The Horan Natural Area sits at the mouth of the Wenatchee River. Used for regional council meetings, the area is extremely significant to the P’squosa/Wenatchi Native Americans. Today, the area is owned by the Chelan Public Utility District (PUD). Washington State Parks administers the area north of the Wenatchee River as a developed RV campground and boat launch (Confluence State Park). The area south of the Wenatchee River is managed as the Horan Natural Area. The Horan area is used extensively by local people to jog, hike, bird watch, and relax with nature. While it is not in a condition that can be considered “pristine nature”, it does provide a sense of wildness and is unique in the Wenatchee valley and the city of Wenatchee.
The Wenatchee River delta formed over eons of ice-age flood influence, recent floods and human modification. The PUD owns two dams that bookend the city of Wenatchee – Rocky Reach Dam north of town and Rock Island Dam to the south. The Rock Island Dam is the first dam to span the Columbia River and began operation in 1933. The dam has been modified to provide more water storage and today backs water up to an elevation of 613 feet above sea level. The dam’s impoundment has inundated much of the historic delta formation that extended into the Columbia River.
The photo comparison shows two photos: a 1945 black and white when Rock Island Dam’s impoundment was 600 feet and a 2015 photo when the dam impoundment was as it is today, 613 feet elevation. By moving the slider, you can witness the change that 13 feet of inundation behind Rock Island Dam created.
Rock Island Dam is operated under a federal FERC license that will be renewed soon. As the PUD moves forward with the relicensing efforts, they are considering improvements to the ecological conditions in the Horan area. Re-introduction of water to the area is likely to occur. Significant water flowing into the Horan was terminated in 2005 when the City of Wenatchee stopped venting the Miller Street storm drain into the area. Constructed ponds in the Horan began to de-water. Vegetation has fully occupied one of the primary ponds of the past. Re-introducing water will be key to improving the ecological value of the area as well as a major benefit to recreational use.
The North Central Washington Audubon Society (NCWAS) has been encouraging many improvements to the area. Primary to our interests are the re-introduction of water to a system of ponds and channels that allow water to flow between the ponds and exit to the Columbia River. NCWAS recommends reshaping the existing ponds to have shallow-angled banks that benefit a variety of shorebirds and waterfowl. Audubon supports the enhancement of important native plants, especially those that were used by the P’squoas/Wenatchi Native Americans. Audubon puts a very high priority on creating a Native American presence in the area. Modern cultural improvements could include restoring the original Miller trading post and post office to their original sites in the south-west portion of the Horan area.
Planning and implementing improvements involves a myriad of partners and interests. The NCWAS looks forward to being a part of the planning and will continue to reinforce our desires for an area with improved bird and wildlife habitat, improved ecological sustainability, a clear expression of Native American history and use in the area, educational use by our diverse population, and recreational levels that are commensurate with the area’s capacity.
