Lake Chelan, WA

The Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) has an interest in determining whether Lake Chelan ever supported a run of anadromous salmonids. We investigated this possibility using paleolimnological methods, primarily stable isotope analysis of lake sediments. However, the biogeochemical traces of even a substantial salmon run would be highly diluted by the enormous volume of water moving through the lake, making the preservation of a salmon signal in the underlying sediments unlikely at best. Accordingly, we recommended selection of a smaller, potentially salmonid-friendly basin with likely historical connectivity to Lake Chelan. After initial field reconnaissance in June 2004, Wapato Lake was cored in late October 2004. Click here to see a composite image of the surface core currently under analysis.