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Lower Lake Levels Make Access Challenging
One notable change affecting recreation is lower lake levels. Less water in Ross Lake is making it tougher to access some of the area’s beloved boat-in campsites, with some locations becoming completely unreachable at times. This doesn’t only affect your camping plans – it complicates the maintenance of needed facilities like toilets, adding another challenge for those exploring the area.
To understand why lake levels are lower than we’re used to, it’s important to remember that City Light manages the Skagit Project with four key considerations in mind: flood control, fish flows, recreation, and power generation.
City Light must let water out of Ross Lake by November of each year to create storage for spring runoff and protect people, property, and the environment from flooding. This is so important, it’s part of the project’s Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license.
“Once the flood control period has passed,” explains Mike Aronowitz, City Light Senior Resource Planner and Recreation Lead, “we refill the reservoir for recreation and aesthetic purposes, while also ensuring there is enough water downriver for fish.”
In the past, inflow from snowmelt peaked at the same time as the reservoir refill period, but that has changed in recent years. Currently, climate change is resulting in less snow in winter, earlier snowmelt, and less spring precipitation.
“We’re not getting the inflows we need, when we need them, to fill the lake back to historical levels,” says Aronowitz.
Wildfire and Air Quality: Stay Informed, Stay Safe
Because of warmer and drier conditions caused by climate change, we are also experiencing more frequent and intense wildfires. Wildfires can be unpredictable and deadly, so it’s essential that visitors in the area stay informed of quickly changing conditions. Harmful wildfire smoke also poses a range of problems to those looking to enjoy the area. Even at low levels of smoke, the majestic views of the North Cascades may be hard to see, and some people may find it hard to breathe. More intense fires can make outdoor activities unhealthy for everyone. To reduce the risk of wildfire, campfires are now off-limits in the Project area and across the state for most of summer.
In recent years, wildfire season has also affected City Light’s Skagit Tours, resulting in the cancellation of these popular and fun educational opportunities. Fires have also closed the North Cascades Highway, limiting access to popular hikes in the area.
Good News for Whitewater Boaters
It’s not all bad news! Whitewater boating on the Skagit River is thriving. While lake levels may be low, downstream flows are carefully managed to support fish populations, allowing the whitewater season to extend well into the summer. This makes the Skagit a great spot for late-season outings, when other nearby rivers are too low.
Adaptive Management: A Flexible, Science-Based Approach
As climate change continues to affect the entire state, including the area around the Skagit Project, the future of recreation will depend on our ability to adapt. The next FERC license will take an adaptive management approach, recognizing the need to remain flexible as we face the unknowns of the next 30 or 50 years. Continuous scientific study, monitoring, and adjustments will help us protect the ecosystem, preserve access to nature, reduce wildfire risks, and protect air quality. City Light looks forward to continuing to partner with Tribes, agencies, and nonprofits to help ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy the Skagit’s natural beauty and recreational bounty.
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