Lake Chelan Airport
The Lake Chelan Airport, shown here, is a general aviation (GA) public-use airport in Chelan. The Port of Chelan County and the City of Chelan are co-owners under a joint operating agreement.
The Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority and the city of Chelan are determining ownership, management, maintenance and funding for the Lake Chelan Airport.
At a port meeting Tuesday, commissioners discussed the joint operating agreement between the Port of Chelan County and the city. They have until May 30 to decide whether to renew the agreement, which expires Sept. 30.
“I think this airport someday can grow out of being a small general aviation airport into a small regional airport,” said port CEO Jim Kuntz. “The big question that we’ve always had is what is the governing model going forward?”
Kuntz noted that a joint agreement has been in place for more than 40 years. It governs the ownership, operation, management and funding of the airport.
The airport is a general aviation public-use facility that covers 78 acres.
Kuntz and port staff presented three ownership models to commissioners.
The first model is a revised and updated joint operating agreement that includes an indemnification clause and requires “robust” insurance coverage. An indemnification clause enables the port to transfer risk to the other party — in this case, the city of Chelan.
Kuntz said that if both parties agree on the language before May 30, the agreement could be renewed for another five years.
The second model would give the city full ownership of the airport. The port would still be required to contribute to future capital projects.
The third model involves the port taking full ownership of the airport. If that happens, the city would need to commit funding for future capital improvements, as well as operations and maintenance costs.
"At some point in time we need to find an operating model that makes the most sense going forward," Kuntz said. "I don't think we're there yet but the idea is what do we do in the interim."
Lake Chelan Airport
This aerial file photo shows Lake Chelan Airport.
City Administrator Wade Farris and Chelan Mayor Erin McCardle expressed interest in renewing the agreement during the meeting.
“We can’t do it alone; we can’t afford to,” Farris said. “We appreciate the support that the commissioners have given us over the years and look forward to further partnerships.”
“I want to recognize that we’re 40-some-odd years into a great partnership running the Lake Chelan Airport,” McCardle said.
She emphasized tenets the two parties share under the agreement.
“The port and the city are joint stewards of a public asset,” she said.
McCardle noted the city’s commitment to Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and FAA compliance.
“If we can all agree to those tenets, that’s where our starting point is in this conversation and how we look at the future of the airport,” she said.
As part of the port’s strategic plan 2025–2029, determining the optimal ownership strategy for Lake Chelan Airport is an objective under Goal No. 2: Airport Operations.
Other objectives include modernizing the general aviation terminal at Pangborn Memorial Airport and updating the Waterville Airport layout plan to reflect current and future needs.
According to the port’s Lake Chelan Airport 2021–2040 phased development tables and costs document, $24.9 million is committed to improvement projects and operations and maintenance costs. The port and city split the local cost share, while FAA and WSDOT provide grant funding.
Layout (copy)
Lake Chelan Airport's current and future layouts are depicted in this map.
The port and Chelan began an environmental assessment (EA), commissioned in 2022, to eventually allow for development at the airport. Inquiries for more information on the possible delay from the original timeline were not immediately returned.
The development includes the acquisition of approximately 99 acres in fee or easement and removal of orchard trees for:
* Relocation of existing runway and taxiways
* Relocation of Howard Flats Road
* Taxilane construction
* Fuel system relocation
* Relocation of existing hangars
* Modifications to existing irrigation district and private landowner irrigation systems on properties to be acquired for aircraft development
* Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) installation
The EA budget is $450,000, 90% of which is funded by an FAA grant. The remaining 10% is split between Chelan and the port.
"The environmental assessment for the project is still underway, with fieldwork expected to be completed by mid-May and final documentation submitted to the FAA by the end of the year," Farris said. "Land acquisition has not yet begun for the properties included in the environmental assessment. As for the construction timeline, it remains to be determined, as several critical steps must be completed before the City can move forward with design and implementation."
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