January is a great month to head up Highway 20 to view the gathering of bald eagles on the Skagit River. You’ll also travel by many properties conserved by Skagit Land Trust. Barr Creek, Hurn Field, and Skagit River Kahn are perfect spots to stretch your legs and perhaps spot a few eagles. Thanks to your support, protection of the lands and waters of the upper Skagit continues to grow. One example is Diobsud Creek.
Since 2002, Skagit Land Trust has completed seven projects along Diobsud Creek, including two conservation areas owned by the Trust, three partner projects and two conservation easements, including one easement added in December. More than 100 acres are now protected in the Diobsud watershed and over a mile of the Skagit river itself.
The Trust’s newest land purchase in the Diobsud watershed was completed this summer with funds from the Salmon Recovery Funding Board, and adds 8.7 acres to the Diobsud Creek Conservation Area. The new addition expands Diobsud Creek Conservation Area to 32.43 acres. This property preserves not only the shoreline of the main channel of Diobsud Creek, but also side channels running through the property. | 
Side Channels on the new portion of the property. |
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Photo by: Steve Philbrick | |
The property is near a number of other protected lands owned by the U.S. Forest Service and Seattle City Light. By connecting these lands, we ensure a variety of wildlife habitat remains intact. Diobsud is home to Chinook, bull trout, winter steelhead, summer steelhead, sockeye, rainbow trout, pinks, chum, and cutthroat. The area is in the WDFW management buffer for the Northern Spotted Owl. Bald eagles are also frequently spotted along Diobsud Creek, so be sure to add this expanded conservation area to your eagle viewing list the next time you drive east on Highway 20.