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Skagit Land Trust
Skagit County – It’s Worth Protecting
With a population of 118,000 people, Skagit County in Northwestern Washington is a rural county renowned for its wild and scenic rivers, expansive floodplains, fertile agricultural lands, native forests and abundance of wildlife. This natural wealth, within 60 miles of the major metropolitan area of Seattle to the south and Vancouver B.C. to the north, makes the Skagit stand out as a special region in the United States. The artery of the county is the Skagit River, one of the principle rivers in the Western United States, draining more than 3,000 square miles.
The Skagit River boasts one of the largest endangered wild Chinook salmon runs in Puget Sound and is the only river in the state that supports all five species of native salmon. Standing above the river are the still-wild North Cascade Mountains. The upper elevations in the county are forested and glacier-clad designated wilderness, providing critical habitat wildlife. In the lowlands, where over 90% of the county’s population resides, extensive floodplains and farm fields create open space, agricultural wealth and offer world-class bird habitat. The Skagit has the highest number and variety of raptors in North America. Conifer forests, extensive eelgrass bays, rocky cliffs, islands and rich estuaries line the county’s coastal edge and form the entrance to the San Juan Islands.
Skagit Land Trust was founded in March 1992 by three visionary leaders and 31 Charter Members to help protect the natural lands, open space and wildlife habitat of Skagit County for the benefit of this and future generations. The Trust has grown steadily to become a respected organization with strong local support and is recognized as an innovative leader in conservation. The seven staff, 15 board members and nearly 100 active volunteers are joined by approximately 1,000 members to protect the most important and beloved land and landscapes in the county. The amount of land and habitat protected by the Trust has grown to over 6,400 acres including more than 29 miles of shoreline. The Trust is currently working on a dozen new projects under the guidance of a Conservation Strategy that helps protect the best, most at-risk lands first.
Visit Skagit Land Trust's website.