Nason Ridge Mountainside Ownership Transferred to Chelan County

The Nason Ridge property on Lake Wenatchee is now owned by Chelan County.

The Western Rivers Conservancy transferred the 3,714-acre property to the county after the conservancy purchased the land from Seattle-based timber company, Weyerhaeuser, in 2018.

The conservancy successfully raised $6 million required to make the land transfer, including $1 million in private donations.

Nason Ridge is valued as a scenic mountainside above Lake Wenatchee that is used year-round for recreation.

It also more than two miles of Nason Creek, a critical salmon spawning stream and a key source of cold water for the Wenatchee River.

A news releaase from Chelan Douglas Land Trust said the forest would be prioritized for fish, wildlife and sustainable forestry, and Washington State Parks would assist with recreational access.

“Keeping this property intact for the sake of a healthy, maturing forest will have immeasurable benefits that will reverberate throughout the community,” said Chelan County Commissioner Bob Bugert.

“Thanks to the inspiration, leadership and commitment of the local community, the Nason Ridge Community Forest is now a reality,” said Nelson Mathews, vice president of Western Rivers Conservancy.