Samish River Project
Description:
The Samish River is the major tributary to Samish Bay, and major land uses are agriculture and forestry. Degraded habitat and poor water quality due to alteration and loss of riparian area, sedimentation, elevated temperature, and fecal contamination were identified in the 1995 WAC 400-12 Samish Bay Watershed Nonpoint Action Plan as threats to beneficial uses. Beneficial uses negatively impacted include: shellfish and fishery industry; fisheries spawning and rearing habitat supporting fall Chinook, Coho, Chum, Winter Steelhead, and Cutthroat ; habitat for avian species including bald eagle, perigine falcon, and marbled murrelet; and high quality wetlands used as wildlife habitat and rearing habitat for Coho. This project was identified in the Action Plan Implementation Strategy Plan. District partners include the Nature Conservancy, Skagit fisheries Enhancement Group, Skagit Land Trust, Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland, and Skagit County. Project objectives include: (1) acquisition of permanent easements targeting agricultural lands on approximately five miles of riparian buffers along the Upper Samish River corridor; (2) protection and restoration along 2.5 miles of easement corridor; including livestock fencing and riparian planting to provide improved fish & wildlife habitat and water quality, culvert replacement to improve fish passage, and bank stabilization to prevent sedimentation. (3) coordination of post-project monitoring.
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Samish River Project
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The Samish River is the major tributary to Samish Bay, and major land uses are agriculture and forestry. Degraded habitat and poor water quality due to alteration and loss of riparian area, sedimentation, elevated temperature, and fecal contamination were identified in the 1995 WAC 400-12 Samish Bay Watershed Nonpoint Action Plan as threats to beneficial uses. Beneficial uses negatively impacted include: shellfish and fishery industry; fisheries spawning and rearing habitat supporting fall Chinook, Coho, Chum, Winter Steelhead, and Cutthroat ; habitat for avian species including bald eagle, perigine falcon, and marbled murrelet; and high quality wetlands used as wildlife habitat and rearing habitat for Coho. This project was identified in the Action Plan Implementation Strategy Plan. District partners include the Nature Conservancy, Skagit fisheries Enhancement Group, Skagit Land Trust, Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland, and Skagit County. Project objectives include: (1) acquisition of permanent easements targeting agricultural lands on approximately five miles of riparian buffers along the Upper Samish River corridor; (2) protection and restoration along 2.5 miles of easement corridor; including livestock fencing and riparian planting to provide improved fish & wildlife habitat and water quality, culvert replacement to improve fish passage, and bank stabilization to prevent sedimentation. (3) coordination of post-project monitoring.
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General project area: From Olympia, north on I-5 at the Cook Road exit. From the exit, proceed north along Highway 99 to the intersection of Highway 99 and Prairie Road. Continue east along Prairie Road, turn east onto and along F&S Grade Road to Highway 9, and continuing north along Highway 9. The highest priority projects have been identified along Highway 9 near the Skagit-Whatcom County line.
