by Richard Uhlhorn
The Lake Chelan Watershed Planning Unit held its quarterly meeting in hybrid fashion with participants signing in on Zoom or attending in person at the Chelan Fire Hall.
Watershed planning update:
The first item on the agenda was the recent Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) Water Smart Grant intended to help update the current watershed plan for the Lake Chelan Watershed. The grant, worth $300,000 over a three year period will be conducted by a group of interested stakeholders and a paid consultant.
The main group will focus on the development of the watershed plan with a subcommittee focusing on developing an aquatic invasive species management plan. Chelan County Natural Resource Department is looking volunteers for the AIS subcommittee. CCNRD is looking for recommendations of who to ask in Chelan and Manson to serve on the larger collaborative.
“The selected committee would work with the consultant,” said Natural Resource Specialist Elle Robinson. “It would kinda be like a steering committee.” Individuals interested in assisting the consultant can email Elle at elle.robinson@co.chelan.wa.us if interested.
CCNRD has posted a RFP to potential consultants to work on the watershed plan and hopes to have a consultant selected by the end of April.
Chelan PUD Update:
Sara Peck, PUD, that there was nothing new to report. However, Scott Hopkins reported that the Lake Chelan Fishery Forum met with the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife who reported that they had conducted kokanee and cutthroat creel surveys. The National Park Service stated that some of their creel surveys were delayed by the Pioneer Creek Fire. Both entities are working to develop a new work plan for 2025.
Water rights update:
Andrea Reyes, DOE, reported that not much has changed on the coordinated cost reimbursement program since the last watershed meeting. They are currently working on the 4th batch and have reviewed 7 our of 9 applications. Reyes stated that she should be able to show a balance of reserve changes. In the next few months Reyes said they would be contacting applicants in Batch 5 which will likely take the reserve to zero.
Chelan County Commissioner Brad Hawkins said he was digging into the water issue and asked what happens when the reserve gets to zero. Reyes replied that once the reserve hits zero, no more water applications will be processed.
Dan Haller gave Hawkins a quick history of the PUD/DOE litigation that eventually ended with the PUD giving 65,000 acre feet for development and water right purposes. Reyes added that the DOE has not outlined how or where new water would come from.
Another question was whether or not the PUD was utilizing all the water they have been allocated. “It’s a difficult issue,” said Reyes. The issue will be addressed in greater detail during the watershed planning process.
Aquatic Invasive Species Update:
Stephen Lesky reported that there was only $45,000 left in the NPS grant for its watercraft inspection operation. This means that the inspection program will be downsized to only Saturday and Sunday inspection in 2025 from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Lesky is working on other potential funding opportunities, particularly with WDFW in hopes of expanding the boat inspection program to mirror past summer operations. Justin Bush, WDFW, is also working with the State Legislature to secure funding for AIS inspections across the state.
LCRI director, Phil Long said, “People in Chelan can’t imagine that people can launch a boat without being checked. It only makes sense to make (inspections) mandatory.” Lesky replied that a fulltime AIS coordinator is needed.
EPA/Ecology Toxics Project Update
Clay Patmont, Anchor QEA, gave an overview and background of the ongoing toxics project. The Project is in the wings for EPA funding of $1 million over a five year period.
Patmont stated that Lake Chelan still has the highest levels of DDT in North America. These levels are based on core samples and samples taken from Lake trout. “We’ve seen no decline in 20 years,” said Patmont. DDT was applied to 12,000 acres of orchard land in the 50s and 60s, primarily in Manson.
According to Patmont, leaching into the lake from orchard drains and creeks is going to continue for a long time. The potential solution to the problem is to direct DDT outlets into wetlands where it will be taken up by aquatic plants.
More sampling is taking place this week. “We will report back from time to time on how it is going.”
The Washington State Department of Health has had a consumption warning about Lake Trout for a number of years concerning the potential for getting cancer.
Steve, a resident on Roses Lake asked about DDT levels there. Patmont replied that the levels are considerable lower in Roses Lake probably because of the lake’s ecology versus Lake Chelan’s pristine nature. “Lake Chelan is so pristine; there is not enough algae.”
Phil Long, LCRI director, said he is working with Roses Lake volunteers to collect water temperatures and Secchi disk readings.
Restore the Shore event:
Long introduced Anna Galipeau to the group and talked about the upcoming trash clean-up on April 12 along the shorelines of the lake.
Galipeau, a degreed environmental scientist has been visiting various areas along the lake and picking up trash. “I have a special passion for trash and where it comes from,” said Galipeau. She is hoping to see a huge turnout on the 12th to help clean the beaches. She told the group that she and other volunteers are willing to pickup the trash collected that day, or the collectors can bring it to the LCRI office and drop it off.
A separate article will be forthcoming on the Restore the Beach program.
All Things Lake Chelan 