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The Skagit River (pronounced ) is a river in southwestern British Columbia in Canada and northwestern Washington in the United States, approximately 150 mi (240 km) long. The river and its tributaries drain an area of 1.7 million acres of the Cascade Range along the northern end of Puget Sound. The Skagit is one of the major rivers of the Pacific Northwest.
The Skagit Watershed is characterized by a temperate, mid-latitude, maritime climate. Temperatures range widely throughout the watershed. Recorded temperatures at Newhalem range from a low of -6° F (-21° C) to a high of 109° F (43° C), with greater extremes likely in the mountains. The highest temperatures are commonly recorded in July, the lowest in January.
Course
The river rises in the Cascade Mountains of British Columbia, east of Chilliwack. It flows southwest through Skagit Valley Provincial Park. It crosses the border into eastern Whatcom County, Washington, where it is impounded to form the 24 mi/39 km long Ross Lake reservoir in the Ross Lake National Recreation Area, between the two units of North Cascades National Park. It flows west past Rockport and Sedro Woolley, then briefly south near the coast past Mount Vernon. It enters the eastern end of Skagit Bay on Puget Sound approximately 10 mi (16 km) south of Mount Vernon.
It receives the Sauk River from the south near Rockport. It receives the Baker River from the north near Concrete.
Natural History
skagiteagle.jpg The Skagit provides spawning habitat for salmon. It is the only large river system in Washington that contains healthy populations of all five native salmon species and two species of trout. Runs include Chinook, Coho, Chum, Pink, Sockeye, and Steelhead and Cutthroat trout.
The river supports the largest wintering Bald Eagle population in the continental United States. The eagles feed on Chum and Coho salmon that have returned to the Skagit and its tributaries to spawn. The eagles arrive in late October or early November and stay into February. The highest number of eagles is usually seen in January. These eagles come from inland Canada and come from as far away as Alaska and Montana. When the salmon run is plentiful, there can be as many as 600 eagles on the river.
Thousands of Snow Geese winter in the Skagit River estuary. These geese feed on intertidal marsh plants such as bulrush and they are drawn to nearby farmlands where they find leftover potatoes in the fields. Trumpeter Swans are drawn to the estuary habitat as well. There can be several hundred Swans in the Skagit valley from October to February.
The Skagit River basin provides habitat for a diverse set of animals. For more information about these animals, see the List of Wildlife of the Skagit River Basin.
Geology
About 20,000 years ago the Cordilleran Ice Sheet covered a significant portion of North America. Massive fingers of ice, glaciers, extended from this ice sheet to carve out many of the valleys that exist in the Cascade Range today. The Skagit glacier is estimated to have reached over 100 miles in length before receding. Glaciers continue to shape and feed the rivers and streams of the Pacific Northwest. Washington State has 77 percent of the glacier ice in the 48 contiguous states of the United States. The Skagit watershed is made up of high peaks and low valleys. The highest points in the basin are two volcanoes: Mt. Baker (10,773 feet) and Glacier Peak (10,541 feet). Most of the basin lies above 2,000 feet. The river completes its course at sea level where it meets the Puget Sound.
History
The river takes its name from the Skagit tribe, a Native American people. Native people have lived along the Skagit for many centuries. Archeological evidence indicates that the Upper Skagit tribe lived in the area now called Ross Lake National Recreation Area at least 8,000 years ago. The Upper Skagit tribe occupied the land along the Skagit from what is now Newhalem to the mouth of the river. The Lower Thompson tribe lived along the river from above the Newhalem gorge into British Columbia. Archeological evidence reveals that these people lived from the land through fishing, hunting, and gathering.
Economy
The river's major dams, constructed in the 1920s and 1930s, are a primary source of hydroelectric power for Seattle and other area communities. The Skagit Valley Railroad was constructed by the city of Seattle to transport workers on the dams. The river today is a popular destination for whitewater rafting and fly fishing.
Tributaries
Cities and Towns along the Skagit
External links
- Skagit Valley Provincial Park
- North Cascades National Park
- Rasar State Park
- History of the Skagit River Railway
References
"Skagit River"