Public tour highlights forest health and wildfire risk reduction work around Lake Wenatchee

LAKE WENATCHEE – Local agencies and organizations invited the community on a tour of forest restoration and community wildfire protection work taking place on public forest land on May 29.

The tour visited work sites around Lake Wenatchee, with discussion from the U.S. Forest Service, Cascadia Conservation District, Lake Wenatchee Fire and Rescue, Chelan County and more.

The first stop was an overlook along Forest Service Road 6306 near Meadow Creek, where forest health restoration treatment is being completed, which includes commercial and non-commercial thinning, prescribed fire, and road construction and decommissioning. 

The work is a part of the Upper Wenatchee Pilot Project, a coordinated effort that aims to restore forest health and resiliency through improving forest structure, wildlife habitat and watershed, returning fire to the landscape, and reducing community wildfire risk. The project spans 76,000 acres of land throughout the Plain and Lake Wenatchee areas.

The public heard from The Nature Conservancy Forest Program Manager Lloyd McGee and Jim Passage of Lake Wenatchee Fire Adapted Communities, and the U.S. Forest Service about the project’s origins, progress, and long-term vision at the stop.

“What you see here is the start of what they're doing on the forest in this 76,000 acres…This is the first major project, and over time, between partnerships between the North Central Forest Collaborative and the Forest Service, we're going to see more of this. It's going to reduce the risk of fire in our community,” said Passage.

After the tour, the group visited the Chiwawa River Pines Community Fuel Break to learn about community wildfire protection work from Lake Wenatchee Fire and Rescue, Chelan County, and Cascadia Conservation District. Attendees also learned about opportunities to take action as private landowners from Cascadia Conservation District Forestry Program Manager Patrick Haggerty.

Cascadia Conservation District offers a number of different programs such as forest health assistance, a home hardening incentive, fuels reduction assistance, home assessments, and chipping. Some of these programs are through partnerships with Lake Wenatchee Fire and Rescue and Chelan County Fire District #3.

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