Fundraising campaign now underway to ensure
permanent protection of Nason Ridge Trail and the fish and wildlife of Lake
Wenatchee, the Wenatchee River and Nason Creek.
LAKE WENATCHEE, WA—Today,
in a crucial next-step in the effort to conserve a forested mountainside above
Lake Wenatchee and Nason Creek, Western Rivers Conservancy successfully
purchased the popular Nason Ridge property from the Weyerhaeuser Company.
The highly visible property was slated for timber harvest
and includes much of the 22-mile Nason Ridge Trail, as well as cross-country
ski trails and over two miles of Nason Creek, a critical salmon spawning stream
and a key source of cold water for the Wenatchee River.
“Conserving Nason Ridge will be a tremendous win for the
Wenatchee River’s fish, for wildlife and for everyone who lives, visits and
recreates in these mountains,” said Western Rivers Conservancy’s president, Sue
Doroff. “It’s a special spot, and we’re glad we could step in and negotiate a
deal with Weyerhaeuser that will allow for permanent protection of this
important property.”
The desire to conserve Nason Ridge, which spans 3,714 acres,
is deeply rooted in the local community. Wenatchee-based Chelan-Douglas Land
Trust has been trying to protect the property for years and is now working in
partnership with WRC to raise $1 million to fund the permanent protection of
the property. This crucial phase of the project is now underway.
“We aren’t finished yet,” said Curt Soper, executive
director of Chelan-Douglas Land Trust. “We have to raise $1 million in private
gifts to fund permanent conservation of Nason Ridge. So we need everyone’s
support.”
WRC will own the land until it identifies a long-term
steward that shares WRC’s conservation vision for the parcel. During its
ownership, WRC will allow public access just as Weyerhaeuser has done for
years.
“Weyerhaeuser has been a member of the Wenatchee community
for decades and we’re pleased we could work out a solution with Western Rivers
Conservancy that will meet the needs of all involved,” said Scott Dahlquist, Weyerhaeuser’s
senior director of real estate.
ABOUT THE PROJECT PARTNERS
Western Rivers
Conservancy acquires prime river lands along the West’s best rivers and
streams to conserve habitat, protect key sources of cold water and provide
public access for all to enjoy. It is the West’s only organization dedicated
exclusively to saving rivers through land acquisition—an approach that is
effective, tangible and permanent. Its motto is “Sometimes to save a river, you
have to buy it.” In Washington, WRC has conserved dozens of miles of river land
along the Hoh, Skagit, Columbia, Big Sheep Creek and Icicle Creek. It created
Robe Canyon Historic Park on the South Fork Stillaguamish and recently
protected a critical hillside above Nason Creek, upstream of the Nason Ridge
property. WRC has protected hundreds of miles of frontage on other great rivers
around the West, including the John Day, North Umpqua Klamath, Gunnison,
Salmon, Yampa, Snake and Madison. To learn more, please visit westernrivers.org.
Chelan-Douglas Land
Trust works with local organizations, businesses, and individuals to
protect what we all hold dear: beautiful natural areas, a strong economy, clean
air and water, abundant wildlife, and the freedom to enjoy it all. The
Chelan-Douglas Land Trust started in 1985 as a volunteer organization made up
of Wenatchee Valley residents with a vision of a healthy and prosperous future
for Chelan and Douglas Counties. Since then it has grown to over 2,500 members
committed to preserving the region’s natural areas. Learn more at cdlandtrust.org.
