News Release

LINDA EVANS PARLETTE Senate Republican Caucus Chair 12th Legislative District 360.786.7622 July 9, 2010

Parlette hosts Cantwell, others on Upper Stehekin Valley Road hiking tour
Participants hear firsthand about the critical need to reopen the road

OLYMPIA… Yesterday Sen. Linda Evans Parlette, R-Wenatchee, hosted U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell and others on a hiking tour of the Upper Stehekin Valley Road area. The purpose of the tour was to see and hear about the effects of the road closure and what reopening it would do, hear from participants about their views on the issue, and, in particular, give Cantwell an opportunity to hear directly from those impacted by the road closure.

The upper portion of the road between Car Wash Falls and Cottonwood Camp has been closed for many years due to flooding of the Stehekin river in two key areas. Prior to its closing the road was a critical link for hikers, horseback riders and other recreationalists between the Lake Chelan National Recreation area, the Stephen Mather Wilderness trailheads and the North Cascades National Park. Closing the road cut off access from Stehekin into the North Cascades National Park to all but the most ardent hikers.

Allowing the National Park Service to relocate and rebuild the Upper Stehekin Valley Road on higher ground requires Congressional approval. In 2008 Congressman Doc Hastings introduced federal legislation to accomplish this goal. His bill, H.R. 2806, specifically states that there be no net loss of acreage to the park or the wilderness. It preserves the park’s existing use as identified in the 1988 Washington Wilderness Act and would mitigate the negative environmental impact of the road washing out while sediment goes to the river.

Parlette testified in support of the measure before a U.S. House subcommittee in July 2009, and the full House of Representatives passed it a few months later. The measure is now before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

“The key to getting the Upper Stehekin Valley Road reopened is cooperation and coordination among lawmakers, members of the community and other interested parties,” said Parlette. “I know Senator Cantwell is dealing with many high-level issues, and I am very grateful to her for taking a whole day to tour the area and give us an opportunity to personally make the case about the importance of this road to the region’s economy and the interests of the recreational community.”

In addition to Cantwell and Parlette, those participating in Thursday’s hiking tour were:

Chip Jenkins, Superintendent, North Cascades National Park service complex
Doug England, Chelan County Commissioner
Wyatt King, Natural Resource staff, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell
Representatives from the North Cascades Conservation Council; the National Parks Conservation Association;
the Pacific Crest Trail Association; and The Wilderness Society.

Members from the Stehekin community
Shiloh Schauer, Executive Legislative Assistant to Senator Parlette
After taking a shuttle bus from Stehekin to High Bridge, where the North Cascades National Park begins, the group began their hike at Car Wash Falls, the site of the 500-year catastrophic flood. They hiked the old wagon road, then reconnected with the original road and went on to Bridge Creek. There they had an opportunity to sit under the shade of a tree – in 99 degree heat – and have a valuable discussion about the issue.“This was the first step to engaging Senator Cantwell for an on-the-ground visit,” said Parlette. “A picture is worth a thousand words, and this hike gave her a real picture of what we’ve been talking about – how access from Stehekin into the North Cascades National Park is all but unavailable. It also gave her and others a hanceto see that the old road that’s been there since the late 1900s is still in excellent condition. Only two areas – key connection points – need to be rebuilt.

“I have worked nonstop on this issue for four years, and I’m not stopping. But I do have a better understanding, after doing so, what the term ‘it will take an act of Congress’ really means!”

PHOTO CUTLINE (left to right) – State Sen. Linda Evans Parlette hiking with U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell in the Upper Stehekin Valley Road area.

For more information contact Rebecca Japhet
at (360) 786-7516 or Japhet.rebecca@leg.wa.gov
Please visit Sen. Parlette’s Web site at www.SenateRepublicans.wa.gov/Parlette