2016 Skagit River Salmon Fest

SKAGIT RIVER SALMON FESTIVAL

SALMON FESTIVAL

Saturday, September 10 • 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Waterfront Park at Swinomish Casino & Lodge SkagitRiverFest.org A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SKAGIT VALLEY HERALD AND ANACORTES AMERICAN

SKAGIT RIVER SALMON FESTIVAL

Spawnsors King Spawnsors

Silver Spawnsors

Beer & Wine Garden

Sockeye Spawnsors

Steelhead Level

Humpy Level

Chum Level

City of Anacortes

Dairy Farmers of Washington

Hexcel

Walk-In Clinic at Island Hospital

Fidalgo Fly Fishers

Sierra Pacific Foundation

HDR

Skagit County

Washington State University Skagit County Extension Master Gardeners

Upper Skagit Indian Tribe

SALMON FESTIVAL

CONTENTS 3 Festival Hits Five Year Mark 4 Community Key to Prosperous Future 6 Shoreline Restoration 9 It Starts with Stormwater 12 Festival Map 13 Festival Event Schedule 14 Historic Agreement Protects Kukutali Preserve 16 Rain Barrels are Water-Wise Choice 19 2016 Festival Artist 20 Test Your Knowledge 21 Passport to Prizes!

22 Skagit Valley Herald Coloring Contest EDITOR: Kevin Tate Cover Art: Heading Home to the North Cascades

by Karen Bakke, 2016 Skagit River Salmon Festival featured artist.

Scan this QR code with your smartphone. Navigate to our goskagit.com full site to view this publication in page-flip format at the bottom of the page.

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2016 Festival Hits Five Year Celebration Mark

W

elcome to the Skagit River Salmon Festival! It’s hard for to believe that this is our

fifth year of celebrating the mighty Skagit River together.

We’ve grown from humble beginnings in 2012, when the Festival board wondered if anyone would even show up. Now we’re seeing crowds of over 6,000 people in attendance.

Kevin Tate

Board President Skagit River Salmon Festival

I believe we have another great event planned for you. The Waterfront Park at the Swinomish Casino & Lodge is a beautiful spot to spend the day celebrating the mighty Skagit River and return of the salmon! We are really excited about the performers we have lined up for you to enjoy.

For a lively family show, we have Caspar Babypants (aka Chris Ballew former lead singer for the alternative rock group The Presidents of the United States of America) playing fun tunes with silly rhymes that any parent will appreciate. Our main stage headliner is The Paperboys—a Canadian folk music band from Vancouver who play a blend of Celtic folk with bluegrass, Mexican, Eastern European, African, Zydeco, soul and country influences. In our evening music set, the Seattle group Silver Torches performs their brand of folk-tinged pop-rock.

The Festival has a terrific mix of new activities and entertainment you won’t want to miss, with something for every interest—young or old.

The Sardis Raptor Center will be presenting its Hunters of the Sky raptor show that provides an introduction to birds of prey. It’s a chance to see these magnificent birds up close and learn about their natural history, species identification, environmental issues and the roles raptors play in our watershed.

Our Kidz Zone, hosted by the Children’s Museum of Skagit County, is expanding with lots of energy-burning activities for the younger crowd to do. We have the Big Baller Inflatable Obstacle Course that features four huge red inflatable balls surrounded by a blue ball pit resembling a moat filled with water. Try to navigate across without falling in!

Be sure to take part in the Festival’s “Passport” activity with a chance to win a great prize. Learn about our amazing Skagit River watershed and ways you can help protect its resources with 30 environmental agencies and nature groups onsite. Answer a question at a booth and have your Passport stamped. Once your book is filled, turn it in to become eligible for a host of fun prizes.

On behalf of the board of directors, our Festival planning team, sponsors, vendors and volunteers, we thank you for your support and participation in the fifth annual Skagit River Salmon Festival. Enjoy the day!

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Community Resilience Key to Prosperous Future, Sustainable Salmon Photo by Drew Fleshman

By Richard Brocksmith, Executive Director, Skagit Watershed Council

T

he Skagit River Salmon Festival is a celebration of salmon as a magnificent, sustainable, natural resource right here in our backyard!

The Skagit River is the stronghold for salmon and steelhead in Puget Sound, and honestly, our region’s best chance to save salmon from being diminished, and

arguably our community at the same less than our very own prosperity and cultural legacy; and what our time. children and grandchildren will Usually a short article like this conclude about us in the future. would relay our Skagit salmon story, what they need to survive, how much of that was lost before we knew any better, and what one can do to help. And of course all of that information is available at the Festival each year or local websites.

