Volunteers, nonprofit seek long-term future for Blackbird Island pond

LEAVENWORTH — City officials, nonprofit leaders and volunteers are weighing a long-term management solution for the Blackbird Island pond, a city-owned fishing pond that has long relied on grassroots efforts to maintain.

The pond was built in the early 2000s through the efforts of Icicle Valley Trout Unlimited and additional partners. Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife helps to stock the pond with fish each year. The pump system draws about one cubic foot per second of water from the Wenatchee River through the pond before returning it to the river downstream, helping maintain water temperatures and oxygen levels needed for fish survival.

Since its inception, the pond has been an accessible fishing site for senior citizens, people with physical or intellectual disabilities and youth, including those attending Wenatchee River Institute’s (WRI) summer day camps.

“Where else around here are kids going to go to fish? And not only kids…It serves kind of a wide population,” Trout Unlimited Icicle Valley Chapter volunteer Mike Wyant told Leavenworth City Council on June 23.

However, maintenance and operations of the pond are challenging and costly, and responsibility has changed several hands over time. Icicle Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited has worked to keep the pond operational over the last several years, such as fundraising and updating aging infrastructure, including pump replacements. 

“I was feeling pretty good about the whole picture, thinking, ‘Well, now we just need a little more money to do a couple more things,’ and then the December floods pretty much devastated the place,” said Wyant.

According to Wyant, the pond is getting closer to a full recovery thanks to volunteer Trent Jackson, who launched a GoFundMe campaign for the pond and spearheaded hundreds of volunteer hours.

“It truly is a local community resource, as well as a tourist resource,” said Jackson. As a father of three young kids, he values the fishing pond as one of the few low-cost activities for kids downtown.

Jackson and Wyant reported significant progress through volunteer support, but stressed that more repairs were required in the short-term. Additionally, the pond would not be operational in the future unless a permanent operational plan was put in place. 

“We need a plan to sustain it into the future,” said Wyant.

Executive Director Canuche Terranella told Leavenworth City Council that Wenatchee River Institute could step in to help with on-call maintenance, ongoing stewardship and programming support. The organization would need city support, which Terranella estimated would total about $20,000 annually. Terranella also suggested the creation of an advisory group, including advocates like Wyant and Jackson, to increase community engagement and education around the fishing pond.

Council members signaled interest in establishing long-term support. Council member Rob Eaton suggested referring to the Parks and Public Works Committee to formalize a plan with clear roles and funding sources.

“I think it's great for our community,” said Eaton.

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