Just add water: Temporary river gets its test

A brand-new river sparkled to temporary life Monday as the Chelan County PUD's $15.9 million project to restore year-round flow to the Chelan River Gorge got is first "water test." The project adds about 3 acres of new spawning habitat for steelhead and chinook at the river's lowest reach, near the dam powerhouse in Chelan Falls. Seasonal dam spill to maintain the level of Lake Chelan began early Monday, sending water flowing down the normally dry, 4-mile Chelan River channel at a slow 240 cubic feet per second. The water reached the new habitat work — some five hours after the spill began — and turned what had previously been only a drawing on paper into reality. Water emerging from the Chelan River Gorge slowly pooled and then spilled into a carefully engineered river channel containing strategically placed boulders, log jams and rocks. The channel is lined with river gravel that fish seek for spawning. The new habitat could see its first spawning action this fall, Hays said, but it may not reach its maximum appeal for the migrating fish for decades. PUD officials in October will plant cottonwoods and native shrubs along the now stark and rocky stream to protect its banks and provide shade that appeals to fish, Hays said...WenatcheeWorld

As the Politically Superior Ones mess with Mother Nature and wisely spend your money...