Nestled in an oxbow of the Skagit River, just north of the forks of the Skagit River Delta, is Edgewater Park. From this location one can see much of downtown Mount Vernon, and get a panoramic view of the Skagit River. This 54-acre park is a playground for all ages, including ball fields, walking trails, a jungle gym, frisbee golf course, and boat launch. For SFEG, however, it’s been the site of several salmon habitat restoration projects over the years.
Left: Volunteers planting the cleared bank; right, a few years after planting, growth of trees
In 2005, SFEG partnered with Skagit Watershed Council on an effort to replace non-native invasive plants with native plants at several locations along the banks of the river. This was done in conjunction with a side channel project in the southern section of the park. At about where the river curves westward to hug the park, a remnant side channel was re-established. This channel flows during high water, and provides critical rearing habitat for salmonids. Think of side channels as highway rest areas for fish. These slower-moving habitats allow juvenile salmon places to hide from predators, rest during high water events, and find ample food for their downstream migration.
As part of restoration, several community planting parties have been held here, including three Earth Day planting parties. If you start in the boat launch parking area, see the interpretive sign about Pacific salmon found in the Skagit River. Follow the trail south along the bank and see many species of native plants planted by volunteers at past Earth Day events. Just before the trail turns back toward the west, you’ll see the north end of the side channel. If there is water in it, there are juvenile salmon in it! As you follow the trail you’ll come to an interpretive sign about the side channel. Following the trail back toward the north, you’ll come to a sign about the native plants at the park. As you meander behind the stage you’ll see areas where many volunteer groups have tackled the invasive English ivy that threatens the native plants in this area.
Celebrate Earth Day 2021 by continuing the effort against English ivy, this time at Samish Island Camp, on Saturday, April 24. This site, ancestral home to the Samish people, is still a place of cultural importance to them. Join us as we help maintain native habitat by removing English ivy. More information and registration HERE.
Google Map of Edgewater Park
https://goo.gl/maps/ySXQ9U1LUfSAsVH76
Mount Vernon Parks and Recreation Edgewater Park web page
http://mountvernonwa.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/10
Salish Sea Wild: Salmon of the Skagit River
From the FieldSalmon are born in freshwater and migrate to sea, where they feed and grow before returning to their mother stream to breed and die. Along the way, they feed everything from endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales to bugs, bears, and the forest itself. Salmon are the cornerstone of our ecosystem, but many runs are in grave danger, particularly the wild Chinook. In this episode of Salish Sea Wild, Dr. Joe Gaydos takes a swim up the Skagit River to get a close-up look at these amazing fish.
This video takes you beneath the waters of the Skagit River and shares why the Magic Skagit is so special for salmon with amazing underwater footage of schools of salmon swimming in the Skagit River.
At the Water’s Edge
From the FieldNestled in an oxbow of the Skagit River, just north of the forks of the Skagit River Delta, is Edgewater Park. From this location one can see much of downtown Mount Vernon, and get a panoramic view of the Skagit River. This 54-acre park is a playground for all ages, including ball fields, walking trails, a jungle gym, frisbee golf course, and boat launch. For SFEG, however, it’s been the site of several salmon habitat restoration projects over the years.
Left: Volunteers planting the cleared bank; right, a few years after planting, growth of trees
In 2005, SFEG partnered with Skagit Watershed Council on an effort to replace non-native invasive plants with native plants at several locations along the banks of the river. This was done in conjunction with a side channel project in the southern section of the park. At about where the river curves westward to hug the park, a remnant side channel was re-established. This channel flows during high water, and provides critical rearing habitat for salmonids. Think of side channels as highway rest areas for fish. These slower-moving habitats allow juvenile salmon places to hide from predators, rest during high water events, and find ample food for their downstream migration.
As part of restoration, several community planting parties have been held here, including three Earth Day planting parties. If you start in the boat launch parking area, see the interpretive sign about Pacific salmon found in the Skagit River. Follow the trail south along the bank and see many species of native plants planted by volunteers at past Earth Day events. Just before the trail turns back toward the west, you’ll see the north end of the side channel. If there is water in it, there are juvenile salmon in it! As you follow the trail you’ll come to an interpretive sign about the side channel. Following the trail back toward the north, you’ll come to a sign about the native plants at the park. As you meander behind the stage you’ll see areas where many volunteer groups have tackled the invasive English ivy that threatens the native plants in this area.
Celebrate Earth Day 2021 by continuing the effort against English ivy, this time at Samish Island Camp, on Saturday, April 24. This site, ancestral home to the Samish people, is still a place of cultural importance to them. Join us as we help maintain native habitat by removing English ivy. More information and registration HERE.
Google Map of Edgewater Park
https://goo.gl/maps/ySXQ9U1LUfSAsVH76
Mount Vernon Parks and Recreation Edgewater Park web page
http://mountvernonwa.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/10
SFEG Spring Speaker Series: A Natural History of the Skagit Valley
Upcoming EventsPlease join us for Skagit Fisheries’ virtual spring speaker series!
We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Jon Riedel, who will present on the history and geological changes of the Skagit Valley, for our first talk.
A Natural History of the Skagit Valley
Geologic Evolution of the Skagit Valley is based on more than 30 years of research by geologist Dr. Jon Riedel. This talk traces major changes in the watershed and river caused by glaciation, landslides, volcanic eruptions, and colossal ice age floods. Dr. Riedel will also briefly discuss how knowledge of the Skagit’s development has helped us understand the peculiar genetic diversity of some species in the watershed.
Jon Riedel is a geologist with the U.S. National Park Service at North Cascades National Park. He holds a M.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin- Madison and a Ph.D. from Simon Fraser University, and is a licensed geologist in Washington. The focus of his research during the past 30 years is the response of Washington’s glaciers to climate change, from the last ice age 30,000 years ago to the modern warming climate. Dr. Riedel established glacier monitoring programs at Olympic (2013), Mount Rainier (2003) and North Cascades (1993) national parks to track changes in more than 500 glaciers. Recent publications have quantified changes in volume and runoff from glaciers in several regional watersheds and detailed the retreat of the last Cordilleran ice sheet from the North Cascades. Jon is also a founding member and president of the Skagit Climate Science Consortium, a nonprofit organization focused on studying the impacts of climate change in Puget Sound’s largest watershed and making this information available to local decision makers.
This is event is FREE, however, donations are appreciated.
Thursday, April 29th 6-7:30 PM RSVP