One of Skagit Land Trust’s most beloved Conservation Areas, Hurn Field, just got bigger with the addition of five acres of floodplain salmon habitat. If slow and steady wins the conservation race, then Hurn Field is lapping the field! This parcel is the 11th separate acquisition at Hurn over the past 25 years.

"If there’s a better example of how the Trust builds on conservation over time than Hurn Field, I don’t know what it might be," says Skagit Land Trust's Michael Kirshenbaum. "Starting with the original Hurn acquisition of 63 acres in 1999, the conservation area has now grown to 135 acres with this latest acquisition. Known as “Zillig Acres” for the incredible work Jane did year after year to acquire floodplain parcels in the Alterra plat to the east of Hurn, the Trust now has protected the vast majority of private parcels along that bend of the river."

Elk at Hurn Field

Beyond the elk habitat Hurn is known for, the pristine floodplain channels, wetlands, and forest at Hurn provide habitat for Chinook salmon and numerous other species of fish and wildlife. The five acres of this parcel features an intact riparian floodplain forest and is replete with channels that provide high-water connectivity to the Skagit.

Salmon carcass found at Hurn Field - Alterra

Many thanks to the Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB) for funding this acquisition, to Seattle City Light for providing a match for our SRFB grant, and to our staff, committees, and board members who worked so persistently to make this project happen.

Young duckling enjoying the tranquility of Hurn Field