Chelan County receives nearly $6 million in state grants for parks, trails, and conservation projects

CHELAN COUNTY – Chelan County will receive nearly $6 million in state grant funding for outdoor recreation and conservation efforts, as part of a broader $148 million allocation by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Funding Board to support parks, trails, habitat conservation, and working lands across the state.

“These grants are critical to keeping Washington a premiere destination for outdoor adventure as well as a great place for Washingtonians to live,” said Megan Duffy, director of the Recreation and Conservation Office. “These grants are key to building great communities.”

Chelan County was awarded $5,987,082 for a dozen projects that span from trail maintenance and park expansion to wildlife conservation and boating facility upgrades. The awards come from multiple state programs, including the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, the Recreational Trails Program, the Nonhighway and Off-Road Vehicle Activities Program, and the Boating Facilities Program.

Among the largest local awards is $2.64 million for the replacement of moorage floats at Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park, where aging docks will be replaced to improve safety and access. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will also receive $754,000 to improve the Lake Wenatchee boat launch and $75,000 to maintain Lake Wenatchee snow trails in winter.

The Chelan County Natural Resource Department was awarded $617,085 to acquire 4.5 acres to expand Malaga Waterfront Park. The expanded park will include additional shoreline access, new trails, picnic areas, sport facilities, and river access for motorized and non-motorized use.

Trail maintenance projects include:

• $60,790 to the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust for repairs across 33 miles in the Wenatchee Foothills Trail system.
  
  
• $75,000 for the Chelan Ranger District to maintain 296 miles of lower Lake Chelan valley trails.
  
  
• $200,000 for the Entiat and Chelan Ranger Districts to support maintenance of 195 miles of multiuse trails.
  
  
• $75,000 for the Chelan Ranger District to maintain 350 miles of nonmotorized trails in the upper Lake Chelan basin.
  
  

Ranger programs were also funded to support trail education and enforcement. The Wenatchee River Ranger District will receive $198,707 to fund seasonal wilderness rangers in the Alpine Lakes, Henry M. Jackson, and Glacier Peak Wilderness areas, and $60,000 to provide patrols for the Entiat and Chelan Ranger District.

Additional projects include:

• $124,000 for maintenance of trailheads, campgrounds and day-use sites in the Wenatchee River Ranger District.
  
  
• $200,000 to maintain 120 miles of trails for motorized users in Chelan County.
  
  
• $710,000 to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to purchase 742 acres near Colockum Creek in Scroggie Canyon, preserving habitat for elk, mule deer, and bighorn sheep.
  
  
• $197,500 to the Department of Natural Resources to restore shrub-steppe habitat in the Upper Dry Gulch Natural Area Preserve, supporting the endangered Whited’s milkvetch.
  
  

“Recreation not only is important to Washington’s economy, but to the health of the people who recreate here,” Duffy said. “These grants are important for ensuring there are great places to recreate across Washington.”

Of the 411 applications submitted statewide, 242 projects in 35 counties received funding. Chelan County’s grant total places it among the top 10 recipients in the state. Full descriptions of each project are available on the RCO website.