Welcome to Skagit County

September 9th, 2011

Skagit County protects 2,250 feet of Samish riverbank with $43,700 Department of Ecology grant

SKAGIT COUNTY – Skagit County in cooperation with the Washington Department of Ecology Washington Conservation Corps (WCC), Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group, the Samish Indian Nation, and property owners Jean and John Shea, and Christine Burkhart, will protect 2,250 feet of Samish riverbank with riparian plantings, riverbank fencing, and other restoration work. The project is made possible through a recently-awarded $43,700 grant from Ecology. The purpose of the project is to restore the Samish River, reduce livestock access, and improve water quality entering Samish Bay.

“The Natural Resource Stewardship Program offers a rare opportunity for landowners to enhance their streamside property at no cost to them,” said Emily Derenne, Water Resource and Habitat Technician for Skagit County. “This program is a great way for citizens and the County to work together to ensure clean water and a healthy Samish.”

The work is being completed under the banner of Skagit County’s Natural Resource Stewardship Program (NRSP), a program designed to improve water quality throughout Skagit County streams by inspiring landowners to protect and enhance water quality for the benefit of all citizens of Skagit County. The NRSP program operates alongside the Clean Samish Initiative, a joint-partnership effort involving multiple state and local agencies with the goal of achieving both short and long-term pollution reductions in the Samish Basin.

“Ecology and the WCC are pleased to help with this project, and we especially appreciate the involvement of the property owners,” said Ecology Regional Director Jeannie Summerhays, who coordinates the department’s work on the Clean Samish Initiative. “The fencing and restored shoreline will help meet goals set by Gov. Chris Gregoire and the Puget Sound Partnership to reduce the bacterial pollution throughout the Samish basin.”

The grant money became available July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012. Up to an additional $13,000 will be paid directly to the WCC AmeriCorps crew for onsite work. The fencing project will begin September 12, 2011, and a total of three sites will be restored.