Wenatchee River

The Wenatchee River is a river in Washington originating at Lake Wenatchee and flowing southeast for 53 miles (85 km) until it meets the Columbia River immediately north of Wenatchee, Washington. On its way it passes the towns of Leavenworth, Peshastin, Dryden, Cashmere, and Monitor.

Tributaries include the Chiwawa River, Nason Creek, Peshastin Creek, and Icicle Creek. Its drainage basin is convert|1300|sqmi|km2 in area. [ [http://www.nwcouncil.org/fw/subbasinplanning/wenatchee/plan/WenatcheePlan.pdf Wenatchee Subbasin Plan] , Northwest Power and Conservation Council]

Historically the dividing line between Okanogan County and Kittitas County, the river has been in the center of Chelan County since the county's formation around 1899.

Water from the Wenatchee River and its tributaries has been diverted for irrigation since 1891, mainly for orchards.

Pollution

Toxic chemicals banned decades ago in Washington continue to linger in the environment and concentrate in the food chain, threatening people and the environment, according to three recent studies by the Washington state Department of Ecology. In 2007, the Washington Department of Health advised the public to not eat mountain whitefish from the Wenatchee River from Leavenworth downstream to where the river joins the Columbia, due to unhealthy levels of PCBs [http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2007/2007-06-25-01.asp] .

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