Changes to Peshastin Creek expected to impact paddlers

CASHMERE – New obstacles and channels are going to be implemented on a popular kayaking run as restoration partners work to restore different segments of Peshastin Creek, an ecologically significant tributary of the Wenatchee River Basin.

Cascade Fisheries, American Whitewater, and Chelan County Natural Resources met with local paddlers at Colchuck Consignment on May 22 to explain the intentions of the restoration work, as well as new obstacles to anticipate on the Class III-IV run.

“In this conversation of restoration and recreation, it's always a good idea to scout to brush up on your skills when you're running rivers. Because there's this historically low volume of wood in all the rivers we know and love, we don't expect it as much as we probably should,” said Susan Elliot, a recreational liaison for Cascade Fisheries.

Three different river segments will undergo significant changes on the Peshastin Creek over the next year, located at river mile 4.3, river mile 2.5, and the confluence with the Wenatchee River.

The projects aim to slow flow and restore parts of the creek to its historic form by adding boulders, log jams, and excavating historic channels. Over the last century or so, surrounding development has straightened the historically winding, multi-channeled creek into a main stem, increasing flow velocity and scouring the riverbed. 

“We want to get more fish, more water out on the floodplain. The slow water habitat of the floodplain is really important for juvenile fish,” said Aaron Rosenblum, Cascade Fisheries Project Manager.

Peshastin Creek is a cold water refuge for salmon, and is also the top producer of wild steelhead in the Wenatchee Basin, according to Cascade Fisheries Executive Director Jason Lundgren.

Work at the confluence, which is expected to be completed this fall, will restore a historic channel and implement channel wide log jams. Because of this, boaters will still be able to paddle up to the Dryden Dam access site, but are advised to exit upstream of the confluence, about a third of a mile. According to Rosenblum, the group will place large boulders on river right to signal the take out.

Cascade Fisheries will also be restoring the floodplain on the project between river mile 2.5 and 3, which is expected to be completed next summer. While the project won’t install channel-wide log jams, log jams sticking out into the creek have the potential to rack wood, said Rosenblum. Scouting is recommended between King Bridge and Green Bridge.

The project at river mile 4.3, indicated by “a big sandstone wall that moves the river to the left,” plans to add side channels while maintaining the main stem, which will have boulders and minimal wood added, according to Chelan County Natural Resource Specialist Scott Bailey. The project anticipates completion by late fall.

“Stay in the main stem. We purposely avoided putting much wood, very little wood, in the channel because we knew that Peshastin Creek was used by boaters, and we didn't want to increase the risk to that community,” said Bailey.

Paddlers can stay up-to-date on the projects by visiting the Peshastin Creek page on American Whitewater’s website.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media