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New movement occurring on Whispering Ridge

WHISPERING RIDGE -- The Chelan County Sheriff's Office, as a precautionary measure, has advised two property owners in the Whispering Ridge slide area to leave their homes. The recommendation is based on the most current readings from surface monitoring points at the slide area, which continue to show increasing movement in the slope.  Both homes are on Squilchuck Road, southwest of Wenatchee.

A geotechnical firm retained by Chelan County has been analyzing data for more than a year from 30 points of reference along the slope. The points were predetermined last year.  Late Friday afternoon the geotechnical firm advised Chelan County that the measuring point data is showing increased movement within the Whispering Ridge slide area.  This increased rate of movement could potentially cause the “toe,” or base of the slide, to inadvertently affect the flow of a tributary creek located within an adjacent canyon to the slide.  That creek flows into Squilchuck Creek, which is near the two residences contacted in the 5000 block of Squilchuck Road.

This information triggered the notification of the two property owners the evening of April 14. Those residents and the three other property owners in the 4900 – 5000 blocks of Squilchuck Road had received a general notification of increased slope movement from Chelan County Emergency Management and Chelan County Public Works earlier that day.

Surface monitoring point readings taken on March 30, 2017, show the landslide is moving again. The Whispering Ridge slope movement was first reported in March 2016.  Initial notifications to property owners along the affected area of Whispering Ridge Drive and the five residences located below - on Squilchuck Road - occurred last spring.

The current monitoring point data indicates that movement has increased within the past couple of weeks. The geotechnical firm has stated that future readings will determine the rate at which the landslide is moving.

Monitoring points also show the roadway at Whispering Ridge Drive is moving at a much slower rate. The roadway remains open only to local traffic and is being monitored closely by Chelan County Public Works and the geotechnical firm to determine if restrictions are needed in the future.

Inquiries concerning this media release made be made to Sergeant Kent Sisson at Chelan County Emergency Management (509)630-7506, or Jill Fitzsimmons at Chelan County Public Works (509)667-6415 or jill.fitzsimmons@co.chelan.wa.us

Any updates of the situation will be posted to the Chelan County Public Works ListServ notifications and Facebook page as well as to the Chelan County Emergency Management Facebook page.

Last Updated: 08/24/2021 09:04 AM

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