Regenerate the Skagit

The Skagit Valley watershed spans from the North Cascades to Puget Sound in northwestern Washington and is one of the most ecologically diverse and fertile landscapes in North America. The upper watershed features rugged alpine terrain with glaciated peaks, dense conifer forests, and wild rivers that feed the Skagit River and its tributaries. As the river descends, it widens into a broad, fertile floodplain known for rich alluvial soils that support extensive farms, wetlands, and estuaries.

The lower valley, near Mount Vernon and La Conner, opens into a tidal delta where freshwater meets the Salish Sea, creating vital salmon and bird habitat. This area hosts migratory snow geese, bald eagles, and a mosaic of sloughs, islands, and farmland reclaimed from tidal marshes.

The farmland of Skagit Valley is among the most fertile in North America, shaped by centuries of river sediment and glacial deposits that created deep, loamy soils ideal for agriculture. The valley's flat expanses and mild maritime climate allow farmers to produce an exceptional diversity of crops year-round, including tulips, seed crops, berries, and vegetables. Many fields have been stewarded by the same families for generations, maintaining traditional farming knowledge alongside innovative soil and water conservation practices.