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’s final license application (FLA) is based on more than $28 million in relicensing research studies. While many of those studies concluded before filing the FLA in April, City Light’s commitment to using science to support its stewardship of the Skagit watershed is ongoing. For example, a team led by Jeff Fisher, City Light aquatic ecologist, continues collecting water quality data to understand how hydroelectric operations may or may not affect aquatic conditions.

Extensive data already collected by City Light and its relicensing partners indicate the water quality within the project area is exceptional. Still, some questions remain with respect to water quality differences between a regulated river like the Skagit and an unregulated river, and whether such differences might be managed to increase aquatic productivity if warranted. Fisher notes, “We are doing this water quality monitoring work in part to be responsive to questions raised during the relicensing process and also to ensure City Light has enough data when it submits for its water quality certification under the Clean Water Act, an important part of license approval."

Lowering a sampling device into Diablo Lake to collect aquatic

invertebrates associated with soft mud and sand.

A significant part of the work Fisher has been leading focuses on water quality factors that influence bull trout movements in the reservoirs. Bull trout are listed as ‘threatened’ under the Endangered Species Act, and the Skagit reservoirs are a stronghold for the species, numbering in the thousands. Ensuring the bull trout population remains robust is very important to City Light. Fisher’s team uses acoustic transmitter tags and an array of receivers to monitor the movements of the tagged bull trout—where they spend their time, where they move in different seasons, and whether there are any impediments to their movements. 

In addition to gathering data required for certifications and regulatory compliance, a continued commitment to gathering scientific information to better understand the Skagit ecosystem is critical to developing City Light’s response to climate change. As the climate and environment change, proactive research will play an increasingly important role in informing City Light’s work and supporting the shared stewardship of the Skagit River ecosystem.

Canoe paddlers take in breathtaking mountain views on Diablo Lake. Photo credit: North Cascades Institute

As summer gets into full swing, the three Skagit Project reservoirs—Ross, Diablo, and Gorge—become popular destinations for water recreation. Kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, and motor boating are excellent ways to experience the unique beauty of this special place. Unfortunately, an outing on any of these lakes can quickly turn hazardous if you are unprepared or unaware of the risks you face on the water. 

According to Bryan Baze, Generation Supervisor for the Skagit Project, people tend to run into trouble due to lack of experience, failure to recognize hazards and poor planning. “People don’t realize how cold the water is or how windy it can get out on the reservoirs,” says Baze. “They take their boat out onto Diablo or Ross Lake around 10 or 11 in the morning when conditions are still. Then at noon or one o’clock, the wind picks up, and they get blown up the canyon or they tip and fall into the water.”

Because the Skagit area is out of cell phone service range, a boater in need of help has no way to communicate, so it is not uncommon for Baze or other Project staff to come across boaters or paddle boarders who have found themselves in dangerous situations with no way to call for help. In the summer of 2020, for example, when outdoor recreation increased due to the pandemic, Project staff rescued 26 people from the reservoirs.  

If you are planning to recreate on any of the three Project reservoirs this summer, here are some important safety tips to follow:



• Dress for the occasion. Wear clothing appropriate for the conditions and always wear a life jacket. 
• Expect frigid water. Water temperatures in the reservoirs rarely reach above 50°F. Accidental cold-water immersion can be fatal within minutes. Human-powered watercraft (like kayaks and canoes) overturn frequently, making it extremely difficult to get to shore or out of the water.
• Check the weather forecast and sunset times. Sudden gusty winds and swells are common in the afternoon but can occur anytime. Once the sun sets, it can be very dark. Pack a headlamp or flashlight with spare batteries.
• Know first aid. Become familiar with first aid in the field and always pack a first aid kit. Smart additions to your kit are a waterproof fire starter, an emergency shelter or blanket and a signaling device. It could be hours, even days before you are reported missing or rescued.
• Make a plan. Most of the Skagit Project area is out of cell phone range. GPS communication devices can be helpful but should not be a substitute for having a self-rescue plan if you fall into the water or find yourself in trouble. Your plan should include predetermined check-ins with a dedicated person ashore, who knows your travel itinerary, relative location and who to contact if they do not hear from you.

Find more tips and information on planning your trip at: www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit.

Wildfire smoke at the Buster Brown boat-in campsite on Diablo Lake 

City Light’s Skagit Hydroelectric Project staff sprang into action on Wednesday, May 31, when a wildfire broke out near the Buster Brown boat-in campsite. The fire came within 150 yards of the Skagit 240kV transmission lines and the 26kV Diablo-Ross tie line right-of-way. A boat captain spotted and reported the wildfire, prompting an immediate and coordinated response.

A team comprised of members of the Newhalem-Diablo Fire Brigade and other Skagit personnel, equipped with essential hand tools and backpack fire pumps, controlled the fire's spread. The Incident Management Team was stood up to ensure effective coordination and communication of the team's efforts. Once the crew established the fire's perimeter, they divided their efforts. While one part of the team maintained the perimeter's integrity, the others retrieved a fire pump, which proved to be instrumental in suppressing the fire. The rapid response not only safeguarded City Light’s property, but also the nearby North Cascades Environmental Learning Center. During suppression and the mop-up activities, a small crew from the North Cascades National Park arrived on scene to take command of the situation and further monitor the fire.

Thanks to the crew’s dedication, hard work, and ability to work together under pressure, they were able to swiftly contain the fire and prevent it from spreading.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Skagit River System Cooperative were awarded nearly $12 million in federal grants to fund design and construction of Skagit Estuary restoration projects. Restoring vital estuary habitat is an important piece of Chinook salmon recovery. An excerpt from NOAA’s funding announcement explains the importance of the Skagit Estuary projects and South Whidbey Basin projects, which also received about $12 million in project funding.

Degraded habitat is one of the largest obstacles to recovering threatened and endangered species. Many projects will make significant progress on efforts to recover these species by restoring the habitats they depend on for food, protection, spawning, and rearing. Two landscape-scale, complementary efforts in Washington’s Puget Sound will provide substantial benefits to threatened Puget Sound Chinook and steelhead, making significant progress on addressing the habitat-related factors needed for their recovery. The projects will also support endangered Southern Resident killer whales, a NOAA Species in the Spotlight, by benefiting their prey. This work will build on more than two decades of past NOAA-supported restoration work in these watersheds.



You can read more about the work in this 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 Resources Page

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

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