How many of you have visited the isolated community of Stehekin, located at the head of Lake Chelan at Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, a part of the North Cascades National Park Complex? If you’ve hiked or ridden one of the buses along the Stehekin Valley Road, you’ll know that the road is narrow and you might even have noticed an undercut portion of the road at milepost 5.5, due to a 2017 storm.
The National Park Service is welcoming public comment on an Environmental Assessment to reroute approximately one-forth mile of the Stehekin Valley Road at milepost 5.5 to “sustainably maintain safe and reliable vehicle access on the Stehekin Valley Road by addressing the threat of bank erosion below the road near MP 5.5. Maintaining this access is essential for local transportation needs and ensuring the health and safety of the local populace, NPS employees, and visitors.”
To access the link for public comment of the environmental assessment, and to read the PDF version of the EA, click here. The comment period closes on April 13.
Comments
Fixing the road is one of the most important things they could do. The locals need to have a safe and passible road year round. Visitors need to see and know that the Forest Service and the Federal Government is using their hard earned taxes in a wise manner.
My understanding is that it is such a dynamic environment - how remote it is from civilization, the river rising and falling, proximity to recuring forest fires, the varying effects of seasonal weather changes, et al, that this should be a now and recurring priority.
That road is a vital link between the facilities at the head of Lake Chelan and the Pacific Crest Trail, as well as serving the local community and other visitors. The repair required is both necessary and relatively minor in negat impact.
I am all for the reroute of the Stehekin valley road for the safety of everyone.