Name

Chelan

Priority Landscape Category

20-Year Forest Health Strategic Plan: Eastern WA Priority Landscapes

Description

98,004 acres total, of which 31,342 acres are forested.  Includes three sub-watersheds surrounding Lake Chelan and the communities of Chelan and Manson, where recreation, tourism, and orchards are economically important.  The area is 50% private, 45% US Forest Service, and 5% other land owners.

Fire risk is very high the northwest portion of the landscape, and high to very high on private property with homes on both sides of Lake Chelan. Lower risk areas include locations that burned within the past 20 years.  Projected warming over the next 20-40 years will likely shift climate conditions that are currently suitable for dry forest at lower elevations and on south-facing slopes towards conditions that may no longer support forest.

DNR's landscape evaluation identified that treating 7,500 - 12,500 of forested acres is recommended.  This includes reducing density in young forests and to maintain open conditions with low fuel loads, thereby increasing resilience. Proactive maintenance, primarily using mechanical and prescribed fire treatments, will also reduce fire risk to communities.  High priority locations for potential treatments that maximize forest health and wildfire response benefit are concentrated in the northern and eastern portions of the planning area.

As of October 31, 2023, since 2017 in this priority landscape:

• Individuals and organizations have reported 504 acres of forest health treatments completed impacting 156 footprint acres.
• 259 acres have experienced low or mixed severity in the priority landscape.

Read the latest summary memo of eastern Washington treatment data reported to Washington DNR, and read the full landscape evaluation summary conducted in 2018 by clicking here or downloading the PDF available below.  Data layers associated with the landscape evaluation are available at https://bit.ly/ForestHealthData.  Information on specific projects conducted within or overlapping this priority landscape that have been uploaded into Forest Health Tracker are below.

External Resources