Photo by Drew Fleshman

But this article is about something else. It’s about us, Skagit’s communities, and what we want and need from the ever-changing world around us.

It’s about nothing

Proud SPonSor

HDR EnginEERing ing

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This place called the Magic Skagit has provided us with so much. Its natural abundance creates jobs in forestry, agriculture, fishing, and shellfish culture. We have shelter provided by timber harvested right here in the Northwest. We sustain our bodies with bumper crops of potatoes, blueberries and broccoli.

We nourish our souls with pastoral and mountain views and strengthen our muscles by hiking and biking from alpine areas to mudflats. And we are able to share it all with our friends and neighbors because living in the Skagit Valley allows each of us the opportunity to breathe in the spirituality that surrounds us here every day.

Our spirit, natural capital, cultural heritage, quality of life and economic stability all add up to something that must be cherished and preserved before it’s lost like so many other places; these things define our community’s resilience.

How do we do that, you ask? Just keep it the way it is now and fix a handful of legacy problems. Protect our forests. Protect and restore our

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estuary and floodplains. Protect our farmlands. Protect our parks and open spaces.

The same challenges that face us as a community will pressure our farms, fish and forests as well, so we must unite around common solutions to the benefit of all. Poorly planned growth from thousands of folks moving in could swallow up our farmlands. Climate change from unmitigated greenhouse gases will melt our glaciers away, taking with them water for drinking, farming and sustaining our fish. Less snow means more rain and bigger floods, threatening our economy and personal safety, not to mention the salmon spawning and rearing in our waterways.

It’s time to realize that we have more in common than we think. It’s time to realize that we must work together on common-sense approaches to keep the Skagit and our communities resilient. It’s time to realize our community and the fish that depend on us won’t thrive without our help. Without a common vision, what will we leave our children?

The Fidalgo Fly Fishers enjoy and promote the sport of fly fishing with • Monthly meetings • Volunteer work in education and conservation

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• Fly Fishing Activities

Learn more at fidalgoflyfishers.com goskagit.com

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Shoreline Restoration Benefits Salmon and Much More!

By Alison Studley, Executive Director, Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group

D

eception Pass State Park is the crown jewel of our Washington State Park system with over 4,100 acres of habitat conserved for visitors from around the Northwest to enjoy. The park offers breathtaking views, old-growth forests, abundant wildlife, 174 varieties of birds and spectacular views of shorelines, mountains, islands and sunsets. The park attracts recreationalists of all kinds with 38 miles of trails, kayaking, boating, fishing, crabbing, diving and much more to do right in the park.

Recently the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group has been working with the Northwest Straits Foundation, Deception Pass State Park and local Marine Resources Committees to restore valuable habitat along the shoreline areas of Bowman and Cornet Bays within this spectacular park. These habitat restoration efforts are being undertaken for the benefit of fish and wildlife species that depend on these dynamic areas.

However, it is truly our community as a whole that benefits from these projects. As the shoreline areas

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are restored to their more natural state, our human communities benefit from the increase in recreational opportunities available to visitors and residents. As native trees and shrubs are planted, we see an increase in bird activity that benefits our bird watching community. As the bulkheads are removed and replaced with natural shoreline sand and gravel, spawning habitat is created for small fish that salmon eat providing more fishing opportunities for anglers. As native sea grasses and kelp become more abundant, a larger nursery is created for young Dungeness crab for crabbers to enjoy. While more natural aquatic areas are creating better diving, kayaking, and boating for all of us to enjoy.

Restoring shoreline areas has not always been recognized as a top priority for increasing salmon.

Scientists and ecologists are only recently gaining a much greater understanding how nearshore, shoreline and intertidal habitats

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are essential to the health of Puget Sound salmon populations.

Scientists are documenting that in addition to providing valuable refuge for migrating juvenile salmon, these habitats also provide important spawning habitat for small fish that adult salmon eat—

such as surf smelt, sand lance and Pacific herring. In order to recover salmon populations, we need to make sure there is a healthy chain of habitats that are linked together.

Shoreline areas are a vital link in this chain of habitats to ensure more adult salmon return to Puget

Sound and our rivers every year.

At Cornet Bay on Whidbey Island, 1,600 feet of shoreline was improved through the removal of creosoted bulkheads and fill. The beach was regraded to match the natural contour of this protected shallow bay, which provides

The Skagit River’s abundant salmon and trout resources are integral to our cultural heritage and economy. The 37 member organizations of the Watershed Council and hundreds of volunteers are working everyday to ensure our grandchildren enjoy and benefit from them as we have. You can help too!

For more information about salmon, the work of our members, and ways to get involved, please contact us or visit our website.

