The skagit river system cooperative will be awarded up to $4,215,772 to rebuild a county road and construct a 105 FT bridge to provide fish access to a restored 17-acre tidal marsh and .2 miles of…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded the Skagit River System Cooperative a cooperative agreement for up to $4,215,772 under the Habitat Conservation program (CFDA 11.463) to rebuild a county road and construct a 105-foot bridge providing fish access to a restored 17-acre tidal marsh and 0.2 miles of coastal stream in La Conner, Washington.

The road reconstruction and bridge construction will establish resilient infrastructure for one of only two access routes to Whidbey and West Fidalgo Islands, both of which have overtopped during past high tide and storm surge events. The newly accessible tidal marsh serves as essential fish habitat for pink, coho, and chinook salmon under the Puget Sound Salmon Management Plan. The project fills the remaining funding gap for this shovel-ready habitat and infrastructure resilience initiative.

The Skagit River System Cooperative, a tribal government and American Indian-owned organization providing natural resource management services for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe, is the recipient. The award obligates $4,215,772 with a period of performance from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2029. Work is performed in La Conner, Washington.

The skagit river system cooperative will be awarded up to $4,215,772 to rebuild a county road and construct a 105 FT bridge to provide fish access to a restored 17-acre tidal marsh and .2 miles of coastal stream. This request will fill the remaining funding GAP for this shovel ready habitat and infrastructure resilience project. The bridge and road reconstruction will create resilient infrastructure for one of only two access routes to whidbey and west fidalgo islands. Both access roads have overtopped in past high tide and storm surge events. The newly accessible tidal marsh is essential fish habitat for pink, coho, and chinook salmon, which are commercial and recreationally fished, based on the puget sound salmon management plan.