Tribes worry about PUD’s work at Pinnacles park

WENATCHEE – Talks could begin this month over how to replace power poles without potentially damaging the Peshastin Pinnacles rock formations that are sacred to the region’s tribes – and well loved by just about everyone else.

The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation are worried that the Chelan County PUD’s plans to replace poles on two 115-kilovolt transmission lines that run through Peshastin Pinnacles State Park could damage the ancient pinnacles.

These striking sandstone rock formations are 14 miles northwest of Wenatchee off Highway 2/97. They have spiritual meaning to the tribes, landmark value to the Wenatchee Valley and recreational significance to rock climbers, who flock there to scale the spires.

Pole replacement is necessary, PUD officials say, to meet new federal requirements that set minimum height allowances for transmission lines to improve the reliability of the power grid.

The pole project already would be on the PUD’s work roster, were it not for the tribes’ concerns, Chad Bowman, the PUD’s transmission and compliance director, said Friday.

The tribes worry that heavy equipment, possible blasting into the rocky soil and vibration could damage the pinnacles.

Thought to be about 46 million years old, some of the pinnacles curve upward and eastward, resembling salmon leaping, mouths open, as if to snare insects in midair.

Wenatchi tribal elders say the formations are, in fact, salmon frozen in stone while on their way up the Wenatchee River.

Another legend describes the formations as four greedy sisters, frozen in stone for trying to capture all the salmon before the fish could head upriver to other tribal members who needed them for food.

The rocks also represent imagery of a critical time in Indian history and legend: when humans gained dominance over the “animal people” who tribal members believe were once Earth’s dominating force.

“As the animal people passed from dominance and humans took over, the rocks in time depict that transformation,” said Guy Moura, historic preservation officer for the Colville tribes. “The animals gave their voice to the humans. Other animals gave their meat for sustenance, hides, and sinew for tools.”

The tribes already have expressed concern that the many rock climbers who visit the state park could speed the site’s degradation. Erosion is suspected of toppling part of one of the spires in October.

The pinnacles are not on the state’s register of historical or culturally significant areas, but Moura said the tribes have been working with the state on it for many years.

Listing on the state register would raise the site’s profile and require agencies like the PUD to take its historical significance into consideration when proposing projects that could affect it.

PUD officials plan to meet with the tribes later this month to discuss some alternatives currently being developed to the steel poles originally proposed.

Options could include different types of pole installations or even moving the poles to a different spot, depending on cost and land availability, Bowman said.

The older of the two transmission lines dates to the early 1930s, he said. It was part of the original line installed by the Seattle utility – today, Puget Sound Energy – that built Rock Island Dam. The other line was built in 1978.