Photo credit: Natalie Fobes 1493074

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council@skagitwatershed.org Skagit River Salmon Festival 2016

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n ine restoratio before shorel y Ba t ne ro Co

Coronet Bay after shorelin e restoration

This beach was also regraded to valuable resting habitat for migrating salmon fry from the high- match the natural contour of the energy currents of Deception Pass. bay. Additional sand and gravel were added to restore natural At Bowman Bay on Fidalgo processes and provide important Island, 540 feet of shoreline was habitat for forage fish, juvenile improved by removing large rock that armored the shoreline creating salmon and many other intertidal organisms. an unnatural barrier between the tide waters and the upland areas.

Once the shoreline armor was

removed and the construction equipment was gone, the partners recruited hundreds of community volunteers to plant thousands of native plants along the restored shoreline. Volunteers continue to care for these plants as they mature and create beautiful shoreline for all to enjoy.

Chinook Salmon

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(Oncorynchus tshawytscha) Â Chinook, also known as king salmon or blackmouth, are silver in color with dark spots, which generally cover all of the head, back, dorsal fin and adipose fin as well as all of the squared tail.

During spawning, the body color changes to olive-brown, darker in males. Teeth are set in black gums inside a gray or black mouth. Chinook are generally the largest of the Pacific salmon and any salmon over 30 pounds is likely a chinook.

Spawn Aug-Oct

8 Skagit River Salmon Festival 2016

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It all starts with

stormwater

By Jane Billinghurst, Washington State University/Skagit County Master Gardener

12,000 Rain Gardens

Pollutants degrade water quality, sediment clogs the gills of fish and Much of the pollution entering excess fertilizer flushed from lawns Puget Sound is non-point source pollution, that is to say, pollution in and gardens fuels the growth of stormwater run-off from places such algae. Algal blooms raise water temperatures and rob water of as home gardens and city streets. oxygen, both detrimental to aquatic To address this, in 2011, WSU Extension and Stewardship Partners life. announced the goal of 12,000 rain Rain gardens slow down and gardens around Puget Sound by clean up stormwater 2016 to clean up an estimated A rain garden is a plant-filled 160 million gallons of polluted depression that slows stormwater stormwater run-off per year. long enough to remove pollutants, It all starts with stormwater reduce flooding and erosion, and Stormwater is rain and snow recharge local aquifers—all while melt that runs off impervious providing a burst of green buzzing surfaces such as roofs, pavement with birds and beneficial insects and compacted grassy areas. Fast in even the most depressingly gray moving, it erodes slopes, scours urban or suburban spaces. streambeds and contributes to flooding. When it disappears down Rain gardens stand in for storm drains, it is lost to local ecosystems lost to urban groundwater systems. sprawl On its journey, stormwater Rain gardens replace vegetation often picks up pollutants such stripped away in the course of as oil, fertilizers, pesticides, fine development. Plants of varying soil particles and animal waste. goskagit.com

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heights slow down the rain as it falls; plants with roots of varying depths open spaces in the soil so water can be absorbed.

Mulch and leafy debris on the soil surface soften the impact of rain drops and cool soil to provide a healthy habitat for microbes, which work with plants to break down pollutants. Loose, uncompacted soil slowly releases treated stormwater into the local groundwater system.

Rain gardens work best on gentle slopes with welldraining soil

Rain gardens should be sited to receive and then release water— either into the ground or via an overflow.

A slope of at least 2 percent funnels rain water into the garden from an impervious surface, and an overflow lower than the inflow allows for a controlled flow of water out of the garden in heavy storm events. Permeable soil in the garden Skagit River Salmon Festival 2016

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Proud SPawnsor of the Skagit River Salmon Festival Oct. 8 Spawner Survey workshop Oct. 15, nov. 5 Salmon Viewing Events Oct. 29, nov. 12, nov. 19 Planting Parties Learn more at www.skagitfisheries.org 360-336-0172

Help Save Salmon, Become a Volunteer

, 6:30 pm

Tickets available at: Lincolntheatre.org

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at the

ensures the garden drains within 48 hours of a storm event.

Rain gardens should not be placed on steep slopes or near bluffs, over shallow utility lines or septic fields, or within 10 feet of building foundations—all places where saturated soils might cause a problem. Rain gardens should also not be placed at the bottoms of slopes or where water accumulates because of poor drainage.

If you have a potential site for a rain garden, winter is a great time to dig a hole to test how well the site drains. The Rain Garden Handbook for Western Washington Homeowners, listed in the sidebar, gives specific steps on how to do this.

Rain garden plants

Native plants are good choices for rain gardens, but many other

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plants work as well—providing beauty for the garden owner as well as habitat and food for wildlife.

