Chelan PUD Celebrated for Preserving Cultural Resources & History

Chelan County PUD was the recipient of an award, 2019 American Cultural Resources Association (ACRA) Industry Award, that recognizes the entity's work to protect cultural resources.

"Chelan County PUD has a long standing history of working to preserve our region's rich cultural history," said Kimberlee Craig, public information officer.

The award is based on industry members that have demonstrated coordination with Native American tribes. This was exemplified with the PUD's consultation over the Peshastin Pinnacles protection with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Transmission lines that crossed through the Pinnacles were required to be upgraded by a new federal law; so the PUD reached out to local tribes that transmission line work could possibly overlap and impact sacred rock formations.

"We value our relationships with the Native American tribes and many other groups that we work with as part of being good stewards," said Craig. "It's our responsibility to make sure that we take care of cultural resources and also building these strong relationships is part of being a trusted utility provider."

After the consultation with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the PUD opted to reroute the lines completely away from the Pinnacles.

Other noted work on the PUD's end that caused the entity to receive the award included: the sponsorship of River Ramble, an annual celebration of Native American culture, technology and arts, the development of a Traditional Cultural Property Management Plan for Lake Chelan, the first of its kind and the respectful treatment of human remains and collaboration with tribes and the State Physical Anthropologist.