Washington launches two-year effort to restore 270 acres of Skagit estuary habitat

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife began work in June 2026 to transform 270 acres of the South Fork Skagit River estuary back to its historic intertidal and marsh condition, with completion slated for fall 2028. The Island Unit, located within the Skagit Wildlife Area between Conway and Stanwood, will have its dikes, levees and tide gates removed, and new channels excavated to allow water from Skagit Bay and nearby sloughs to flow freely.

Restoring these tidal pathways is expected to link the islands to hundreds of additional acres of estuary, creating more nursery habitat for endangered Puget Sound Chinook salmon, a key food source for Southern Resident killer whales. The project also anticipates benefits for waterfowl, shorebirds, and other species, while preserving low-angle landings and hunting blinds for public use. This initiative follows extensive planning, tribal consultation and public comment that began in the late 2010s and builds on the nearby Milltown Island Estuary Restoration completed in 2024.