Public Comments Sought for Stehekin River Corridor Implementation Plan

Date: January 8, 2008
Contact: Jon Riedel, 360 854-7330
Contact: Kerry Olson, 360 854-7365, ext.13

North Cascades National Park Service Complex is beginning the planning process for a Stehekin River Corridor Implementation Plan within Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. Public input is being sought on possible actions in response to repeated flooding in the lower Stehekin River corridor. This public scoping is the first step in the planning and environmental impact analysis process to determine future management of lands within Lake Chelan National Recreation Area.  

Increased magnitude and frequency of flooding during the last 30 years has affected public and private land in the lower Stehekin Valley. Sustainable management strategies and actions are needed to fulfill the intent of the 1995 Lake Chelan NRA General Management Plan. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which includes the Implementation Plan, will address issues related to the natural processes of the Stehekin River, maintenance of park facilities, including the road system, recreation, and administrative facilities. A revised Land Protection Plan will be developed to guide land exchanges and purchases in the lower Stehekin Valley, in part to respond to requests from property owners to move out of the floodplain.

The first part of the EIS process is public scoping. People are invited to identify concerns and action items, as well as provide comments and ideas, all of which will help the National Park Service determine the scope of the plan and EIS. As part of this process people may submit comments in writing and/or attend a public workshop. Public scoping workshops will consist of presentations on current river dynamics, discussions to identify issues and possible management action alternatives, and opportunities to talk with park staff.  

Three public scoping meetings will be held at:

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Stehekin, Washington

Golden West Visitor Center

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Wenatchee, Washington

Okanogan – Wenatchee National Forest Headquarters, 215 Melody Lane

Thursday, January 24

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Seattle, Washington

Seattle Mountaineers Olympus Room, 300 Third Avenue West

For more detailed information about the Stehekin River Corridor Implementation Plan, the plan’s schedule, and the Stehekin River, please read the SRCIP Newsletter #1, which can be found at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/noca. Additional,background and details are available in the White paper #2 prepared by NPS resource management staff, available at this link or in the park planning site mentioned above.

Written comments must be postmarked or submitted via the internet, fax or hand delivery by March 1, 2008. Questions regarding this plan should be directed to Jon Riedel at [phone].

Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

Online:                        https://parkplanning.nps.gov/noca (Select “Stehekin River Corridor Implementation Plan”)

Mail or hand-delivery:  Superintendent, North Cascades National Park Service Complex

                             810 State Route 20

                             Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284-1239

          Fax:  [phone]

Information gathered from the general public, other agencies, National Park Service staff, non-profit organizations, and community groups will be summarized in a second newsletter mailed in early summer 2008. This newsletter will also contain preliminary alternatives developed and analyzed as part of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement process. The ambitious goal of this effort is to complete the planning process by fall 2009.