Help Shape the Future of Dryden Dam River Access on the Wenatchee River

Submitted by Thomas O'Keefe - AWA BETA

The Dryden Dam water access site is one of the most heavily used and important public river access points on the Wenatchee River. For many people, it’s the starting point for a day on the water. For others, it’s a key portage location, a fishing access area, or simply a place to get to the river and enjoy the Wenatchee Valley’s remarkable natural setting.

The site has a long history of public use. Prior to being acquired by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) roughly 20 years ago, it was a surplus state property with no active management. Since WDFW took over, the site has been maintained, but improvements to make it a fully functional and welcoming river access area have never been implemented. Today, it serves a wide range of communities—including whitewater boaters, anglers, Tribes, commercial outfitters, local residents, and visitors experiencing the river corridor for the first time. With so many people relying on Dryden Dam as a gateway to the river, it’s essential that the site continue to function safely, efficiently, and respectfully for everyone who uses it.

American Whitewater is currently working with partners and land managers to identify priority improvements to infrastructure and visitor experience at Dryden Dam. At this early stage, we are soliciting input from the community and people who use the site.

Share Your Experience Through a Short Visitor Survey

If you have visited the Dryden Dam access site—or plan to in the future—we invite you to take a few minutes to complete a short visitor survey. The survey is open to everyone who uses this location and your feedback will help guide a shared vision for what comes next.

Take the survey here:
https://tinyurl.com/drydendam

Dryden Dam River Access Community Design Workshop – March 10th, Cashmere

As a follow up to the survey and for those who want to provide additional input, we invite all boaters, anglers, and community members to join us for an open-house style design workshop in Cashmere to share your experiences and ideas for the future of this site. A landscape architect will be on hand to help translate ideas into conceptual sketches, and we hope you will be able to participate.
 

Event Details:
• What: Dryden Dam Water Access Community Workshop
• When: March 10, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM (open house style, drop in when you can!)
• Where: Milepost 111 Brewing, 407 Aplets Way, Cashmere, WA 98815
• Bonus: Food and craft beer available for purchase. Come hungry.

Your RSVP is appreciated, let us know if you can make it – or if not, let us know if you want to learn more about this project – by filling out this quick RSVP form.

Thank You for Being Part of the Process

Dryden Dam is more than just an access site—it’s a hub for recreation, Tribal fishing, and public connection to the Wenatchee River. By sharing your experience, you can help ensure that future improvements reflect the needs of everyone who depends on this important place.

Thank you for helping shape the future of river access on the Wenatchee River.