FINAL BILL REPORT

SSJM 8004

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Requesting the reestablishment of the road leading to the upper Stehekin Valley within the North Cascades National Park.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Marine Waters (originally sponsored by Senators Parlette, Nelson, Tom, Zarelli, Fraser, Hewitt, Kline, Hatfield, Murray and Shin).

Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Marine Waters

House Committee on Environment

Background: Established in 1968, the North Cascades National Park Complex contains three park units that are all managed as one, which include the North Cascades National Park, and Ross Lake and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas. These protected lands are united by a contiguous overlay of Stephen Mather Wilderness, which was established by Congress in 1988 in the Washington State Wilderness Act.

The town of Stehekin is located at the end of Lake Chelan and accessible only by boat, floatplane, or on foot. The Stehekin Valley Road was originally built as a wagon road in 1899 and runs over 20 miles from the lake into the national park. It provides access to Stephen Mather Wilderness trailheads and North Cascades National Park from the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area.

The National Park Service has made the lower portion of the road accessible to vehicles, but the upper portion of the road is closed. Part of the upper portion was damaged in a 1995 flood, and more of the road was washed out when the Stehekin River flooded in October 2003.

Summary: The Legislature requests the United States Congress, the United States Department of the Interior, and the National Park Service to work with Washington State to reestablish the road allowing access to the upper Stehekin Valley within the North Cascades National Park.

Votes on Final Passage: