Skagit Watershed Habitat Acquisition IV

Skagit Land Trust (SLT) and Seattle City Light (SCL) will continue their effective collaboration to protect high quality Chinook habitat in the Skagit River system through cooperative land acquisition. Following the 2017 Skagit Watershed Council Protection Strategy, the project will include acquisition of high priority parcels in Tier 1 floodplains of the mainstem Skagit, Sauk and Cascade rivers as well as habitat areas along major tributaries and creeks identified as Tier 2 in the Skagit Watershed Councils 2015 Strategic Approach. Three Tier 2 target areas from the Skagit Watersheds Council 2016 Interim Steelhead Strategy are also included: single stock large river floodplain, singe stock major tributary and steel head target areas. This project helps to permanently protect priority habitat for listed ESU species.
The project also includes an outreach/assessment component. This component provides funds for outreach, evaluation, site visits, submittal of projects for approval by lead entity and necessary due diligence for each potential acquisition. This allows for multiple potential acquisitions to be analyzed concurrently to ensure the highest priority parcels are pursued and that there is successful utilization of grant funds.
This project was funded by the Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB) on September 16, 2020, as a $1,176,471 comprehensive acquisition, landowner outreach and restoration feasibility study grant for both the middle and upper Skagit River reaches. For administration purposes, the project is split into two separate grant agreements (20-2121, Seattle City Light). The Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration (PSAR) grant funds may be transferred between grants, if necessary.

Protection of Tier 1 floodplains of the mainstem Skagit, Sauk and Cascade and Tier 2 tributaries for the primary benefit of juvenile Chinook habitat and habitat-forming natural processes.