Hikers along a trail at Saddle Rock Park

SITE DESCRIPTION

Gold Knob Prospects a.k.a. Saddle Rock Regional Park is a 325-acre community landmark in the Wenatchee Valley, popular with hikers, bicyclists and horseback riders for decades.  For over 100 years, the property was owned by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and in 2011, the City of Wenatchee, along with assistance from the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust, purchased the property.  It is now a public park and recreation area.  Dating back to 1891 until 1989, several areas of Saddle Rock were mined for gold.  Mining exploration resulted in the creation of waste rock piles. 

In May 2011, Ecology collected soil samples and estimated the size of the waste rock piles. Results from Ecology’s testing showed high concentrations of certain metals, including arsenic, mercury, and selenium above state cleanup levels. 

You can find site documents by using the "View Electronic Documents" link in the bar on the right, or requesting information from the Central Regional Office public records coordinator.

Aerial Map courtesy of HartCrowser, 2013

CLEANUP ACTIVITIES

Ecology has entered into an agreement with the City of Wenatchee to remove the waste rock piles and dispose of them at the Wenatchee Regional Landfill.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Acronyms used by the Toxics Cleanup Program
• Cleanup Process: Major Steps & Definitions
• Data Submittal Requirements for All Cleanup Sites
• Toxics Cleanup publications