Chelan gains funds to begin design of major water project

The city of Chelan has secured $3 million from the Washington State capital construction budget for the East Chelan Water Reservoir Project. The city says it’s a major milestone following months of strategic meetings Mayor Erin McCardle held with state Representative Mike Steele and many other state legislators.

The project directly addresses long-standing vulnerabilities in Chelan’s hillside water system, which were first exposed during the 2015 Chelan Complex Fire.

Currently, the city’s north shore area relies on a single water pump station located at Darnell’s Resort—representing a single point of failure for water service to 41% of the community.

Chelan Fire and Rescue Chief Brandon Asher commented on the importance of an updated water supply, saying, “Even under ideal conditions, with a limited amount of reservoir capacity, we've been operating on borrowed time. Wildfires strain everything—our people, equipment, and water systems. This new infrastructure provides the crucial support we need to protect lives and property.”

The project includes construction of a 1-million-gallon water reservoir, new booster pump and pressure-reducing valve stations, along with the critical transmission lines. The upgrades will replace an aging network of small reservoirs and a singular booster system—built over decades through a “development pays for development” approach.

Currently, the three small reservoirs in the hills of North Chelan have enough capacity to provide only 11 hours of water during a small fire emergency. This supply drops drastically when multiple hydrants are used during a large wildfire. Beyond fire protection, these reservoirs also serve as a vital source of clean drinking water.

 “This isn’t just a fire issue—it’s a public health and reliability issue,” said Chelan Public Works Director Jake Youngren. “People rely on this system for safe, clean drinking water every single day. A fire shouldn’t jeopardize both emergency response and household access to safe drinking water.”

The state funds will pay for the planning and design phase in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The city says that over the next 12-to-18 months, Mayor McCardle will continue working to secure full project funding through a combination of direct federal appropriations and the $9 million Water Resources Development Act opportunity.