Land Trust secures 221.6-acre conservation easement above Wapato Lake

WENATCHEE — The Chelan-Douglas Land Trust (CDLT) announced Friday the acquisition of a 221.6-acre conservation easement near Manson. The easement, which protects vital shrub-steppe habitat and wildlife corridors, was secured through a collaborative effort between CDLT, Chelan County Public Utility District, and landowners Denis and Irmi Atam.

The newly conserved land, situated above Wapato Lake, had previously been subdivided into 10 parcels slated for residential development. However, the Atams' purchase of the property and subsequent partnership with CDLT and Chelan PUD has ensured that the land will remain predominantly undeveloped in perpetuity.

Mickey Fleming, CDLT's Land Program Manager, praised the Atams' dedication to conservation, stating, "CDLT has been working with the Atams for several years to permanently conserve these beautiful 220 acres above Wapato Lake. The shrub-steppe habitat is home to a diverse group of wildlife whose territory is being constricted by development throughout the area. The Atams took the risk of buying the property that surely would otherwise have been developed. They then worked with CDLT and the Chelan PUD to complete a conservation easement that will protect the land forever. We at CDLT are very grateful to Denis and Irmi for their commitment to conservation and their faith in CDLT."

The preserved transitional pine zone habitat will provide sanctuary for a wide array of wildlife species, including mule deer, black bear, cougar, moose, elk, western gray squirrel, numerous bird species, and native pollinators. The property's adjacency to public lands further enhances its value as a wildfire corridor.

Chelan PUD Commissioner Carnan Bergren underscored the utility's commitment to environmental responsibility, noting that the easement acquisition was funded as part of Chelan PUD's federal license to operate Lake Chelan Dam. "Chelan PUD is committed to stewardship and dutiful compliance with our Lake Chelan project," said Bergren. "After many years of trying to secure a site—we are excited to be celebrating this successful partnership. Many thanks to the Atam family for their willingness to enter this conservation easement. This project highlights what can happen when public entities (state and local), nonprofit agencies, and individuals work together with a shared vision and in the public's best interest."

For the Atams, the conservation easement represents an opportunity to safeguard the natural beauty and ecological integrity of the region for generations to come. "We feel blessed living in such a beautiful environment and community," Denis and Irmi Atam shared. "After almost five years of collaboration with CDLT and Chelan PUD, we were finally able to obtain and implement a permanent conservation easement for a 221-acre parcel in the hills of Manson to preserve and protect the wildlife, fauna, and flora. We hope we can inspire others to follow our path—our mantra is: 'Not everything which can be developed should be developed.'"

Since its founding in 1985, CDLT has been at the forefront of land conservation efforts in North Central Washington, protecting forty miles of recreational trails and twenty-six thousand acres of diverse landscapes, including forests, shrub-steppe, wheat fields, and riparian areas across Chelan and Douglas counties. The Atam conservation easement marks another milestone in CDLT's ongoing mission to preserve the region's natural heritage and promote responsible stewardship of its resources.