William O. Douglas Wilderness; Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness; Norse Peak Wilderness; Henry M. Jackson Wilderness established
2000
Okanogan and Wenatchee NFs administratively combined as the Okanogan - Wenatchee National Forests
Geographic boundaries of each forest remain unchanged
8 Ranger Districts – Chelan, Cle Elum, Entiat, Leavenworth, Lake Wenatchee, Naches, Tonasket, Methow Valley,plus the Okanogan Valley Office
Lake Wenatchee and Leavenworth Ranger Districts administratively combined
Forest headquarters is in Wenatchee
2006
Lake Wenatchee and Leavenworth Ranger Districts renamed Wenatchee River RD
2007
Administrative name changed to Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
2008
450 permanent employees (as combined forests)
2020
Administration of Tonasket Ranger District transferred to Colville National Forest
Okanogan NF
1908
Chelan NF established with headquarters in Chelan. The Forest extends from the Cascade Crest to the Okanogan River and from the Canadian border to the divide between the Chelan and Entiat watersheds
1911
Okanogan NF formed from the Okanogan County portion of the Chelan NF with headquarters in Okanogan
First Ranger Districts - Conconully and Twisp
1911–1915
6 Ranger Districts - Conconully, Loomis, Squaw Creek, Sweat Creek, Twisp and Winthrop
1920
Okanogan NF transferred to the Chelan NF. The name “Okanogan is discontinued
7 Ranger Districts - Chelan, Loomis, Squaw Creek, Stehekin, Sweat Creek, Twisp, Winthrop
1925
Portions of the Loomis and Sweat Creek Ranger Districts transferred to the State for a state forest (Loomis)
1930
Squaw Creek Ranger District absorbed by the Twisp Ranger District
FS Monument 83 lookout constructed in Canada by mistake - Oops!
1930’s
8 Civilian Conservation Corps Camps
1936
Pasayten Ranger District created from a portion of the Winthrop Ranger District
1940
Ranger District offices at Chelan, Conconully, Early Winters, Stehekin, Twisp and Winthrop
1942
Tonasket Ranger District transferred to the Chelan NF from the Colville NF
1944
Conconully Ranger District becomes the Okanogan Ranger District with headquarters in Okanogan
1955
Chelan NF renamed the Okanogan NF. The name “Chelan is discontinued
Okanogan Ranger District renamed the Conconully Ranger District to avoid confusion with the Forest name change
5 Ranger Districts – Conconully, Pasayten, Tonasket, Twisp and Winthrop
Chelan Ranger District transferred to the Wenatchee NF
1966
Pasayten Ranger District absorbed by the Winthrop Ranger District
Aerial project at Twisp becomes the North Cascades Smoke Jumper Base, a separate administrative unit of the Forest
1968
Pasayten Wilderness established by Congress. This action adds 200,000 acres to the Okanogan NF
1978
Okanogan NF headquarters moved from downtown Okanogan to its present location on State Highway 20
1982
Conconully Ranger District absorbed by the Tonasket Ranger District
1984
Lake Chelan - Sawtooth Wilderness established on the Okanogan and Wenatchee NFs
1994
Twisp and Winthrop Ranger Districts combined to become the Methow Valley Ranger District
2000
Okanogan and Wenatchee NFs administratively combined as the Okanogan - Wenatchee National Forests
Geographic boundaries of each forest remain unchanged
8 Ranger Districts – Chelan, Cle Elum, Entiat, Leavenworth, Lake Wenatchee, Naches, Tonasket, Methow Valley, plus Okanogan Valley Office
Forest headquarters is in Wenatchee
2007
Administrative name changed to Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
2008
450 permanent employees (as combined forests)
2020
Administration of Tonasket Ranger District transferred to Colville National Forest