Local Public Invited to Weigh in on Grizzly Bear Relocation Plan

LCN will livestream Meeting Scheduled on Sept. 25 in Chelan

by Dennis Rahm

Chelan County Commissioner Doug England and his fellow commissioners have been consistent in voicing their concerns about the proposed plan to introduce grizzly bears into the North Cascades. They opposed it in 2017 and thought at the time that the plan was scrapped.

Now it’s back. And their opposition is as strong as ever.

England indicated that one plan option proposes the introduction of up to 200 grizzly bears into an area that “arguably has or has not supported the species before”.

“It would be a horrendous mistake to put an apex predator in this community” – Commissioner Doug England

The Chelan County Commissioners have scheduled two local input meetings to give county citizens the opportunity to comment prior to the October 24 deadline.

The first local meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 25, from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Chelan Senior Center. (this meeting will be live streamed on the Lake Chelan Now Facebook site). The meeting in Chelan will feature comments by England and retired grizzly bear biologist Paul Fielder as well as an opportunity for the public to express their thoughts on the proposal.

The second community comment session is scheduled for Tuesday, October 1 starting at 6 p.m. at the Confluence Technology Center in Wenatchee. A third, more formal public meeting will be held in Okanogan on October 7 (see link below).

Chelan County Commissioners are already on record as opposing the plan, but want to hear from county residents on their thoughts.

To read the draft plan and environmental impact statement documents click here.

Commissioner England sees no changes to the original plan

England tells LakeChelanNow the primary concern isn’t the endangered species act, but rather public safety and welfare.

“We feel they are flippantly disregarding our concerns” – Commissioner England