Plants are chosen for drought tolerance during our dry summers and for their ability to survive saturation in the lower parts of the rain garden over the winter.

The Rain Garden Handbook lists plants suitable for the different zones of a rain garden in the Pacific Northwest.

In this self-sustaining system, the gardener stays out of the garden as much as possible so as to not compact the soil—a bonus for both the gardener and the wildlife above and below the soil, which prefers to enjoy the garden undisturbed.

Rain gardens in Skagit County

WSU Skagit County Extension Master Gardeners provide maintenance advice at the David Brookings Rain Garden outside the County Commissioners building Rain gardens are good for at 1800 Continental Place, Mount wildlife and lazy gardeners Vernon.

Once established, rain gardens Master Gardeners are also need little care other than replenishing mulch in fall, weeding helping compile a database of rain gardens. Home owners in Skagit in spring, and light pruning as required. Nutrients are released as County can register their rain mulch and plant debris decomposes, gardens at map.12000raingardens. and mulch and dense plantings keep org/place/new. weeds at bay.

Where to Find More Information To learn more about rain garden installation and plants, consult the Rain Garden Handbook for Western Washington Homeowners and watch the video at www.12000raingardens.org.

To find out about rain garden tours and workshops, follow 12,000 Rain Gardens and WSU Skagit County Master Gardeners on Facebook, or check the calendar on the WSU Skagit County Extension Master Gardener website at extension.wsu.edu/ skagit/mg/upcoming-events/.

To have a Master Gardener come out to your community or garden club to talk about rain gardens, call the WSU Extension office at (360) 428-4270.

To ask specific questions about rain gardens, drop by our Master Gardener plant clinics in Anacortes and Burlington from April to October. See our website extension.wsu.edu/skagit/MG/ for hours and locations.

fresh catch

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Skagit River Salmon Festival 2016

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Festival Map

STAGE

BEER & WINE GARDEN

FO

OD

TABLES & SEATING

FOOD

VE

ND

OR

S

VENDORS TS AR SV

FT RA

&C RS

DO

EN

FLY FISHING

ENTRANCE

TION ERVA

INFO BIG BALLER

S CON

N ATIO SERV

KIDZ ZONE

FIRST AID Y

ALLE

INFO

RESTROOMS

CON

TRA

EN

FACE PAINTERS

OW

E

NC

R SH

TO RAP

Vendor Booths

Y

ALLE

ORGANIZATION Booths

Food Vendors:

Arts/Crafts Commercial:

Big Scoop Java Jo’s Ma & Pa Kettle Corn Random Acts of Food Simply Asia Swinomish Casino & Lodge Vagabond

Weasel Glass Jellyfish Creations Simply Silver Danger Island Studios Fairy Dust Creations The Bakke Gallery Ada Jewelry Art Gutter Helmet Soroptimist International of Fidalgo Island

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Children’s Museum of Skagit County Fidalgo Fly Fishers Illuminated Wildlife Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest National Wildlife Federation North Cascades Institute North Cascades National Park Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Padilla Bay Reserve Pew Charitable Trusts Puget Sound Energy RE Sources for Sustainable Communities Salmon Defense Shannon Point Marine Center Skagit Conservation District Skagit Conservation Education Alliance Skagit County Master Composter/ Recyclers

Skagit County Public Works Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group Skagit Land Trust Skagit Marine Resources Committee Skagit Public Utility District Skagit Publishing Skagit River Bald Eagle Awareness Team Skagit River System Cooperative Skagit Valley College Dept. of Environmental Conservation Skagit Watershed Council Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Washington Dept. of Natural Resources Washington State University Extension Master Gardeners/Shore Stewards Western Wildlife Outreach Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

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On Stage at the Skagit River Salmon Festival 10:15 a.m. - Main stage Peter Ali is a Native flutist who

erboys The Pap

creates his music not from notes, but from spirit within so each performance is unique and special. He plays a variety of Native flutes and shares their stories as well as stories of his rich ethnic heritage.

Listen to the sounds of eagle, running river, nature and spirit in the flute’s song.

Peter Ali

11:00 a.m. - acoustic stage Enjoy fun family tunes with Caspar Babypants (a.k.a. Chris Ballew from The Presidents of the United States of America). Caspar makes music for the very small and their parents that is simple fantastical stories and sing along songs.

12:30, 2:30, 4:30 Sardis Raptor Center The Sardis Raptor Center

has toured her country from coast to coast, filling rooms with songs and stories. Lydia’s time spent living in Ireland flavors her performances with a storyteller’s honesty and Lydia Hol charm, and her studies in English Literature have helped to shape her songwriting into an insightful, and mature art. She is one of Canada’s most dynamic young folk artists.

