Stehekin storm damage repairs receive commitment from Interior Secretary Burgum

U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum at Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing in Washington D.C., April 29.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum committed during a discussion at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee meeting on Wednesday to build a new, permanent access road in Stehekin.

Historic flooding in December 2025, following the 2024 Pioneer Fire that severely scarred the landscape, resulted in floodwaters from the Stehekin River destroying a levee and washing out about 1,000 feet of Company Creek Road.

“I wanted to bring up a community issue in the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area in Central Washington,” U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell told Burgum at the committee hearing. “You were able to send National Park Service and [Department of] Interior staff to visit there last Thursday. It's about flooding. We had a devastating 2024 Pioneer Fire that caused floodwaters to run down the mountain side, and now a new wastewater treatment plant and boat landing was destroyed. So, what we're trying to do is get a plan. It's been months trying to get the focus here.  And we get that it's a very remote part of our state, but nonetheless, it is part of a giant recreational ecosystem that is almost like a crown jewel within the Cascades. And so I'm highlighting that you helped us get a temporary road. Park Service was able to contract with the Army Corps. And this last part of the temporary road has to get done, and then we need to get a permanent solution.”

“So, my questions are, can you commit to working with the Stehekin community, the state of Washington, to complete the remaining temporary road? And can you commit to working with us and the state to [address] the hurdles to implement a long-term solution for this region?” asked Cantwell.

 “Yes, and yes, and I understand we do have a particular issue here where we've got federal and federal and then a chunk of private [land] in between that we're working with the private folks to make sure that we've, across these different land ownerships, that we can get a permanent solution figured out,” responded Burgum.  

The Secretary reportedly commitment to work with the community to develop a long-term, sustainable solution to ensure residents are protected from Stehekin River floodwaters.

View the discussion between Senator Cantwell and Interior Secretary Burgum here.