Safety efforts credited with sharp decline in Wenatchee River emergencies

LEAVENWORTH — After years of frequent swiftwater rescues and multiple fatalities, the Wenatchee River recorded zero river-related deaths and no swiftwater rescue calls in 2025, a milestone local officials credit to expanded safety education and multi-agency prevention efforts.

“It's important to remember that that was a community risk reduction project that was successful,” Chelan County Fire District #3 (CCFD #3) Deputy Chief Mike Smith told the Leavenworth City Council on Jan. 27.

According to American Whitewater’s (AW) accident database, nearly 20 fatalities have occurred on the Wenatchee River since 1994, but a news analysis from the Wenatchee World suggests over 30. Smith said swiftwater rescues reached a peak in 2022, estimating between 13 and 15 calls on the Wenatchee River. American Whitewater recorded three fatalities on the Wenatchee River that year, all of which occurred without personal flotation devices (PFDs) present.

As river use and related emergencies trended upward, a river safety working group formed involving the city, county, emergency responders and other local stakeholders. Educational kiosks and warning signs for exit points were installed, while efforts to expand outreach increased. Improvements also involved Cascade Medical Center placing PFDs at river access points, and the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce developing its River Ambassador program, where volunteers convey information to the public about parking, river navigation, safety, and stewardship.

Smith said they saw numbers statistically fall since efforts began. The last recorded fatality on the Wenatchee River was in 2023, which was related to underlying health problems, according to AW.

“All those things came together, and in 2025, we had zero swift water rescue calls and zero fatalities,” Smith said in regard to river-related incidents.

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