Schrier Renews Call For Trump Administration To Address Deteriorating Conditions In The Enchantments

U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier is renewing her call for the Trump administration to address deteriorating conditions in The Enchantments area of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, warning that overcrowding, sanitation problems and reduced staffing are threatening the environment, visitor safety, conservation efforts and local economies.

Schrier, a Democrat who represents Washington’s 8th Congressional District, which also encompasses Chelan and Kittitas counties, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Michael Boren and U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz urging the Forest Service to restore sufficient staffing and implement a day-use management system for The Enchantments.

“Over the past year, I have heard increasingly dire warnings from local officials, recreation groups, conservation organizations, and members of the public about inadequate U.S. Forest Service management of The Enchantments,” Schrier wrote. “Maintaining sustainable access to some of our nation’s most beautiful wilderness matters economically as well as environmentally, helping sustain the businesses and communities connected to recreation in Central Washington.”

The effort builds on Schrier’s past actions, including previous letters urging the Trump administration to address poor Forest Service trail conditions and insufficient staffing in The Enchantments Wilderness Area.

“For years, day-use visitation has steadily increased for this pristine wilderness that our communities cherish,” Schrier wrote.

The Enchantments, located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness near Leavenworth, is among the most visited wilderness destinations in the Pacific Northwest.

Schrier said the area’s popularity supports lodging, restaurants, retail businesses, guide services and transportation providers across the Wenatchee Valley.

She cited a recent Chelan County tourism impact study that found visitors spent about $675 million in the county in 2024.

But Schrier said that popularity has also created major challenges. While overnight use is managed through a permit system, day-use visitation has grown sharply in recent years. On peak summer days, wilderness rangers have reported seeing more than 1,000 visitors moving through the area.

According to Schrier, The Enchantments saw record-breaking activity during the 2025 peak season, including all-time visitation records over the Fourth of July holiday. She said the area also required 32 search and rescue operations, including incidents that involved the deaths of two hikers.

“High visitation levels for just 25 miles of Forest Service trails are straining trailheads, emergency response, sanitation infrastructure, and the fragile alpine environment, increasing risk to visitor safety and forest health,” Schrier wrote.

Schrier acknowledged the Forest Service’s decision to hire temporary seasonal workers at the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, calling it a welcome first step. However, she said local communities continue to raise concerns about a reduced Forest Service presence in the field.

She also pointed to ongoing problems with bathroom facilities, saying that more than nine months after she first raised concerns about overflowing facilities, waste tanks remain full, according to community partners.

“These tanks remain a risk to water quality and visitor safety,” Schrier wrote. “When maintenance falls behind or facilities are unavailable during the season, the strain on the surrounding environment can increase quickly.”

Schrier said inadequate staffing also keeps wilderness rangers and other Forest Service personnel from carrying out traditional duties such as visitor education, trail maintenance and compliance support.

The congresswoman said the problems are not new, but record visitation and staffing reductions have created an immediate need for action. She urged the Forest Service to hire enough staff to meet baseline needs and consider day-use management tools such as permits, parking strategies or other visitor-use measures.

“I urge the Forest Service to address these persisting issues by restoring sufficient staffing and implementing a thoughtfully-designed day use management system that aligns with the capacity of the landscape and infrastructure,” Schrier wrote.

Schrier said a balanced approach should protect the fragile alpine environment while maintaining meaningful public access for visitors and the local recreation economy.