North Cascades

A Watershed Defined

A watershed is a geographic region within which water drains into a particular river, stream, or body of water. The highest ground around the watershed forms its boundaries. A watershed provides a stellar example of how everything is connected; the overall health of the watershed is hinged to the health of the land and every creek, river, or stream within that region.

The Skagit River Watershed

"The Skagit (River) is the third largest river on the west coast of the contiguous United States. The river and its tributaries are the focus of life for more than 1.7 million acres of the North Cascades...the Skagit is the largest watershed in the Puget Sound Basin, providing over 20 percent of the water flowing into the Sound. This translates into nearly 10 billion gallons each day. With over 2,900 streams, it drains 3,130 square miles (2,730 square miles in Washington and 400 square miles in British Columbia). In Washington the river basin encompasses most of Skagit County and the northeastern parts of Snohomish and Whatcom Counties. The journey of the Skagit River begins in the mountains of Manning Provincial Park in British Columbia. From its headwaters, the river meanders southwest for 25 miles, then turns southeast for seven miles to the U.S. border. It then flows south for 20 miles in Washington until turning west to break through the crest of the North Cascades mountains on its way to Puget Sound." (Sharing the Skagit: An educator's guide to the Skagit River Watershed. North Cascades Institute. 1993. p.7)

"The Skagit River Watershed has major runs of four species of Pacific salmon and a small run of sockeye salmon. Present management of salmon is under the jurisdiction of the State of Washington and the consolidated Skagit Tribes. The three Skagit Tribes include the Swinomish, Upper Skagit and Sauk/Suiattle. These agencies are responsible for the management and preservation of salmon runs both through the regulation of sport and commercial harvest and habitat management." (Russell F. Orrell, retired Regional Biologist, Washington State Department of Fisheries)