Skagit Headquarters Wildlife Area Unit closed Aug. 5-7 for noxious weed treatments

MILL CREEK – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is temporarily closing the Skagit Headquarters Unit on the Skagit Wildlife Area from Aug. 5 to 7 to conduct noxious weed treatments.

WDFW staff will use the herbicide imazapyr to control non-native cattails and purple loosestrife. Herbicide treatments will be applied in areas along the dike and within the marsh during low tide to improve native vegetation communities. Due to the extent of treatment and level of disturbance, WDFW needs to close the unit to ensure public safety.

The Skagit Wildlife Area contains approximately 13,000 acres of wildlife habitat composed primarily of intertidal estuary, managed agricultural lands, and native habitats. The area is divided into 16 separate management units, the majority of which are scattered throughout the west half of Skagit County, with some in Island, Snohomish, and San Juan counties.

WDFW actively manages approximately 1 million acres of land and over 500 water access areas across the state to preserve natural and cultural heritage, provide access for hunting, fishing, and wildlife-related recreation, and to foster experiences and exploration for thousands of Washingtonians and visitors each year.

WDFW is the state agency tasked with preserving, protecting and perpetuating fish, wildlife and ecosystems, while providing sustainable fishing, hunting, and other recreation opportunities.