Skagit Forks (Britt Slough) off-channel habitat restoration
Volunteers and staff documenting juvenile Chinook use before the Skagit Forks restoration project was constructed.
Where the Skagit River forks to create Fir Island, Skagit Fisheries implemented a restoration project to reconnect the outlet of Britt Slough and a large wetland complex to the South Fork of the Skagit River. This important Chinook recovery project took place on WDFW land located between the dike and the South Fork of the Skagit River with engineering assistance provided by the Skagit Conservation District. Reconnecting this restored off-channel habitat and wetland complex to the Skagit River provides much needed habitat for juvenile Chinook salmon in the lower Skagit floodplain. Young Chinook salmon seek out areas of slow-moving water as they migrate to the estuary as places to rest and grow larger before reaching the salt water. Access to this type of off-channel and wetland habitat is extremely limited in the lower Skagit River floodplain where most of the river is diked.
This project offered a unique opportunity to restore floodplain habitat between the dike and the river on publicly owned land. Skagit Fisheries staff, a Washington Conservation Corps crew, and student volunteers planted 5,280 trees along the restored channel and throughout the floodplain of the project site. Volunteers and staff also participated in monitoring activities to document salmon use prior to project construction. Next year we look forward to continuing to assist with monitoring efforts and document salmon use of this reconnected habitat.
Pre-project sampling to see what’s in the existing pools
Large woody debris in the new channel
Juvenile Chinook salmon moved during construction
Pressentin Park Side Channel
Removing the “plug” to reconnect Pressentin Slough to the Skagit River.
The Pressentin Park project is restoring important habitat for Chinook salmon by reconnecting a one-half mile historic side channel to the Skagit River. Located in Marblemount on Skagit County Parks land, this important Chinook recovery project is not only reconnecting critical side channel habitat for Chinook salmon, it’s also restoring habitat for many other wildlife species, helping to feed endangered orcas, and bringing new recreational benefits to the community. Immediately after connecting the restored channel to the Skagit River, salmon began using it. Spawner survey volunteers counted adult Chinook, coho, and hundreds of pink salmon using the new habitat. This spring we are certain juvenile salmon will be found using the habitat as well.
Recreational amenities added to the Park through grants secured by Skagit County include a new parking area, walking trails, bike-in campsites, picnic shelters, and a playground. Skagit Fisheries developed and installed interpretive signs for the Park. These signs highlight the direct connections between riparian forest ecosystems, native communities, salmon, and orcas. As part of the restoration effort, the project removed invasive plants in the floodplain and restored over 12 acres of riparian area along the new channel with 13,000 native trees and shrubs. The community has been very supportive of this project with over 120 volunteers participating in planting parties held this fall. Although record flooding occurred while we were planting, community volunteers returned in force as the waters receded to continue the restoration efforts.
Lower Day Slough Fish Passage Barrier Removal
Over the course of summer 2023, two of the three projects completed in this stretch of slough habitat opened up to another mile of this critical habitat for juvenile and rearing salmonids. Having completed 3 fish passage projects here since 2014, this site has been focused upon by Skagit Fisheries because of its location in the Ross Island Reach of the Middle Skagit River, which has been ranked as the highest priority area for restoration in the Middle Skagit Assessment of 2011. Lower Day Slough has proven to be a site that is important for all stages of salmonids’ development, but especially for rearing. The effects of climate change have been considered when developing these types of projects, and Lower Day Slough will be especially important in maintaining cool, deep water for small salmonids through the temperature-increasing summers. By continuing to remove the barriers along the slough, there will be more water and debris flow during dry months, improving habitat for all stages of the salmon life cycle.
It will also be important for salmonid species in the winter because it will provide refuge from flooding in the mainstem Skagit River.
Northwestern salamander found during construction
In 2023, there were four fish passage barriers addressed on one of the two pieces of property that were worked on. The middle culvert of four had collapsed, and the two others were undersized or perched, which was a complete barrier to juvenile salmonids, as they don’t have the same jumping capabilities that their elders do. The barrier on the second property consisted of two degraded culverts as well. By removing all five of these culverts, there will no longer be constriction of the slough channel on these sites and will lead to the overall resiliency of the Skagit floodplain. A project to remove a barrier upstream of these two sites is in the works for the summer of 2024, continuing the important work in this slough habitat.
Four undersized culverts at Lower Day Slough prior to being removed, property #1
Bridge that replaced the 4 undersized culverts at Lower Day Slough to allow for fish passage, property #1
About Our Projects
We work with willing landowners in riparian restoration projects, improving fish passages, and in-stream restoration projects. If you are an interested landowner, please contact us at kyreiss (at) skagitfisheries.org
