by Richard Uhlhorn
IN THE NEWS – JUNE 13, 2024
Pioneer Fire update -June 12
The Pioneer Fire 31 miles up-lake from Chelan grew to 1,172 acres after a cold front moved in and contributed to its rapid growth.
Four aircraft and 164 personnel are now assigned to the blaze in steep, rugged land that has dry, dead and downed logs from old fires. According to the incident team, this fire may burn for a long time into the future. NOTE: In July 2001, the Rex Creek Fire burned 60,000 acres.
The incident team is working with private and federal stakeholders to protect assets. Handlines are being cut along the Lakeshore Trail which is closed from Prince Creek to Moore Point. Backpackers can access the trail at Moore Point for the hike into Stehekin.
Home Insurance cancellations:
David Forte, a senior policy advisor with Legislative Affairs Division of the Washington State Insurance Commision, told a large group attending a meeting held at both District 6 and District 5 Fire Stations and on ZOOM, that insurers look a fire load and the structural content of the outside of each building. “They are looking at how likely the home is to ignite,” Forte told the crowd assembled at District 6. “They are looking at both the load and structure fire risks to determine if they want to cover the property or not,” he added.
Washington State Insurance Commission.
Brandt Cappell, a candidate for Tiffany Gearing’s County Commission seat, told the audience that the insurance issue is a statewide issue.
One homeowner said, “Can you imagine trying to sell your house and can’t because insurers won’t insure it. This issue is so important to all of us.”
At this juncture, it looks like any relief from insurers will have to go through the Washington State Legislative path.
Chelan City Council discusses use of remaining ARPA funds:
City Administrator Wade Farris opened a second discussion concerning the use of the remaining $233,000 of ARPA funds for the Boys and Girls Club at the Lake Chelan Community Center.
Finance Director Jackie Tupling said that $225,000 to the Boys and Girls Club, if approved by Council at its next Council meeting, could only be used for tangible items. “None of those funds ar obligated,” she said. However, she added that the rest of the ARPA funds need to be obligated by the end of 2024.
The Boys and Girls Club have become the Community Center’s anchor client and will pay $8,000 per month ($96,000 per year) on their lease of 10,000 sq. ft. at the Center.
Councilman Brad Chitty, who has worked with the Boys & Girls Club in the past, stated that he feels the funds should come out of the General Fund and initially only be for $100,000 to get them started and that they should look for corporate sponsors. Any funds approved by the Council will be on a reimbursement basis. Chitty said, “I am 100 percent behind the Boys & Girls Club,” said Chitty. “It is a great thing for the community.”
Farris replied to Chitty’s remarks saying that the ARPA funds are available on a reimbursement basis and that this is a great way “for us to support the Community Center.”
Farris added that this funding would help serve a large portion of the community by giving parents a place to take their children before and after school while they were still at work.
Mayor McCardle added it was a way for the City to help the Community Center organization get started. She mentioned ARPA funds that have been used by the Food Bank.
Councilman Mark Ericks asked what the redirection of those funds would mean to the Anderson Road Project. Farris replied that the $200,000 ARPA funding attached to the Anderson Road project was there just in case the project ran over the dedicated $700,000.
Councilman Bob Goedde stated he was all for helping the underprivileged children in the Valley and this would better serve them.
Councilman Tim Hollingsworth said, “I don’t want the City on the hook for $96,000 a year. The more we know about it the better. It is a lot of money.”
Adam Rynd spoke to Hollingsworth’s concerns. “I sit on the board at the Community Center and we have already secured private donations.” Rynd stated the Center will continue to seek more funding through private donations and grants.
Ericks stated that he is a big supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs but is concerned about on-going expenses. “Somebody has to talk about on-going expenses,” said Ericks. “How are they going to sustain it.”
Watershed meeting:
Water rights for Lake Chelan are still being processed. Nine more water right applications have been released. It is apparently taking a month to process each water right.
Mike Kaputa stated that when Chelan’s, the Reclamation’s and County’s applications come up for review they will all be fighting for the scraps. As soon as Ecology is finished in the Chelan basin, Kaputa hopes they will jump on to the Entiat watershed. “I would like to see them focus on Entiat. It is the third largest watershed in the County,” said Kaputa.
The Lake Chelan Research Institute under Phil Long continues to perform water monitoring, particularly on the near shore. The LCRI has been funded by the PUD for three years for these monitoring efforts.
Residents living on the lake continually ask Long how they get rid of the algae growing on their docks and bulkheads. Long suggested power washing and scrapping. A test site has apparently been scrapped and will be monitored to see if the algae re-grows.
The Eurasian Milfoil invasion has grown from a measly 12 acres several years ago to 400 acres now. Methods to remove it include DASH (diver assisted airlift process) which has been estimated at up to $9 million dollars to remove the milfoil and Curly Pond Weed.
Long explained to the group that the PUD only lowered the water level to 1089 feet above sea level this year which didn’t expose the invasive milfoil and curly pond weed to freezing. “We need a management plan to get funding,” said Long.
Lake Chelan’s DDT Levels are the highest in the nation and more work on this issue is needed. The DDT levels in Lake Trout have that species listed at risk for consumption.
Boat inspections continue to be conducted at Lake Chelan’s five boat launch areas; Mill Bay, Chelan, PUD Launch, State Park and 25-Mile Creek. Steven Lasky is managing that program and Kaputa told him he appreciated the way he is handling the job. The program has six inspectors working.
Bull Trout: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service are apparently working on their final draft regarding the re-introduction of Bull Trout to Lake Chelan tributaries.
Kaputa is following up on this major issue. Bull Trout are an endangered species and if re-introduced to the tributaries, it will forever change the sport fishery on Lake Chelan. Some local fishing guides say it would kill sport fishing in the Valley.
Townhall meeting will take place in Manson on Tuesday, June 18 at the Grange Hall in Manson. This meeting will bring together Manson Community Council, Manson Chamber of Commerce, Manson Park’s District and District 5 Fire District to get input from the community on how they can all work together to get Manson issues resolved.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. with Council member Chris Willoughby modertating.
All Things Lake Chelan 