This newsletter provides updates about the federal relicensing of the Skagit Hydroelectric Project. More information is available on the project website or by emailing the project team at scl_skagitrelicensing@seattle.gov.

Seattle City Light has more than 33 studies underway to help inform future operations of the Skagit Hydroelectric Project. These studies are critical to the relicensing process because they help us understand current conditions and adjust how we operate the Skagit Project to protect and steward the environment. Study focus areas range from wildlife to recreation to whether, when, and how fish passage should be provided at the dams. Below are brief snapshots of three of the studies currently underway. Preliminary findings from all studies will be included in the project’s Initial Study Report, which will be released in March.

The Skagit Project and the Ross Lake National Recreation Area sit in the middle of the North Cascades National Park Complex, with National Forest to the east and west. The area is surrounded by gorgeous, rugged wilderness where visitors can experience numerous recreational activities, from scenic drives to backcountry camping.

Above: Canoeing on Ross Lake (Photo credit: North Cascades Institute).

The purpose of the Recreational Use and Facility Assessment is to inventory, evaluate, and study the use of recreation facilities in the Project area and portions of the surrounding National Park and National Forests. The study team began field work in September 2021, taking inventory and assessing the condition of campsites, trailheads, docks, signage, bathrooms, and other facilities. The study will evaluate where improvements could be made so that all members of the public, including mobility impaired visitors, can enjoy the experience of visiting the North Cascades. This summer, researchers will gather data on level of use. The Skagit Project and the Ross Lake National Recreation Area have seen some of their busiest summers in recent years. The study team will survey visitors, counting the number of people on trails and the number of cars, tents, or boats in the study area; and observing how people use the recreation facilities. Their findings will help determine whether the facilities are adequate to meet current and future recreation demand.

The diversity of vegetation around the Skagit Project is truly unique. In fact, the National Park Service says that of all the national parks in North America, North Cascades is “nearly unsurpassed in its botanical diversity.” At least 35 different plant cover types have been identified in the Project area, from sword ferns and sedge grasses to lichen and conifers. 

The Vegetation Mapping study aims to develop a comprehensive database and map of the different types of vegetation and habitat in the Project area. The database will describe existing vegetation conditions, including species composition and structure, assess potential effects the Project could have on habitat, and inform natural resource management plans, along with plans for protection, mitigation, and enhancement of the area’s diverse plant life. In short, the vegetation mapping will provide baseline data for many of the other studies and for future habitat improvement efforts.

Above: Researchers use a satellite navigation system to map locations while recording vegetation types in remote areas.

The study team is using a combination of several methods to develop a complete vegetation map, including compiling and reviewing existing National Park Service data, LiDAR, and high-resolution aerial imagery, followed by computer modeling and then by field data collection to gather additional data and verify and refine the model accuracy. The fieldwork took place in 250 randomly selected locations, meaning some researchers found themselves taking roads less traveled to discover which plants are plentiful in various corners of the North Cascades wilderness. 

Researchers completed fieldwork in 2021 and preliminary results will be included in the Initial Study Report in March.

Did you know that the National Park Service has a directive to protect the sounds of nature? The NPS Management Policy states that the NPS will “preserve, to the greatest extent possible, the natural soundscapes of parks.” A goal of the Project Sound Assessment study is to provide information to help NPS to achieve its noise management goals. 

The study's goal is to assess the extent to which Project facilities, equipment, and activities emit noise and analyze whether Project-related noise may affect wildlife and other resources. 

One method for assessing Project-related noise involves setting up highly sensitive recording devices at various locations throughout the Project area and leaving them alone to record for a continuous seven-day period. (If you’re picturing a fancy microphone tied to a tree in the middle of the woods, you’re not far off!)  

The study team began collecting noise data in the summer of 2021 and will resume recording in spring of 2022. Once all data-gathering is complete, researchers will use it to develop noise contour maps that show how Project-related noise increases and decreases throughout the study area.

Above: Researchers set up microphones deep in the forest, where they recorded continuously for a seven days.

It takes many dedicated people to ensure the Skagit relicensing process is successful. One of those people is Leska Fore, Skagit License Assistant Manager for Seattle City Light. We asked Leska to share a bit about her role and what she enjoys most about her work. Here’s what she said:

Q: How would you describe your role on the Skagit Relicensing project?

A: I am the point of contact for safety, coordination, and logistics for City Light staff and consultant teams working in the field on the 33 relicensing studies that will help inform future operations of the Skagit Project. I connect people to the person or resource they need to get their work done. I also work with City Light colleagues to implement the settlement agreements for the current license to manage natural and cultural resources near the Skagit Project.

Above: Leska Fore, Skagit License Assistant Manager for Seattle City Light.

Q: What led you to this job? 

A: Before joining City Light, I worked as a statistical consultant with federal, Tribal and state agencies to protect and restore water resources under the Clean Water Act. More recently, I worked at the Puget Sound Partnership to evaluate the effectiveness of protection and restoration actions and to share stories about what’s working to restore Puget Sound. Over time, my focus has shifted to how we, as scientists, researchers, or subject matter experts, can talk about the science of resource management in a way that is meaningful and engaging to a broader audience. The Skagit relicensing studies will provide a lot of fresh data for analysis and interpretation, and I look forward to being part of those conversations!

Q: What is your favorite thing about your work? 

A: I enjoy hearing what’s important to people and how they will use the relicensing studies to manage and protect the resources that they care about. Sharing stories about what we are learning in the Skagit River watershed is a great part of my job.

Last week, the British Columbia government, Imperial Metals Corporation, and the Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission reached an agreement to halt mining in the Silverdaisy area of the Canadian Skagit Headwaters. This significant victory comes after years of international cooperation and hard work. The agreement permanently protects the headwaters from mining and subsequently protects the entire river, watershed, and Sound.  

You can learn more about this historic agreement in this announcement from WA Wild or in this recent Seattle Times article.

City Light's Hydroelectric Resources

Learn more about the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project and other City Light hydroelectric resources.

Skagit Tours and Recreation

Explore the Skagit River and the beauty of the North Cascades.

Skagit Relicensing Project Page

Learn more about the relicensing process, including the library of public documents.

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