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FINDINGS ..................................................................4 RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................5 PART II - THE STUDY CHAPTER 1 - INVENTORY .......................................................... -8 THE DRAINAGE BASIN .......................................................8 THE STUDY AREA .......................................................... · 10 CHAPTER2-EVALUATION OF RIVERS &ADJOINING LANDS CRITERIA USED ............................................................ 13 ANALYSIS ................................................................. 15 OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS ........................................... 20 CHAPTER 3 -CLASSIFICATION ALTERNATIVES, ANALYSIS & SELECTION OF STUDY PROPOSAL BASIS OF ANALYSIS ........................................................ 23 THE PRESENT SITUATION ................................................... 23 ARRAY OF ALTERNATIVES ....................................................26 ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES ................................................ 36 EVALUATION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION ..................................... 43 CHAPTER 4-JURISDICTION ........................................................ 45 CHAPTER 5 - RECREATION DEVELOPMENT, MAINTENANCE, ADMINISTRATION &ACQUISITION COST ESTIMATES RECREATION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ............................ 47 MAINTENANCE PROGRAM ........................................ 48 ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM ...................................... 48 ACQUISITION PROGRAM ..........................................48 APPENDIX A - LEGISLATION & GUIDELINES ......................................... 56 APPENDIX B - INVENTORY DATA .................................................. 12 APPENDIX C - VISUAL RESOURCE ................................................. 126 APPENDIX D - USE INTENSITY INVENTORY ........................................ 152 APPENDIX E - RIVER AREA BOUNDARY AND LAND OWNERSHIP .................... 164 BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................. 177 PART SUMMATION 2 INTRODUCTION A. THE WILD AND SCENIC sheds or shorelines essentially primi­ Copies of P.L. 90-542 and P.L. tive and waters unpolluted. These 93-279 are presented in Appendix A of RIVERS ACT represent vestiges of primitive Amer­ this report. ica. Congress enacted Public Law 90- 542 on October 2, 1968. This law, Scenic river areas - Those rivers or 8. AGENCY INTERPRETATION known as the Wild and Scenic Rivers sections of rivers that are free of impoundments, with shorelines or Act. es tab I ished a National Wild and In February 1970 the Department of watersheds still largely primitive and Scenic Rivers System; named eight Agriculture and Department of the shorelines largely undeveloped, but rivers as ''instant" components of the accessible in places by roads. Interior jointly signed a document National System; named the Skagit as entitled "GUIDELINES FOR EVALU­ one of 27 "study rivers" for potential Recreational river areas - Those ATING WILD, SCENIC AND RECREA­ addition to the National System; and rivers or sections of rivers that are TIONAL RIVER AREAS PROPOSED set up criteria for the addition of other readily accessible by road or railroad, FOR INCLUSION IN THE NATIONAL rivers to the Nat ion al System. that may have some development WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS SYSTEM along their shorelines, and that may UNDER SECTION 2, PUBLIC LAW The intent of Congress in establish­ 90-542." ing a national system of Wild and have undergone some impoundment or diversion in the past. Scenic Rivers is stated in Section 1 (b) These guidelines, a copy of which is of the Act: "The Congress declares Other provisions of the Act, as included in Appendix A, supplement that the established national policy of amended by Pub I ic Law 93-279, which the criteria listed in the Wild and dam and other construction at appro­ are pertinent to this proposal include: Scenic Rivers Act and Define mini­ priate sections of the rivers of the. mum criteria for the classification and United States needs to be comple­ Section 5(b) which stipulates that management of free-flowing river mented by a policy that would the study of potential additions to the areas proposed for inclusion in the preserve other selected rivers or National System (study rivers) may be National System. sections thereof in their free-flowing carried out as a joint study, in condition to protect the water quality cooperation with the state involved. of such rivers and to fulfill other vital C. STUDY RIVERS national conservation purposes." Section 6(b) which precludes con­ The Skagit River was one of 27 demnation for fee title acquisition The Act set up three different study rivers named in the Wild and once 50 percent of the entire acreage Scenic Rivers Act. The Act designated classifications for rivers and their is owned by public agencies, but that the Skagit and three of its major adjacent shorelines. Depending upon allows condemnation for the creation their degree of development, rivers tributaries should be studied for of scenic easements and public possible inclusion in the National may be classified as Wild, Scenic or access on 100% of the area. Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Recreational. Section 2(b) of the Act Rivers named include the Skagit, from describes the characteristics of the Section 7(b) which prohibits the the town of Mount Vernon upstream to three classifications. licensing of any water projects under Bacon Creek (67.3 miles); the Cas­ Wild river areas - Those rivers or the Federal Power Act, on any study cade, from its mouth upstream to the sections of rivers that are free of river, for a period of ten years plus the junction of its North and South Forks, impoundments and generally inac­ time necessary for Congressional and up the South Fork to the Glacier cessible except by trail, with water- review of any recommendations. Peak Wilderness (20.8 miles); the ~auK, rrom its mouth upsteam to 3 1 Eliott Creek, and up its North Fork from its mouth to the Glacier Peak Wilderness (50.8 miles); and the Suiattle, from its mouth upstream to the Glacier Peak Wilderness (27.4 miles), a total of 166.3 miles of rivers. t. ITa T.IT•. Map 11 shows these rivers . ..... _.!:,•-·-----~~-- .... + PARK T.HM. T.H .. ~ .... T.11 ti. + T.3011. T.IOll. It.ell. 11.91. T.na. MAPl STUDY RIVERS 4 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS D. STUDYAPPROACH 2. Eligibility - This element was A. FINDINGS concerned with determining the class­ The approach applied to the study ification eligibility of the study rivers, The study finds that th~ Skagit of the Skagit River and its tributaries under criteria established by the Wild River. along with its Cascade, Sauk was directed toward two major as­ and Scenic Rivers Act. This analysis and Suiattle tributaries and their pects of the Wild and Scenic Rivers will be found in Part II, Chapter 2. immediate environment possess out­ Act; (1) River classification , and (2) standingly remarkable fish, scenic administration and management. This 3. Alternatives - In this element the and wildlife values, and exhibit the involved a step by step process to potential economic, social and envi­ potential for the future development determine the degree to which the ronmental impacts of a series of of recreation sites of significant value study rivers were eligible for a Wild, classification alternatives were an­ to local, regional and national popula­ Scenic or Recreational Classification alyzed, and one of the alternatives was tions. These values are of such qua I ity under Section 2(b) of the Act. selected as the study proposal. This is and magnitude as to warrant their Administration and management re­ discussed in Part II, Chapter 3. protection tor the use and enjoyment sponded to Section 1 O(a) of the Act, of present and future generations. 4. Administration - In this portion which states that, "Each component of the study process, various admini­ of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers In addition, the rivers meet the strative options were examined, and System shall be administered in such criteria established by the Wild and an option was selected as the manner as to protect and enhance the Scenic Rivers Act and the Supple­ proposed method for administering values which caused it to be included mental criteria jointly agreed to by the rivers recommended under the study in said system without, insofar as is Department of Agriculture and Depart­ proposal. Part Chapter 4 presents consistent therewith, limiting other 11, ment of the Interior. The rivers are this analysis. uses that do not substantially inter­ free-flowing within the study area, and are suitable for water sports. fere with public use and enjoyment of 5. Implementation - Estimates for these values. In such administration the cost of public recreation develop­ The Skagit River is eligible for a primary emphasis