Editing Winthrop, Washington (section)

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===

Winthrop is bisected by [[Washington State Route 20|State Route 20]], also known as the North Cascades Highway, which closes annually during the winter months between [[Ross Dam]] near [[Diablo, Washington|Diablo]] and Silver Star Creek near Mazama.<ref>{{cite news |last=Phair |first=Vonnai |date=November 18, 2024 |title=North Cascades Highway closes for season |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/north-cascades-highway-closes-for-season/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> State Route 20 follows Riverside Avenue through the town and crosses the Methow River on a [[truss bridge]] that was built in 1929.<ref name="WSDOT-Map">{{cite WSDOT map |year=2014 |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=January 2024 |title=M23{{hyphen}}09.11: Bridge List |page=95 |url=https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/publications/manuals/fulltext/m23-09/Bridgelist.pdf |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> The highway connects Winthrop to [[North Cascades National Park]] and the [[Skagit Valley]] to the west and [[Omak, Washington|Omak]] to the east.<ref name="WSDOT-Map"/> In 2023, State Route 20 carried a [[Annual average daily traffic|daily average]] of 4,700{{nbsp}}vehicles at the Methow River Bridge.<ref>{{cite map |date=October 2024 |title=Traffic Counts (AADT) Current |url=https://geo.wa.gov/datasets/WSDOT::wsdot-traffic-counts-aadt-current/about |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> {{as of|2012}}, there are a total of 459 public [[parking space]]s on streets in Winthrop and in off-street lots.<ref>{{harvp|Winthrop Planning Commission|2015|p=T{{hyphen}}6}}</ref> [[Public transit]] service is provided by [[TranGO]], which operates buses from Winthrop to Mazama, Twisp, and Pateros every 2 hours with onward connections to other cities in Okanogan County.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 18, 2024 |title=TranGo 2024–2029 Transit Development Plan |page=8 |url=https://cms2.revize.com/revize/okanogan/2024%20-%202029%20OCTA%20Transit%20Development%20Plan%209.18.2024.pdf |publisher=Okanogan County Transit Authority |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> The route was originally limited to Winthrop, Twisp, and Pateros when it launched in 2016, but was extended to Mazama in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last=McCreary |first=Ann |date=June 24, 2016 |title=TranGO's Methow Valley bus service ready to launch on July 1 |url=https://methowvalleynews.com/2016/06/24/trangos-methow-valley-bus-service-ready-to-launch-on-july-1/ |work=Methow Valley News |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Le Roy |first=Hailey |date=July 6, 2023 |title=TranGO will begin service to Mazama next week |url=https://methowvalleynews.com/2023/07/06/trango-will-begin-service-to-mazama-next-week/ |work=Methow Valley News |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref>

{{ill|Methow Valley State Airport|qid=Q49748088|short=yes}} is located {{convert|5|mi|km}} south of Winthrop and is owned by the [[Washington State Department of Transportation]] (WSDOT). It has a {{convert|5,049|ft|m|adj=mid}} asphalt runway and is listed in the [[National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems]] maintained by the [[Federal Aviation Administration]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Methow Valley State |url=https://wsdot.wa.gov/travel/aviation/airports-list/methow-valley-state |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> The U.S. Forest Service constructed the airstrip in the 1930s and used it as one of the first facilities to train [[smokejumper]]s for wildland firefighting beginning in 1939.<ref>{{cite news |last=McCreary |first=Ann |date=May 10, 2018 |title=State airport will close May 14 for runway repaving project |url=https://methowvalleynews.com/2018/05/10/state-airport-will-close-may-14-for-runway-repaving-project/ |work=Methow Valley News |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> It was officially designated for smokejumper use in 1945 and had expanded facilities constructed until the primary training center was moved to [[Redmond, Oregon]], in 1981.<ref>{{cite web |last=Poyner IV |first=Fred |date=March 26, 2019 |title=North Cascades Smokejumper Base (Winthrop) |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/20747 |work=HistoryLink |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref>

===Utilities===

[[Electric power]] in the town and surrounding area is provided by the Okanogan County Electric Co-op (OCEC), a nonprofit [[cooperative]] that serves northwestern Okanogan County rather than the [[Okanogan County Public Utility District]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Service Territory Agreements |url=https://www.okanoganpud.org/service-territory-agreements |publisher=[[Okanogan County Public Utility District]] |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> OCEC, which is headquartered near Winthrop, was founded in 1939 and primarily purchases its electricity from the federal [[Bonneville Power Administration]], which manages several [[hydroelectric dam]]s in the Pacific Northwest.<ref>{{cite web |author=DeCoria, Blair & Teague |date=May 10, 2023 |title=Okanogan County Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Subsidiary Financial Report December 31, 2022 and 2021 |page=7 |url=https://ocec.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/5-OCEC-May-2023-Board-Meeting-WEB.pdf |publisher=Okanogan County Electric Co-op |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Plan-CF4">{{harvp|Winthrop Planning Commission|2015|p=CF{{hyphen}}4}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=January 29, 2025 |title=2023 Utility Fuel Mix Market Summary |page=48 |url=https://deptofcommerce.app.box.com/s/l9sqx4bcfnko3omrpk4tv8n0vbzcvsdz/file/1730140874220 |publisher=[[Washington State Department of Commerce]] |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> The cooperative has a subsidiary that delivers [[propane]] for heating and acquired a local [[internet service provider]], Methownet, in 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Regular Members |url=https://www.wreca.coop/members/regular-members/ |publisher=Washington Rural Electric Cooperative Association |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=McCreary |first=Ann |date=May 16, 2024 |title=OCEC gets state grant for more fiber optic buildout |url=https://methowvalleynews.com/2024/05/16/ocec-gets-state-grant-for-more-fiber-optic-buildout/ |work=Methow Valley News |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> Landline telephone service is provided by [[CenturyLink]], while several carriers have [[mobile broadband]] service in the area.<ref>{{harvp|Winthrop Planning Commission|2015|p=CF{{hyphen}}5}}</ref>

