Lake Wenatchee Area

Lake Wenatchee and its tributaries the White River and the Little Wenatchee River are a priority focus area for the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust. Much of the headwaters of the White and Little Wenatchee Rivers are in wilderness near the crest of the Cascade Mountains, and are relatively pristine. As they leave the wilderness there are still large blocks of healthy riparian habitat and floodplain, providing a rare opportunity to permanently protect and maintain healthy, functioning river systems. It is much more reliable and cost effective to protecting intact floodplains and healthy riparian habitat than to restore degraded areas. Protecting these floodplains not only benefits fish and wildlife, it helps ensure a clean, reliable water supply to downstream communities and farmers, from Plain to Wenatchee.