After sustained flood damage, Blackbird Island Pond returns for summer fishing

LEAVENWORTH — After months of flood recovery work powered by volunteers, local businesses and nonprofits, Blackbird Island Pond is open once again for fishing.

“It means a lot to me because kids can go out there and fish and have fun,” 10-year-old Elliott Jackson.

For over two decades, the pond has been a popular fishing site for youth, seniors, and disabled individuals due to its safe and accessible setting, though aging infrastructure and shifting oversight have created ongoing maintenance challenges.

Before December, significant improvements were made to the pond’s infrastructure thanks to the committed efforts of Icicle Valley Trout Unlimited, a regional chapter of the cold water conservation-focused non-profit. Last year, Icicle Valley Trout Unlimited raised about $23,000 and enlisted the help of about 200 volunteer hours to upgrade the pond’s pumps, electrical system, water intake and ADA access. 

However, December’s historic floods delivered a major blow to the pond’s progress. At one point, the Wenatchee River rose high enough to put the pump house six feet under water, according to Icicle Valley Trout Unlimited member Mike Wyant.

“We thought, ‘there’s no possible way to restore this,’” said Wyant.

In assessing the aftermath, the group discovered that the pumps and electrical system had been destroyed, and the intake had been washed away. Logs covered the area, piling up against the pump house and filling the pond.

“The community really stepped up to help,” said Wyant.

Wyant said Icicle Valley Trout Unlimited has raised about $26,000 for recovery efforts, and roughly $45,000 of in-kind work has been contributed by contractor and part-time Leavenworth resident Trent Jackson, McMahon Excavation of Leavenworth, and the Wenatchee River Institute. He also estimated about 400 hours of individual volunteer efforts have gone into recovering the area. Though, Jackson says those estimates are likely higher.

“We all just worked really hard to get it done,” said Jackson. “Mike [Wyant] has been the backbone throughout it all.”

So far, the group has been able to replace the electrical infrastructure, rebuild a pump and clear out hundreds of yards of debris from the area. On June 29, community members installed a new intake. Days later, the pond was stocked with fish from the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, making it ready to fish in time for the Fourth of July weekend.

“A total community effort got it done just in the knick of time for the fishing season,” said Wyant.

Blackbird Island Pond isn’t completely out of the woods yet. Jackson said three more steps were needed to secure the pond’s long-term future: establishing pond maintenance as an ongoing line item in the city’s budget, reinforcing the washed out embankment, and moving the pump shed away from the shoreline.

Recently, Wyant, Jackson and Wenatchee River Institute (WRI) Executive Director Canuche Terranella proposed an agreement in which the city would provide about $20,000 annually to WRI for on-call maintenance, ongoing stewardship and program support at the pond, which is city-owned. An agreement has not yet been made.

“It’s a community asset and a tourism asset,” said Jackson. “There’s not a lot of things for kids to do downtown that are low-cost.”

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media