The Lake Chelan Research Institute (LCRI) greatly appreciated Lake.com’s report identifying Lake Chelan as the cleanest lake in the U.S. Click Here to Read Report

While this distinction is something to celebrate, LCRI believes it is also an important reminder that maintaining Lake Chelan’s water quality requires continued attention, research, and stewardship.

“Lake Chelan is an extraordinary lake, and we are pleased to see its water quality receive this kind of national recognition,” notes Phil Long, executive director of the Lake Chelan Research Institute. “But we should also recognize that the work does not stop with an award or ranking. Protecting the lake requires us to keep monitoring, keep learning, and keep addressing emerging challenges.”

LCRI has been conducting regular water-quality monitoring on Lake Chelan since 2017 in collaboration with local, state, and regional partners. This long-term monitoring provides an important record of conditions in the lake and helps researchers and resource managers identify changes that might otherwise go unnoticed.

The lake continues to face challenges. Invasive aquatic plants, woody debris, DDT, attached algae along the lakeshore, and the threat of invasive species like zebra mussels on incoming watercraft.

LCRI environmental scientist Anna Galipeau said, “Our hope is that this recognition inspires people to not only appreciate what we have, but to also understand the responsibility that comes with it. We want Lake Chelan to remain a healthy and exceptional lake for generations to come.”

LCRI will continue its work to collect long-term water-quality data, investigate the physical and biological processes that influence Lake Chelan, and share scientific information with the community. The Institute works alongside local entities including the Chelan County Natural Resources Department and the Chelan County Public Utility District, state agencies such as the Washington Department of Ecology, NGO’s, businesses, and residents who share a commitment to protecting the lake.

Lake Chelan’s recognition is worth celebrating—but its future depends on what we do next.