Here is some terrific news for steelhead recovery on the Wenatchee River. The Chelan County PUD has signed an agreement with the Icicle Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited that will help fund the creation of a steelhead acclimation pond on Blackbird Island. The IVCTU had constructed a juvenile fishing pond on the site some years ago, and with some alterations it can now be used to rear and smolt up to 50,000 young steelhead. For years, steelhead reared and smolted at the Turtle Rock Hatchery, above Rocky Dam, have returned over Rocky Reach and have not made the turn up the Wenatchee. The fish released from the Blackbird Island site will be imprinted on the Wenatchee River and will return to this tributary. It is the aim of this project to assure the healthy future of the Wenatchee River steelhead runs, and future sport fishing seasons. It has taken months and months of work to acquire the necessary water permits, working agreements and technical requirements of the new facility. A wide array of city, state, local and national agencies was involved in the process of reaching the final agreement. Congratulations to the members of the ICVTU and the PUD for the longs hours of work dedicated to completing this agreement.