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Construction complete on flood mitigation project in No. 1 Canyon

Construction was completed in March on four new debris basins on the upper portion of No. 1 Canyon Road in Wenatchee. The basins will detain and release reoccurring, debris-laden floodwaters that often strike the canyon following rain events or during heavy snowmelt.

The No. 1 Canyon Debris Basins project was built on county-owned land at the end of the county roadway. The construction portion of the project cost about $1.3 million. It was paid for with a nearly $1 million grant from FEMA and with money from the Chelan County Flood Control Zone District.

Video footage of the project gives an eagle-eye view of the completed debris basins.

Located immediately west of Wenatchee, the No. 1 Canyon basin sits along the east slopes of the Cascade Mountain foothills. The canyon’s natural drainage system has a long history of experiencing occasional heavy runoff – and even debris and mud flows. But these flows, typically caused by high intensity storms, have grown more destructive as the Wenatchee community’s urban area has grown.

When these flows leave the basin’s natural channel, they flow into existing residential developments, the City of Wenatchee’s stormwater system and, at times, the Columbia and Wenatchee rivers.

On a much smaller scale, a similar series of detention basins was built in 2015 further down No. 1 Canyon Road, at milepost 2.6. Over the last five years, it has proven to decrease the amount of sediment entering the City of Wenatchee's stormwater system, with the sediment being replaced with an increase in the volume of water.

Read more about the project on its webpage.

Last Updated: 05/15/2023 08:48 AM

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  • 12
    Sep 2026
    10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

    Cashmere Airport Day

    Posted by: Board Of County Commissioners

    Come for the food, the fun and the airplanes! A casual day to explore your local county airport.

    Cashmere Airport
  • 10
    Sep 2026
    08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

    Chelan County Fair 2026

    Posted by: Chelan County Expo Center

    The Chelan County Fair exists to provide a family event reflecting the past, showcasing current accomplishments and looking to the future of the county's best resources - its youth, agriculture and communities.

    Chelan County Expo Center
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    Sep 2026
    09:00 AM - 04:00 PM

    Monthly Drop-Off Saturday - Sept. 5, 2026

    Posted by: Solid Waste Management

    Drop-Off Saturday at the Moderate Risk Waste Facility is Sept. 5

    Moderate Risk Waste Facility