signed an earnest money agreement (which is like paying a security
deposit) to demonstrate their intentions to raise the $475,000 it would take to
purchase the 14 acres of riverfront.
$475,000 is a lot of money for groups like the Icicle Valley
chapter of Trout Unlimited, the CTLC and their local partners. Through an
anonymous donation of $50,000 and a challenge match gift of $100,000 from Dr.
Elliot Scull, a potential $150,000 has already been raised. That leaves just
about one year to raise the remaining $325,000. Lacking the resources for long term management, after purchasing the property CTLC plans to hand it over to the Forest Service.
If you’re interested in joining the cause to protect this stretch of river from development and keeping it open to the public, check out http://savepeshastinwaterfront.org/.
If you’re interested in joining the cause to protect this stretch of river from development and keeping it open to the public, check out http://savepeshastinwaterfront.org/.
