Conservation/Environment

In 1990, Chelan PUD acquired several pear orchards and adjacent lands at the confluence of the Wenatchee and Columbia rivers. The area was converted into a park as a part of the recreation program requirement for the Rock Island Hydroelectric Project. A State Park with day use, boat launches, and camping facilities was constructed on the north side of the Wenatchee River. South of the Wenatchee River lies a unique park called the Confluence State Park Horan Nature Area.

The Confluence State Park Horan Nature Area was created in 1990 to serve as an undeveloped park with recreational and nature viewing opportunities for the community. The nature area was created with both people and wildlife needs in mind. The PUD recognized the importance of having natural areas for wildlife within an urban landscape. Many animals require special habitats to survive. The man-made nature area hosts a large amount of riparian and upland habitat for wildlife. Man-made wetlands were created by dredging channels (level ditching) that are filled with irrigation overflow during the growing season. Construction of this maze of channels and islands created a large amount of “edge” habitat within a small area.

Edge habitats allow animals a variety of microhabitats where they can feed, nest, rest, and hide all in one general location. Upland and riparian vegetation were planted for wildlife to use as food and cover. The park also offers a natural setting for people who like to escape off the beaten path. There are 2 miles of graveled trails for walking. The trails connect with the paved Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail. Bikes are not allowed on the graveled trails. Sections of the trail are closed during winter to protect sensitive wildlife from human disturbance.

Prior to construction of hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River, lush riparian vegetation did not exist along the river banks. The shores of the Columbia are much different than they were years ago, due to the influence of the dams. The Columbia River drains an area the size of France. There are a large number of mountains that hold snow, and many major tributaries drain into the Columbia. The river level rose and fell each year in response to snowmelt and run-off. As a result, the banks of the Columbia were scoured by rushing water on a regular basis. This left the banks sandy with little to no vegetation up to the high water mark. Past the high water mark, it was too dry to support riparian vegetation such as cottonwoods and willows, and there existed the sagebrush steppe community similar to what we see today along the foothills surrounding the valley. With the construction of the dams on the Columbia, the water levels were stabilized, allowing for the establishment of species that prefer stable water levels such as cottonwoods, willows, and roses.

Today, the Confluence State Park Horan Nature Area hosts a wide variety of wildlife. Mule deer, beaver, muskrat, raccoons, Canada geese, wood ducks and many other waterfowl species, songbirds, turtles, and butterflies can be seen often in the park. The Confluence State Park Horan Nature Area hosts the largest area of riparian vegetation found along the mid-Columbia River. Large cottonwoods, stands of wild rose, dogwood, and grasses overhang the shoreline and canals, stabilizing the shoreline and providing numerous layers of habitat for many creatures. The addition of the Confluence State Park Horan Nature Area adds 97 acres of habitat to Rock Island Reservoir for both people and animals to enjoy.