Chris Eger

Silver Torch es

Sardis Raptor Center

presents the Hunters of the Sky raptor show with an introduction to birds of prey. It’s a chance to see the big birds up close and learn about their natural history, species identification, environmental issues and the roles raptors play in our watershed.

1:40 p.m. - acoustic stage The Native Sibling really are siblings–brother and sister duo Ryan and Kaylee Williams. Their indie roots music has it all: gorgeous, honey-drenched vocals, beautiful songs, lush harmonies, stripped back acoustic guitar work, and the kind of salt-air, windswept treeline atmosphere you only get from growing up in Santa Cruz, California. goskagit.com

Highlighting our music stage will be The Paperboys playing a mix of extremely danceable and entertaining tunes. Mexican Son Jarocho mixed in with Irish jigs and reels and a good dose of Country and Bluegrass. Their music has healthy servings of Ska, Soca and African Highlife, and they’ve been known to throw in a little White Boy Reggae.

4:10 p.m. - acoustic stage Canadian artist Lydia Hol

Caspar B abypants

Noon - main stage The Chris Eger Band & Powerhouse Horns.

Very few musicians are said to be extraordinary examples of excellence in any one genre of music. Even fewer can be called exceptional across multiple. When considering Chris Eger fits into the latter category as both a guitarist AND vocalist, it is no doubt an especially rare gift. From Rock and Blues, to Country, Funk and Soul, The Chris Eger Band is: REAL. AMERICAN. MUSIC.

2:30 p.m. - main stage

Native Sibling

5:00 p.m. - main stage Silver Torches is the solo project of Seattle-based songwriter, Erik Walters. His music is an impeccably crafted set of folk-tinged pop-rock tunes. Walters’ recent album, Heatherfield, features a warm, oftenmelancholy sound combining acoustic and electric guitars, and a variety of keyboards with Walters’ raspy vocals, heartfelt lyrics and wistful melodies.

EVENT NOTES

- Festival is free to the public. Free parking.

- Over 30 conservation booths with educational activities.

- Native American storyteller and crafts in the Kidz Zone.

- Be sure to pick up your passport at any booth in Conservation Alley and bring your completed passport page to the Information Booth for a chance to win prizes.

- The Children’s Museum of Skagit County is hosting the Kidz Zone with lots of fun and games.

- Festival T-shirts, hats and commemorative posters are available for purchase at the Information Booth.

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Historic Agreement Protects Kukutali for Future Generations

By Lindsay Thomason Logan and Todd Mitchell, Swinomish Department of Environmental Protection.

K

ukutali Preserve is located within the Swinomish Reservation, and encompasses 84 upland acres on Kiket Island and Flagstaff Point, plus nine acres on Fidalgo Island. The Preserve has over two miles of nearly intact shoreline and is adjacent to approximately 38 acres of Tribally owned tidelands. These tidelands served as an important shellfish gathering and beach seining resource for the Swinomish people since time immemorial.

This property was privately owned throughout most of the twentieth century.

Its landowners strongly discouraged tribal use of the beaches, despite continued tribal tideland ownership and treaty-reserved fishing rights. However, the Preserve has remained relatively undeveloped and has seen minimal use since the 1980s.

On May 17, 2010, a historic agreement was signed between the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community (SITC) and Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, to jointly acquire with many grant awards and tribal funds the Kiket Island property.

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The agreement calls for the two parties to work in partnership to develop, operate, and maintain the islands and associated tidelands as a unit of Deception Pass State Park—the first tribal and state co-owned and co-managed park in the nation. This restored to the SITC a significant parcel of land that was reserved for them under the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott, and giving Washington State Parks some pristine acreage to add to the state public park system. This agreement was reached with the stipulation that the lands remain available for “limited public access consistent with protection of the resources and ecology of Kiket Island� and is managed by a six member Kukutali Management Board. More importantly, it closes the circle so that the Swinomish people, who now have access to traditional lands and tidelands lost for generations, can once again guide the stewardship and protection of Kukutali for future generations.

During 2013, SITC conducted extensive scientific baseline surveys to help inform Skagit Publishing LLC

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a conservation management plan and restoration opportunities. The Kiket Island shoreline is in the direct path for juvenile salmonids outmigrating from the Skagit River with Kiket Lagoon an important refuge area.

Fish usage research determined the Lagoon serves as Chinook rearing habitat and certain beaches serve as forage fish spawning sites.

Geomorphic surveys were conducted of the entire Preserve shoreline to identify the sediment transport processes, which can considerably affect the type of nearshore habitat available for shellfish, salmonids and forage fish and to recommend restoration options. Biological surveys determined the north side of Kiket Island had high shellfish and algal diversity, while Flagstaff Point contained rare and fragile plant communities.

