On February 10, 2026 members of the Stehekin community met with Brad Hawkins (Chelan County Commissioner), Mike Kaputa (Chelan County Natural Resources director), and Mike Morrison (Chelan County Sheriff) at the Stehekin School.  Although staff of our federal elected leaders and governor were expected to come, they were not able to due to a new protocol concerning elected officials being in contact with federal agency staff.

While the meeting was happening, staff from the Corps of Engineers, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, National Park Service, Washington Emergency Management and independent river consultants were spending time out in the field surveying the flood damage and considering solutions.

During the community meeting, Mike Kaputa gave an update of the County’s efforts to organize coordination between agencies and encourage a timely response.  Details of timeline and specific ideas could not be shared by Mike Kaputa on behalf of other agencies, but said we could expect some kind of news early in the week of February 16.  The County’s efforts to get all of the agencies involved to Stehekin at the same time was a major undertaking and many people expressed thanks for that.

Community members expressed frustration at the slow progress, lack of communication and the lack of NPS administration presence at the meeting. The community was advised to continue efforts writing letters and emails to federal and state officials,  Department of Interior, and Chelan County Commissioners.