Skagit Basin Riparian Stewardship

From 2019-2024, the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group (SFEG) conducted maintenance on previously completed riparian restoration projects at the Iron Mountain Ranch and Larsen sites. Both the Iron Mountain Ranch (IMR) and Larsen sites are within the Tier 1 target area and are identified as Mixed Stock - Large River Floodplain habitat in Skagit Chinook Recovery Plan (2005) the Skagit Watershed Councils 2022 Strategic Approach. Both sites are located along the mainstem of the Skagit River, and thus provide habitat benefits to Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed Chinook salmon and steelhead.



The goal of the project was to control persistent populations of invasive species to support the establishment of recently completed riparian plantings. At both sites, invasive species controlled include Himalayan blackberry, Japanese knotweed, Canada thistle, and reed canary grass. In addition, SFEG staff and AmeriCorps members planted additional native trees and shrubs at the Iron Mountain Ranch (IMR) site and removed old plant protectors at both sites. At IMR, SFEG controlled invasive vegetation on approximately 27 acres of riparian floodplain habitat. At Larsen, SFEG treated invasive vegetation on approximately 12 acres of riparian floodplain habitat and conducted early detection surveys for invasive weeds throughout the remaining 38 acres of the site each summer. At IMR in the winter of 2020-2021, SFEG replanted an additional 3,500 native plants over approximately 24.5 acres in areas where SFEG observed poor survival of previously planted trees and shrubs. Through this project SFEG treated 2.75 miles of riparian habitat along the Skagit River combined between both worksites.

Stewardship of previously completed riparian plantings, thus improving riparian floodplain habitat benefitting all life stages of ESA-listed Chinook, steelhead, coho, chum and pink salmon.