Cascade River South One provides important spawning and rearing habitat for salmonids including  Bull Trout and Chinook Salmon. 

This 4.5 acre parcel outside of Marblemount is located almost entirely in the floodway and contains over 800 feet of shoreline along the Cascade River. The Cascade River provides critical habitat for Spring and Summer Chinook, Bull Trout and Steelhead as well as coho, sockeye and pinks.  The shoreline here ranks highly in Skagit County’s Shoreline Master Program Study.  The acquisition and clean-up of this property is funded by the Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB) with a match supported by Seattle City Light and support from Skagit Watershed Council. 

With this 2015 acquisition, Skagit Land Trust now protects 47.3 acres and 2,500 feet of shoreline along the Cascade River. The Trust also stewards a nearby Nature Conservancy property, conserving a large stretch along this important river.

Ecology

This property contains a narrow band of high‐quality riparian forest along the  Cascade River, with a high diversity of native plants supporting a variety of wildlife. Key plant species found in the riparian forest include Red Alder, Western Red Cedar, Black Cottonwood, and Big Leaf Maple. 

 The River and riparian areas provide habitat for a number of key species, including salmonids, black bear, martens, coyote, raptors, and black-tailed deer. 

Stewardship

The primary stewardship activities for Cascade River South 1 are the removal of invasive species. Invasive species found on the property include Himalayan blackberry, scotch broom, foxglove, English holly, and reed canary grass. In 2015-2016, SRFB funding allowed Skagit Land Trust to remove debris and several man-made structures from the site. Volunteers then helped plant 700 native trees and shrubs where these structures once stood. 

Click here to view information about the land stewards for this and other Skagit Land Trust properties.

 Stewardship work on the property wouldn't be possible without the hard work of volunteers. Above are volunteers who helped with the planting in 2016. 

Access

This property is open to low-impact public use for community enjoyment, and may be accessed from the South Cascade Rd. Click here for a map.