These areas are now reserved for scientific research and monitoring and closed to the public. Conservation and restoration recommendations included continued monitoring, protection of beach substrate and riparian zones, removal or limiting development of bulkheads and removal of fish passage impediments. The largest goskagit.com

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impediment is the road causeway connecting Kiket Island to the mainland. In the mid1900s, the 200-foot tombolo (a natural beach formation) was armored and filled to create an access road, which altered sediment transport on both sides of the island and cut off fish passage. Proposals are in the works to remove all existing riprap and restore the tombolo to its historic configuration making the island only accessible by foot and considerably improving sediment transport, habitat function and fish passage.

The Kuktali Management Board is continuing to work on developing additional trails, a picnic shelter, permanent restrooms and interpretive signage in the Preserve.

SITC is working on community projects to introduce Tribal members and youth to the Preserve to help regain their sense of place.

Visitors can park in the small parking lot on a first-come, first-served basis as long as they have or buy onsite a Washington State Park Discover Pass. Tribal members may receive a free Discover pass from the SITC Fisheries Office.

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Rain Barrels are Water-Wise Choice

D

id you know that a family of four can use 400 gallons of water per day and about 30 percent of that is devoted to outdoor uses?

It’s true. More than half of that outdoor water is used for watering lawns and gardens. Nationwide, landscape irrigation is estimated

Upper Skagit Indian Tribe

What is a rain barrel?

is a Proud Sponsor of the 5th Annual

Skagit River Salmon Festival 16 Skagit River Salmon Festival 2016

to account for almost one-third of all residential water use, totaling more than seven billion gallons per day. Other residential outdoor uses include washing automobiles, maintaining swimming pools, and cleaning sidewalks and driveways.

Although it may seem as if it rains all year, in fact, approximately two-thirds of the Pacific Northwest’s precipitation occurs during half of the year (October-March).

Precipitation declines from late spring to early fall, generally keeping the Northwest fairly dry.

Because we get very little rain during the summer, it’s a good time to consider how we use water.

A rain barrel is a container that collects and stores rainwater from downspouts and rooftops for future use watering lawns and gardens.

Generally a rain barrel is made using a 55-gallon drum, a vinyl garden hose, couplings, a screen grate to remove debris and keep insects out,

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and other materials found at most hardware stores.

Rain barrels can be constructed in a number of ways, but they all serve the same purpose—to collect rainwater and decrease the amount of stormwater runoff that leaves your property. Using rain barrels is one way to decrease your household’s impact on local waterways and to become a good steward of the local watershed.

Why use a rain barrel?

Collecting rainwater is an easy way to conserve water—and save money on your water bill. A rain barrel collects water and stores it for those times that you need it most—during the dry summer months. During the summer, when water consumption often doubles, using collected rainwater can reduce the strain on the water supply and keep more water available for fish and wildlife. Rainwater is also naturally “soft” and free of minerals and chemicals, making it ideal for plants and lawns.

The average rainfall of one inch within a 24-hour period can produce more than 700 gallons of water that runs off the roof of a typical house.

Much of this water runs from gutters onto surfaces that do not allow water to soak into the ground. These are called impervious surfaces and include concrete, asphalt and

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compacted soil. Even commonly used sod has a very low infiltration rate and can be a major cause of increased runoff.

As it flows, runoff collects and transports soil, pet waste, salt, pesticides, fertilizer, oil and grease, litter and other pollutants. This water drains directly into nearby creeks, streams and rivers, without receiving treatment at sewage plants.

Polluted storm water contaminates local waterways. It can harm plants, fish and wildlife, while degrading the quality of water.

Rain barrels & rain gardens work together

A wonderful way to complement a rain barrel and increase your property’s ability to absorb runoff is through a rain garden.

Rain gardens can be a fun and

Coho Salmon

(Oncorynchus kisutch)

Coho or silver salmon are generally silver in color with dark spots confined to the back and upper lobe of the tail fin.

During spawning, the lower body color changes to red, especially in males. As in all spawning, male Pacific salmon, the upper jaw develops a distinct hook. Tails are noticeably forked when the fish are younger but may develop to nearly square at maturity. Teeth are set in whitish gums in a gray or black mouth.

easy way to learn about beautiful native plants and also help to improve water quality and reduce flooding.

Rain gardens typically absorb 30 percent more water than the same size area of lawn, they are drought resistant, and are less prone to destructive insects and diseases.

Rain gardens create a preferred habitat for birds, butterflies and dragonflies. These specialty gardens are versatile—they can be any size or shape, but to maximize their benefit, they should be built in an existing low spot or near the drainage area of a rain barrel.

