NCWAS’s Conservation Program supports issues and projects that give life to our mission statement. Most of the numerous issues we have tackled are long term in nature. We work collaboratively with locally elected officials, agencies, other environmental organizations, and a variety of stakeholders in support of birds and the healthy environment they depend upon. NCWAS is currently involved in the issues below:
Acquisition of Bonaparte Meadows in Okanogan County
Bonaparte Meadows is a privately owned, 745-acre property which hosts a “calcareous fen”, lying just south of Bonaparte Lake in Okanogan County. A bird survey conducted there in May 2026 found 78 species of birds including Barrow’s Goldeneye, Cinnamon Teal, Wilson’s Phalarope, Williamson’s Sapsucker, and nesting Bald Eagles.
The Okanogan Land Trust recently obtained an option to purchase this property. To be successful, $1,500,000 must be raised by July 31, 2026. NCW Audubon has committed $50,000 toward the purchase and is helping with general fundraising. Read more here.
Upper Wenatchee Watershed Project:
Since 2016, NCWAS and other conservation organizations have been working to acquire private timber lands lying between Lake Wenatchee and upper Blewett Pass for transfer to public ownership. Ultimately The Trust for Public Land secured a 6-year option for the purchase of 35,000 acres. As of 2026, phases 1 and 2, totaling 11,520 acres in upper Blewett Pass, have been acquired and transferred to the U.S. Forest Service. Funding for phases 3, 4, and part of 5 is currently pending. Read more here.
Proposed Master Planned Development in Upper Stemilt Basin:
In 2007, in response to increasing development pressures in the upper Stemilt and Squilchuck Basins, Chelan County established the Stemilt Partnership, a broad mix of interests, including NCWAS, to develop a long-term plan to protect the upper Basin’s natural landscape and wildlife. The result was largely successful and included establishment of the Stemilt/Squilchuck Community Forest.
More recently, however, a proposed new development near the Mission Ridge Ski Area would threaten the natural habitat and values protected through the Stemilt Process. A draft EIS for the project was released in September 2025. NCW Audubon submitted comments regarding it, primarily taking issue with impacts to climate change and the disruption its increased night lighting would pose to migratory birds. As of July 2026, the draft EIS is still under consideration by Chelan County. When the Final EIS is released, we’ll assess it and respond as warranted. Read more here.
Nason Ridge Community Forest:
The Nason Ridge Community Forest (NRCF) was established in April 2022 by Chelan County with input from a diverse mix of interest groups and local residents, including NCWAS. Much of the area was logged prior to the NRCF’s establishment, so its current habitats consist of a mix of uncut forest and large logged areas in various stages of restoration and recovery. We serve on the NRCF Stewardship Advisory Committee and conduct a monthly bird survey of the area (over 100 species documented so far . Read more here.
Removal of Enloe Dam:
Enloe Dam blocks over 500 miles of anadromous fish habitat on the Similkameen River just south of the Canadian border. NCWAS, along with a diverse mix of other interests, has been working for its removal for several years for the benefit of birds and other wildlife. Pre-removal studies have been underway for the last couple of years, and although the politics are complicated, progress is being made. Read more here.
Rock Island Ponds:
Adjacent to the City of Rock Island are six ponds currently owned and managed by the Chelan County PUD. NCWAS has been working with the PUD and Rock Island to envision a plan for their future, proposing that two ponds be set aside as nature reserves for wildlife viewing and low impact recreation. Rock Island has included this proposal in the its Comprehensive Plan, but progress is currently on hold pending the PUD’s Rock Island Dam Relicensing Process, due to be completed in 2029 or later. NCWAS remains engaged in the process. Read more here.
The Horan Natural Area:
The Horan Natural Area, owned by Chelan County PUD, is a regional biological hotspot at the confluence of the Wenatchee and Columbia Rivers that provides significant in-city habitat for birds and other wildlife. More bird species have been reported there than anywhere else in Chelan County. NCWAS has been working with the PUD for over 10 years to improve the habitat in the Horan and reintroduce water inflows to the area. NCWAS considers the Horan a high priority. Our conservation efforts there continue. Read more here.
Climate Disruption:
Global warming has been identified as the single greatest threat facing birds. To address this issue, we collaborate with Audubon Washington in support of priority climate legislation. During annual legislative sessions, we post weekly updates on our website on climate bills we support or oppose relating to global warming, as well as timely alerts indicating when members and others can most effectively provide input to their representatives. Read more here.
Shrub-steppe Conservation:
Several years ago, Central Washington Audubon Chapters, including NCWAS, came together to survey bird species that depend on shrub-steppe habitat in Washington. Approximately 80% of Washington’s shrub-steppe habitat that occurred in pre-settlement times has been eliminated, and much of what remains has been degraded. After the survey, Audubon Washington established its Shrub-steppe Habitat Conservation Committee. Private land ownership activities, habitat fragmentation, and the increasingly common occurrence of destructive wildfires present significant challenges to implementing landscape scale solutions. NCWAS serves on the committee, which works to protect as much remaining shrub-steppe habitat as possible. Read more here.
Other
- Icicle Creek Water Management Strategy
- The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Coastal Plain
- Issue Archives updated November 2023
If you have questions or comments regarding any of these issues, or our work in general – Please send us an email.