American Whitewater supports protection of rivers in the Skykomish drainage through Wild and Scenic designation. We have previously worked to support protection of the headwaters of the drainage through Wild Sky, wilderness legislation that was signed into law in May 2008. The Forest Service has recommended the Skykomish River and many of its tributaries for Wild and Scenic River designation (Mt. Baker Snoqulamie Forest Management Plan 1990, Appendix E). American Whitewater supports the designation of the Skykomish River and its two forks that include the South Fork and North Fork as well as its major tributaries of Deception Creek, Beckler River, Rapid River, Foss River, Miller River, Troublesome Creek, Tye River, and West Cady Creek under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

The Skykomish: A case study in why protection as a Wild and Scenic River matters, Seattle Times, September 28, 2008

For nearly a century the Skykomish has been identified for its hydropower potential. While the City of Everett constructed a water storage reservoir on the Sultan River that was enlarged for hydropower by Snohomish PUD, the rest of the river and the major tributaries remains free-flowing. Several proposals have been advanced for hydropower development at Sunset Falls and in the early 1980's dozens of sites were identified for hydropower development in the tributaries. Recent interest in hydropower development has focused on Youngs Creek (a new project constructed by Snohomish PUD in 2011), Sunset Falls, Martin Creek, and Barclay Creek. American Whitewater is actively engaged in efforts to keep the Skykomish and its major tributaries wild and free-flowing.

American Whitewater has partnered with the conservation community to highlight the value of more than a dozen parcels — totaling about 3,000 acres — owned by private timber companies that includes roadless, high-elevation old-growth forests and lands along the Miller, Beckler and Tye rivers as well as near Lake Serene, Mount Persis and Index Creek. American Whitewater seeks to bring parcels adjacent to the river, most threatened by development, into public ownership to protect the water quality and scenic vistas of the Skykomish River.

Push on to Stave Off Logging, Seattle Times, January 5, 2009

American Whitewater advocates for public access to the Skykomish River and its tributaries. While many of the tributaries flow through public Forest Service lands, access along the Skykomish and the lower reaches of the North Fork and South Fork has presented challenges. Washington State Parks conducted a Skykomish Scenic River Recreational Access Study in an effort to begin to resolve uncontrolled public access along the Skykomish River. Local citizens and other river interests directed the State Parks Scenic Rivers Program to study the problem of private property trespass and high concentrations of public use along the Skykomish Scenic River System. Access at Big Eddy is now maintained by Washington State Parks. Access at the Railroad Bridge and Split Rock is in private ownership but American Whitewater seeks to maintain positive relations with landowners. Outdoor Adventure Center owns access in Index and Trout Creek on the North Fork Skykomish that they have made available to the boating community as long as individuals sign in and fill out a liability waiver at the Riverhouse in Index.

American Whitewater's Goals

• Access at the traditional Sunset Falls put-in owned by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)
• A cooperative working relationship with WDFW to prevent future conflicts throughout the state.

THE PROBLEM

• Sunset Falls was used as an informal access point for whitewater paddlers for over 50 years. In August 2000, WDFW suddenly began enforcing year-round closure of the area to the public, including paddlers.

• The Sunset Falls property was not developed as a public access area. It is located on a small parcel of public land that WDFW manages as a limited entry site to authorized personnel for the trapping and hauling of fish. The facility is in operation from early August to early December with a peak activity in early October. In the past, those managing the facility allowed paddlers to walk down the road and put-in below the falls. WDFW formally closed the falls to the public in August 2000.

• WDFW now states that they must enforce the closure to protect employee safety as well as public safety. Department staff cited conflicts with paddler vehicles along the narrow access road (especially parking below the locked gate when it was left open) and near misses with paddlers and/or their vehicles with the loaded fish trucks traveling up the road, as reasons for the closure.

THE SOLUTION

• American Whitewater and representatives from local paddling clubs have participated in meetings with WDFW, State Parks, US Forest Service, property owners, and local land trusts. Discussions with some of these groups are ongoing and will continue.

• Options may include allowing paddlers to build a trail along the road so paddlers aren’t in the way of fish trucks, working out an agreement with the local paddling clubs where paddlers pay for, post and maintain signs and ensure paddlers don’t park below the gate, whether it’s locked or not, and instituting the closure only when the fish trap and haul facility is in operation, rather than year-round. Access on the south side of the river has also been explored.

Please contact us if you have additional ideas or would like to assist.