Rain barrels can be purchased locally from Skagit Public Utility District, which sells a ready to install 55-gallon rain barrel for only $60. Call (360) 424-7104 for more information.

Pink Salmon

(Oncorynchus gorbuscha)

The pink or humpy salmon is the smallest of the Pacific salmon due to a two-year life cycle. The body is dark blue-black with silver sides and heavy oval spots on tail and upper body, with very small scales.

During spawning, the body of males develops a distinct dorsal hump; the color changes to pale red mixed with olive-brown blotches.

Sockeye Salmon

(Oncorynchus nerka)

The sockeye or kokanee (when landlocked) has a greenish-blue back and dorsal fin with silver sides, and a few tiny specks on the back.

During spawning the overall body color changes to bright red, especially in males, and the head is a greenish olive.

Spawn Aug-Nov

Spawn Sept-Oct

Spawn Oct-Jan

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2016 Festival Featured Artist About the Artist Karen Bakke’s local art history has mainly focused on freelance graphic design and visual effects. Bakke has also worked on an array of artistic sideline ventures, one of the “biggest” being theatrical backdrops. Since 2015, Bakke says she has committed 110 percent in pursuit of her final career—fine art. She is enthralled to discover and unveil the once mysterious world of oil painting and has taken it one step further—to paint en plein air, a French expression that means “in the open air,” along with her studio artwork. Bakke belongs to the Salish Sea Plein Air Painters and is a board member of the Plein Air Washington Artists (PAWA). You may find more work and contact information at thebakkegallery.com or facebook.com/thebakkegallery.

The featured artwork, Heading Home to the North Cascades, depicts a sockeye salmon returning to spawn up the Skagit River. Created in acrylic, the style is reminiscent of the old Works Progress Administration national park posters from the 1930s. Be sure to stop by her Festival booth, where Bakke will be signing copies of the official Festival posters that are for sale.

Proudly fueling life in the Pacific Northwest

T

he Shell Puget Sound Refinery is more than an oil refinery, it’s a place where generations of area residents have found jobs, built careers, supported families, and supported our community. Our 700 employees and contractors work in a safe and environmentally responsible way to deliver the fuel that powers community and economic life in the Pacific Northwest. Our team works hard each day to honor the trust the community places in us. We are proud to be part of this community, and we all feel that it is a privilege to live, recreate and operate in such a special place.

Puget Sound Refinery

www.shell.us/pugetsoundrefinery twitter.com/Shell_Anacortes facebook.com/pugetsoundrefinery

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Test Your Knowledge 1. The Skagit River supports the largest wintering population of what bird in the continental United States?

A. Trumpter Swans B. Snow Geese C. Seagulls D. Bald Eagles

Chum and Sockeye (Kokanee, Red). The Skagit is the only large river system in Washington that contains healthy populations of all five native salmon species and two species of trout— steelhead and cutthroat.

4. The Skagit River basin has supported human populations for how long?

D. Bald eagles feed on chum and coho salmon that have returned to the Skagit and its tributaries to spawn. The eagles arrive in late October or early November and stay into February.

2. How much water flows through the Skagit River every day?

A. 10 million gallons B. 10 billion gallons C. 1 billion gallons D. A lot.

B. 10 billion gallons of water is drained every day from over 2,900 streams in the Skagit River watershed. Enough to fill 500,000 swimming pools.

3. Can you name the five salmon species found in the Skagit River?

Chinook (King), Coho (Silver), Pink (Humpie),

A. 400 years B. 2,000 years C. 11,000 years D. A long time C. People have lived in present-day Skagit County and its environs for over 11,000 years. Today, there are over 118,000 people living in the county including the Indian tribal communities of the Swinomish, Upper Skagit, Sauk-Suiattle and Samish.

5. Can you name the hydroelectric dams located on the Skagit River?

The Diablo, Ross and Gorge hydroelectric dams, which are built above a natural barrier to salmon, supply about 25 percent of the city of Seattle’s power demands. Puget Sound Energy’s Upper Baker and Lower Baker Dams are located on a tributary of the Skagit River. The dams’ reservoirs, Baker Lake and Lake Shannon, are

fed by runoff from the flanks of Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan.

6. How many different kinds of wildlife species live in the Skagit River watershed?

A. 50 B. 102 C. 276 D. 400 C. Not including humans, the Skagit watershed is the home to approximately 276 wildlife species—25 fish, 17 amphibians, 10 reptiles, 73 mammals & 174 birds.

