City of Leavenworths free river shuttle begins operation for summer

The City of Leavenworth's free river shuttle service commenced on July 4, coinciding with the early closure of public parking at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. Operating weekends and select holidays from 10 a. m. to 6 p. m.

, the shuttle departs every 30 minutes to transport river users. This year's decision to close parking earlier allows staff to concentrate on hatchery operations rather than managing parking for tribal fishers. Current flow levels in Icicle Creek are critical, as floating is not advised when flows drop below 300 cubic feet per second, which may lead to safety challenges. The hatchery emphasizes that low summer flows can stress fish and disturb spawning beds, affecting their survival. The draft River Recreation Management Plan acknowledges that recreational activities from June onwards could impact threatened species.

Specifically, Steelhead spawning coincides with the tubing season, raising concerns over juvenile fish safety. Local officials continue to balance recreational access with ecological preservation efforts.