Cantwell Secures Interior Secretary Commitment to Rebuild Permanent Access Road in the Stehekin Community

Cantwell Secures Interior Secretary Commitment to Rebuild Permanent Access Road in the Stehekin Community

Devastating wildfires followed by historic flooding broke a levee on Company Creek Road, stranding 1/3 of Stehekin Residents; Cantwell: "It is part of a giant recreational ecosystem that is almost like a crown jewel within the Cascades."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), senior member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, secured a commitment from U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to build a new, permanent access road that would connect Company Creek Road residents to the Stehekin community.

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. This has required stranded residents to rely on a temporary road, logs placed over river waters, to commute to school and work, and access the rest of the Stehekin community.

"I wanted to bring up a community issue in the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area in Central Washington. You were able to send National Park Service and [Department of] Interior staff to visit there last Thursday. Very much appreciate that. It's about flooding.

"First of all, we think we rival the Alps here. I mean, it is spectacularly beautiful [...] But we had a devastating 2024 Pioneer Fire that caused floodwaters to run down the mountain side, and now a new wastewater treatment plan and boat landing was destroyed, [parts of the Stehekin Valley Road were damaged, and a section of Company Creek Road was washed out]. 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?" Sen. Cantwell said.

Sec. Burgum responded: "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."

Sen. Cantwell: "Yes, and so you're committing to that. I appreciate that very, very much."

Stehekin is a small, remote community located on the north shore of Lake Chelan. It is not accessible by car and supplies and construction equipment must be brought in by boat. The community has fewer than 100 residents and is located within the National Park Service's Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. After months of negotiations, and at Senator Cantwell's urging, the Park Service began construction of a temporary emergency road in early April to provide access to stranded households. Today, Secretary Burgum committed to work with the Stehekin residents, Chelan County, and the State of Washington to finish the temporary access road. The Senator also got the Secretary's commitment to work with the community to develop a long-term, sustainable solution to ensure residents are protected from Stehekin River floodwaters.

READ MORE:

The Seattle Times: Stehekin road, levee need fixes from flooding. Why hasn't it happened?

Video of their exchange in today's committee hearing is HERE; a transcript is HERE.

December's atmospheric rivers dumped five trillion gallons of rain across the state and caused devastating floods. Sen. Cantwell has been hard at work helping communities recover. In March, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation - on which Sen. Cantwell serves as ranking member - passed her Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026, which aims to modernize weather forecasting and research to better save lives and prepare our nation against dangerous weather disasters. In January, she joined the Washington delegation in sending a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to approve Governor Bob Ferguson's request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance to unlock an estimated $21.3 million in federal FEMA resources for families whose homes were destroyed or significantly damaged in the extreme flooding.