Community steps up to buy 20 acres on Saddle Rock for preservation

WENATCHEE — for more than eight years, Chelan-Douglas Land Trust (CDLT) has had an interest in a 20-acre parcel on the northeast side of Saddle Rock. It is land adjacent to the eastern border of the City of Wenatchee’s Saddle Rock Natural Area. This property connects existing trails through rich mule deer habitat expanding the Saddle Rock Natural Area.  

Eunice Youmans, Executive Director of CDLT, explains that in late 2022 the Land Trust was approached by the family who owned the land and wanted to close on the purchase in April of 2023. 

“We had a very short window of time to raise the funds necessary to acquire this parcel – the overwhelming – and quick - financial support to protect this land are a testament to our community’s love of the Foothills trail system and the generosity of the people of Wenatchee.”  

This acquisition comes as CDLT has begun to explore new ways to better steward their land portfolio and to consider new opportunities to protect recreational, conservation and working lands in Chelan and Douglas Counties. At the top of the list is climate change. In Chelan and Douglas counties, rain and snow cycles are changing, temperatures are hotter and colder and species are migrating along with these changes. CDLT is working to identify and plan for how climate change will impact lands here and how to steward the land to mitigate for these changes.  

Providing ongoing recreational access to everyone continues to be a priority for CDLT. The Wenatchee Foothills and all outdoor recreation opportunities are affected by the increasing popularity of getting out into our beautiful foothills, as well as threats from climate change. CDLT promoted Hanne Beener, former Trails Manager, to lead a new project to develop regional financial support for the protection and management of public access across properties held by multiple landowners in Chelan County.

Additionally, CDLT is seeking a Director for Climate, Access, and Stewardship to lead the Fields team as they prioritize climate change data in the lands management strategy. 

The Chelan-Douglas Land Trust is a local non-profit working to conserve our land, our water, and our way of life. The Land Trust has a 38-year record of working collaboratively with property owners and communities to identify and protect the region’s most important natural landscapes forever. For more information: www.cdlandtrust.org.