Surface Water Management

Project Description

The DeBay Slough Restoration Project is located between Burlington and Sedro Woolley, on the south side of the Skagit River near river mile 20. The oxbow is about 2 miles long and is has both backwater and groundwater. Land use is primarily for farming, with a section remaining for swan conservation. The preexisting DeBay culvert is located underneath DeBay Island Rd, is 2 feet wide and partially submerged, and beginning to fail to age. Only one culvert is present within the 265-footwide channel.

Due to habitat loss, habitat availability for the Skagit Delta reach has been nearing capacity, which limits the numbers and size of juvenile fish. This culvert is becoming a barrier to fish passage, potentially impacting various salmon and trout species such as Pink, Chum, Chinook, Coho, Steelhead, Sea Run Cutthroat, and Resident Trout. There are large areas of wetted habitat upstream of the culvert, which could provide needed habitat for juvenile fish. The objective of this project is to support juvenile Chinook rearing by redesigning the culvert under DeBay Island Road and  improving the connection of the slough to the Skagit River.

This project is being led by Skagit County with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife as a key partner. A feasibility study is currently underway. If proposed actions are determined to be feasible, the next step will be to create alternatives for evaluation. Approximately three alternatives will be examined and ranked by cost, feasibility, preservation of swan habitat, Chinook recovery, farmland impacts, and other metrics. The preliminary design will be created and used to request funding to construct the project.  

Project Funding

The DeBay Slough Restoration Project is supported by funding from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Skagit County, Natural Systems Design, and Veda Environmental.

A total of $161,500 was awarded by the Salmon Recovery Funding Board, with a $28,500 match by Skagit County and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.  The expected intial project cost totals $200,000, which includes existing conditions analysis, alternatives analysis, preliminary design, and stakeholder outreach.  

Advisory Group Meetings

1. May 24, 2022 | Minutes | Video
2. August 15, 2022 | Minutes | Video
   

Reports and Results

DeBay Slough Site Assessment Report

2022 Updates

1. January - May
2. July - August
3. August - September