The Wenatchee River Ranger District will be implementing five aquatic restoration projects this summer

Leavenworth - Five aquatic restoration projects are planned this summer on the Wenatchee River Ranger District. A portion of these projects will require temporary closure of roads, trails, and campgrounds.

“We would like to give folks a heads up that it is a busy summer out there. You would be hard pressed to find another area with as much aquatic restoration activity happening. Please be mindful of construction activities around rivers and streams, and adjust your recreation plans accordingly,” said District Fish Biologist McLain Johnson. “The work involves a suite of restoration actions, from replacing culverts to installing log jams. The primary goal is to improve habitat for steelhead, spring Chinook Salmon, and bull trout.”

Restoration projects are scheduled over the next few months on Beaver Creek, Big Meadow Creek, Goose Creek, and Nason Creek. Below is the subset of projects that require a temporary closure. During closures vehicle traffic will not be able to pass through the construction zone.

Big Meadow Creek Bridge Installation

A portion of the Big Meadow Creek Road #6300 will be closed from June 20 - July 19. The closure will begin at the intersection with Pole Ridge Road. There will be no access or camping at Meadow Creek Campground during this closure. Meadow Creek Campground will also be closed on July 24 and July 25 for investigation of future restoration activities.

Goose Creek Culvert Replacements

A portion of the Lower Chiwawa River Road will be closed from August 14 - September 1. The closure area begins just past the entrance to Goose Creek Campground and continues up to the intersection of Deep Creek Road #6101. Additionally, a segment of the Goose Creek Road #6102 will be closed during the same time. This closure begins at the intersection of Goose Creek Road and Lower Chiwawa River Road and extends a half mile to the intersection of the Goose Creek Road and Goose Creek Flat Road #6102-200. Finally, a short segment of the Lower Chiwawa ORV Trail #1548 will also be closed from the point where the ORV trail crosses Alder Creek Road #6208 to where the ORV trail departs from the Deep Creek Road #6101.

Upper Nason Creek Aquatic Restoration

A portion of White Pine Creek Road #6950 will be closed from June 26 - July 30. The area of closure begins at the vehicle bridge crossing over Nason Creek, with a railroad bridge overhead, approximately 1.5 miles from Highway 2. This short-term road closure will be a full closure, and vehicles will not be permitted to access the road network or dispersed camping area during the closure.

The Forest Service is working in partnership with Cascade Fisheries, Chelan County Natural Resources Department, Trout Unlimited and the Yakama Nation to accomplish this important work to restore riparian areas and improve fish habitat. Several of the projects are a part of the Upper Wenatchee Pilot Project implementation effort. For more information contact the Wenatchee River Ranger District at 509-548-2550.