The town government maintains a [[tap water|water]] system that supplies drinking water to residents and businesses within Winthrop. The town sources its water from a [[well]] and has {{convert|11|mi|km}} of pipes in its [[water distribution system]], which also includes a storage [[reservoir]] and a [[pump station]].<ref>{{harvp|Winthrop Planning Commission|2015|p=CF{{hyphen}}1}}</ref> Winthrop also sells its water for [[firefighting]] but does not regularly supply residents outside of the town limits who rely on their own wells;<ref>{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=Don |date=July 11, 2024 |title=Winthrop asked to consider selling town water in extreme droughts |url=https://methowvalleynews.com/2024/07/11/winthrop-asked-to-consider-selling-town-water-in-extreme-droughts/ |work=Methow Valley News |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> the town had conservation restrictions on water use during periods of prolonged droughts prior to upgrades to the water system made in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 9, 2024 |title=As drought drags on, some water users are cut off |url=https://methowvalleynews.com/2024/08/09/as-drought-drags-on-some-water-users-are-cut-off/ |work=Methow Valley News |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> The number of customers supplied by Winthrop's water system is also managed by the [[Washington State Department of Health]], which places a cap on the number of authorized connections.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=Don |date=August 29, 2024 |title=Winthrop's 6-month moratorium on subdivision applications lifted |url=https://methowvalleynews.com/2024/08/29/winthrops-6-month-moratorium-on-subdivision-applications-lifted/ |work=Methow Valley News |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref>

Winthrop's [[sanitary sewer]] system was constructed in 1971 and expanded to {{convert|11.1|mi|km}} by 2015, with service to Sun Mountain Resort and other areas outside the town itself.<ref name="Plan-CF2">{{harvp|Winthrop Planning Commission|2015|p=CF{{hyphen}}2}}</ref> The [[wastewater treatment plant]] south of the town has an [[aerated lagoon]] and chlorination system that discharges treated water into the Methow River.<ref name="Plan-CF2"/> The plant was upgraded in 1992 and is planned to be replaced by an adjacent facility with a [[sewage sludge treatment|sludge treatment system]] by 2027.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=Don |date=February 13, 2025 |title=DOE recommends funds for Winthrop wastewater treatment plant |url=https://methowvalleynews.com/2025/02/13/doe-recommends-funds-for-winthrop-wastewater-treatment-plant/ |work=Methow Valley News |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> [[Municipal solid waste|Solid waste]] collection is contracted to a private company, WasteWise, that serves most of the Methow Valley;<ref>{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=Don |date=May 26, 2021 |title=Summer is garbage time in Winthrop |url=https://methowvalleynews.com/2021/05/26/summer-is-garbage-time-in-winthrop/ |work=Methow Valley News |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> the non-profit organization Methow Recycles is contracted to provide curbside [[recycling]] pickup.<ref name="Plan-CF2"/> Winthrop also has a commercial [[compost]]ing facility that opened in 2023 and collects materials from restaurants and residences.<ref>{{cite news |last=Limmer-Lai |first=Mia |date=August 1, 2024 |title=B2G Compost builds on recycling program for residents, businesses |url=https://methowvalleynews.com/2024/08/01/b2g-compost-builds-on-recycling-program-for-residents-businesses/ |work=Methow Valley News |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref>

===Healthcare===

The first [[medical clinic]] in Winthrop was the Country Clinic, opened in 2000 by a family physician.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stang |first=John |date=October 2, 2018 |title=A Democrat won't win in central WA, but can an independent? |url=https://www.cascadepbs.org/2018/10/democrat-wont-win-central-wa-can-independent |work=[[Crosscut.com]] |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> It was acquired by the [[Wenatchee, Washington|Wenatchee]]-based [[Confluence Health]] system in 2015 and renamed to the Methow Valley Clinic.<ref>{{cite news |last=McCreary |first=Ann |date=November 15, 2017 |title=Affordable health care a major issue for Diamond, but not the only one |url=https://methowvalleynews.com/2017/11/15/affordable-health-care-a-major-issue-for-diamond-but-not-the-only-one/ |work=Methow Valley News |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=McCreary |first=Ann |date=December 16, 2015 |title=Confluence Health partners with Winthrop's Country Clinic |url=https://methowvalleynews.com/2015/12/16/confluence-health-partners-with-winthrops-country-clinic/ |work=Methow Valley News |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> The town's nearest [[general hospital]]s are [[Mid-Valley Hospital]] in Omak and [[Three Rivers Hospital]] in [[Brewster, Washington|Brewster]].<ref name="Twisp2010"/> Three Rivers is operated by a [[public hospital]] district that encompasses most of western Okanogan County, including Winthrop.<ref>{{cite news |last=McCreary |first=Ann |date=October 24, 2024 |title=Three Rivers Hospital asks for renewal of emergency room levy |url=https://methowvalleynews.com/2024/10/24/three-rivers-hospital-asks-for-renewal-of-emergency-room-levy/ |work=Methow Valley News |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref>