July 30, 2009
OLYMPIA…Sen.
Linda Evans Parlette, R-Wenatchee,
testified today before the U.S. House of Representatives’
Committee on Natural Resources’ subcommittee on National Parks,
Forests, and Public Lands, encouraging members to support a bill
that would allow reopening of the Upper Stehekin Valley Road in
the North Cascades National Park.
In 2003 a five hundred year flooding event struck the Stehekin
River. This resulted in extensive damage to private property
within the community of Stehekin, severe damage to roads and
other National Park Service infrastructure within Lake Chelan
National Recreation Area, and unprecedented damage to the Upper
Stehekin Valley Road within the North Cascades National Park.
This primitive road runs approximately 12.8 miles from the
National Park-National Recreation Area boundary at High Bridge
to the Cottonwood Camp. The road remains impassable above Car
Wash Falls,
which is located approximately 12.9 miles from the Stehekin
Landing and just 1.7 miles above High Bridge.
Allowing the National Park Service to relocate and rebuild the
Upper Stehekin Valley Road on higher ground will require
adjustment of the Stephen Mather Wilderness and the North
Cascades National Park boundaries, therefore congressional
approval is required. Earlier this month
Congressman Doc
Hastings introduced federal legislation to
accomplish this goal. His bill,
H.R. 2806, specifically states that there be no net loss of
acreage to the park or the wilderness.
“I support H.R. 2806 because it would restore access to rustic
park facilities and scenic wilderness areas within the North
Cascade National Park,” Parlette said. “It would also provide
legislative clarity to the intent of the Washington Parks
Wilderness Act of 1988 (PL 100-668); and assure the National
Park Service (NPS) is consistent in
its
road management practices within the wilderness areas in the
Olympic, Mount Rainer, and North Cascade National Parks.”
In addition to trail access being diminished, there are a
significant number of visitor facilities at Bridge Creek that
used to be accessible by vehicle. These facilities include: a
campground, corral, Ranger Patrol Cabin, National Register
listed historic public shelter, pit toilets, and an emergency
cabin maintained by Chelan County Public Utility District. There
is also a six-site campground and pit toilets at Cottonwood Camp
that use to be accessible by vehicle.
“Support for reopening the road is very strong among the
community members,” Parlette said. “This road is a critical link
for visitors and residents alike. Since the road has closed the
number of wilderness day hike visitors has really dropped off,
which has affected the local economy. It’s time to reopen the
Upper Stehekin Valley Road and preserve the access it provides
to the park for future generations. I was happy to help with
that today by telling Congress how important this issue is to
our community.”
The Chairman of the Natural Resource Committee, Congressman Nick
J. Rahall II, will schedule H.R. 2806 for a work session before
the full committee on September 10.
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Additional contact:
Penny Drost at (360) 786-7522