7. True or False: The Skagit River is the longest river on the west coast of the United States?

A. True B. False B False. The Skagit River is more than 160 miles long and the third largest river on the West Coast after the Columbia and Sacramento rivers. It provides about 30 percent of the fresh water flowing into Puget Sound and it’s a main source of our drinking water for Skagit County residents. It’s also home to about 30 percent of all salmon entering Puget Sound.

is a proud SPAWNsor of the

Skagit River Salmon Festival

1215 Anderson Road, Mount Vernon, WA 98274 • 360.424.3251 • goskagit.com 20 Skagit River Salmon Festival 2016

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Passport to Prizes!

Y

ou could be the next winner! Enter to win fantastic raffle prizes at the Skagit River Salmon Festival by visiting nine participating conservation booths, getting your Passport stamped, and completing a Passport to Prizes entry card before turning it in. Passports can be found on-site at the Information Booth and at participating conservation booths. Passport to Prizes raffle drawings will be held throughout the day in the Main Stage area.

Passport to Prizes Raffle Drawing Times 11:45 a.m.

1:30 p.m.

2:25 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

SALMON FES

TIVAL

PASSPORT to PRIZES

Visit at least nine booths to earn When you have a at least nine stam passport stamp. return the back ps, fill out and page of this Passp Information Boot ort booklet to h for a chance the prize. One entry to win a grea t raffle per person.

RAFFLE PRIZES DONATED BY CONSERVATION GROUPS: Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group Wild & Scenic Film Festival tickets

Salmon Defense Salmon Defense Billy Frank, Jr classic jacket

Skagit County Master Composter/Recyclers Home sized composting bucket and composting bucket liners

Skagit Conservation District Two reusable grocery bags

National Wildlife Federation Ranger Rick backpack filled with kid goodies

Skagit Land Trust Youth size short sleeve t-shirt and a copy of Natural Skagit book

North Cascades Institute The North Cascades: Finding Beauty and Renewal in the Wild Nearby book which showcases the places and the people who have shaped the region and landscape.

Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission NWIFC visor, reusable grocery bag, windbreaker and sweatshirt Padilla Bay Reserve Padilla Bay eelgrass tote bag Puget Sound Energy PSE bag with first aid kit

Skagit County Public Works One-gallon potted cedar tree

Skagit River Bald Eagle Awareness Team Backpack with Skagit River Bald Eagle Interpretive Center long sleeve t-shirt, book and finger puppet Skagit Watershed Council Reusable shopping bag, t-shirt, hat, poster and canned salmon WA Dept of Natural Resources Handmade metal bird sculpture of a willow ptarmigan Western Wildlife Outreach Mother Bear with salmon t-shirt by local Duwamish artist Tom Speer

PRoud SuPPoRteRS oF the 2016

Skagit RiveR

Salmon FeStival

Community Partners Since 1955 goskagit.com

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Mount Vernon, WA 98274) via mail or in person prior to Friday, September 9, 5pm. Winning entries will be printed in the Skagit Valley Herald. Must be 14 years or younger to enter.

Submit your entry at the Skagit Publishing booth at the Skagit River Salmon Festival (Saturday, September 10, 10am to 6pm) or to Skagit Publishing, (1215 Anderson Rd., P.O. Box 578,

Phone or Email:__________________________________________________________

Age:__________

Name:_________________________________________________________________

Chum Salmon

Skagit Valley Herald Coloring Contest

Working together

to conserve the resources of our mighty

SKAGIT

Your local POWER & WATER Utilities Proud spawnsors of the Skagit River Salmon Festival

W

e are honored to be a leading partner who is committed to restoring and protecting the salmon. Just as

our Children do, the salmon need just a few important elements to survive: an abundance of clean water and a healthy home and habitat. Swinomish People have lived in the Skagit for over 10,000 years, and it has been our sacred responsibility to ensure that our ancestral lands, waters and resources are sustained, so that our children’s children will have an opportunity to live the life we know and love in the Skagit.

The Northwest has a wonderful golden star in the Lower 48, and we need to work together to restore and protect our salmon.

Fact:

the Skagit is the only river in the lower 48 that spawns all five species of wild salmon.

Photo courtesy of Swinomish tribe

We must stand together and shout to the World our message, “Salmon is important to the people who call Skagit their home and it is an element that sustains a way of life for many people. Not to have that salmon would be tragic.�

Photo by: John Scurlock courtesy of Swinomish tribe

May the Creator bless you all for your kindness and consideration.

For more information contact: www.swinomish-nsn.gov Chairman Brian Cladoosby, bcladoosby@swinomish.nsn.us (360) 708-7533 Debra Lekanof, Government Affairs, dlekanof@swinomish.nsn.us (360) 391-5296

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~ chairman Brian cladoosby