Staff from the North Cascades National Park Service Complex has released preliminary management alternatives for the Stehekin Corridor.

The alternatives range from continuing current management (the “No Action” alternative) to various approaches for managing the corridor, including allowing floodwater to spread across the entire valley or attempting to constrain the river and its floodwaters from some developed parts of the valley.

The valley has been hit by several major floods in the last decade and forced the closure of a large section of the road leading up the valley from Stehekin at the head of Lake Chelan.

According to a park news release, detailed actions are proposed at nearly 20 sites to address flooding and erosion issues to public property, including roads, campgrounds and National Park Service administrative facilities. Potential major actions include relocation of the main Stehekin Valley Road around the flood-prone McGregor Meadows area and changes in the use of logjams and revision of the 1995 Land Protection Plan. That plan provides a method for the NPS to acquire, through trade or purchase, sensitive resource lands, the release said.

The alternatives and actions are detailed in a newsletter available at the park planning Web site, parkplanning.nps.gov/noca. Select “Stehekin River Corridor Implementation Plan,” then “Open for Public Comment,” then “Stehekin River Corridor Implementation Plan Newsletter #2.”

The public has until Sept. 14 to comment on the preliminary alternatives. You can comment by:

 • Hand delivering or mailing comments to SRCIP, North Cascades NPS Complex, 810 Highway 20, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284-1239.

 • Sending comments to the park planning Web site at parkplanning.nps.gov/noca.

 • Attending one of three public open houses: Tuesday, 2-8 p.m., Golden West Visitor Center, Stehekin; Wednesday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Golden West Visitor Center; Thursday, 2-8 p.m., Seattle Mountaineers, Fireside Room, 300 Third Ave. W., Seattle.

Questions regarding this plan should be directed to project manager Jon Riedel at 360-854-7330.

Information gathered from the general public, other agencies, National Park Service staff, nonprofit organizations and community groups will be used to select a preferred alternative and actions later this fall. Park staff hopes to complete the Stehekin River Corridor Implementation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement process by late 2009.