NPS decision to reduce Stehekin staff sparks concern at Chelan City Council meeting

CHELAN – Mayor Pro-Tem Tim Hollingsworth raised an issue of concern at the city council’s Feb. 27 bi-monthly meeting relative to recent developments at Chelan’s up lake community.

“The National Park Service (NPS) has announced that they will not be staffing the Golden West sector or having (interpretive) rangers…to manage and operate a very special part of the world,” Hollingsworth said.

Hollingsworth said he was just made aware of the NPS decision, and more details regarding staff cuts are needed. 

“It’s very disappointing that they are not fulfilling their responsibilities up there,” said Hollingsworth. “They need to be encouraged to live up to that obligation.”

Hollingsworth characterized Chelan as “the gatekeeper of the valley” and urged councilmembers to give some thought to an appropriate response.

 “I’d like to call them out on that and urge them to reconsider,” Hollingsworth said.

Stehekin is part of the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, one of three units in the North Cascades National Park Complex, the other two units being the Ross Lake National Recreation Area and North Cascades National Park.

"The GWVC will not be open, but there will be information and interpretive materials available online as well as on the bulletin boards and waysides throughout the valley. Backcountry permits will be issued, and campground reservations will be available online as usual. Maintenance and resources staff will be working in Stehekin as usual, and backcountry/wilderness and fire staff will be rotating through."

A petition sponsored by the North Cascades Conservation Council, the Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs, and Wilderness Watch and directed to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and National Park Service Director Charles Sams calls on the NPS  “to commit to fully staff Stehekin with rangers this summer, keep the Golden West Visitor Center open, and continue providing these services as the Park has done for the last 55 years.”

A spokesperson at Stehekin advised that while the visitor center will be closed, information and interpretive materials will be posted online and on the bulletin boards and waysides throughout the valley. Camping reservations and backcountry permits will be issued. Maintenance, services, and wilderness/fire staff will rotate through the area.

The petition further states that “the decision by the National Park Service to abandon Stehekin is a betrayal of Congress’s intent in assigning Stehekin to the care of the Park Service. People from all over America and the world want to come enjoy this gem, and they deserve to be greeted by public servants.”

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media