Overview:
The Trust for Public Land worked with the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust and Chelan County Department of Natural Resources to coordinate the Upper Wenatchee Community Lands Plan. The objectives of the Plan are to identify the values associated with the Upper Wenatchee watershed landscapes; to create community awareness of those values; to map lands that exemplify the values; and develop an action plan outlining voluntary actions to help ensure that these lands and the values attached to them serve our communities for generations to come. The vision articulated in the Community Lands Plan can guide future investments by public and private property owners and potentially lead to land management that will benefit local communities.
In order to identify the values that are important to the community, public meetings were held in three subareas within the watershed which included the Peshastin-Blewett subarea, the Chumstick Valley subarea and the Nason subarea. In addition to the community meetings, an online and print poll was distributed to obtain additional feedback to help drive the process and values of the Plan. These forums help ensure that the Plan is a reflection of the values held by the community.
Through the use of GIS modeling, landscape priorities were identified for working lands, wildlife and natural resources and recreation. These landscape priorities will help guide future investments in parks and open space, trails and community forests to assist in planning for growth and the threats of significant forest fires, while retaining the natural resources that are at the center of the Upper Wenatchee area's desirability as a place to live, work and recreate.
