WDFW to use drone to assess conditions at two North Puget Sound Region wildlife areas

WDFW staff will conduct drone surveys at the Spencer Island Unit of the Snoqualmie Wildlife Area near Everett and the Island Unit of the Skagit Wildlife Area near Conway.

MILL CREEK, WA – Scientists with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will use a drone to survey habitat conditions at two state wildlife areas in the North Puget Sound Region.

Weather permitting, between Monday, Feb. 14 and Friday, Feb. 18 biologists will survey habitat at the Spencer Island Unit of the Snoqualmie Wildlife Area near Everett. One drone flight is planned at this location during daytime low tides.

Beginning on Monday, Feb. 21, WDFW plans to conduct drone surveys at the Island Unit of the Skagit Wildlife Area near Conway to assess conditions following flooding. Multiple drone flights will be conducted over the coming year and will be timed to avoid waterfowl hunting seasons.

No closures to either wildlife area unit are necessary to complete this survey work.

Drone flights will be conducted by WDFW staff with Federal Aviation Administration Small Unmanned Aircraft System Remote Pilot certification. The model of drone used will be a DJI Phantom 4 Pro. Any collection of personal information of site visitors will be avoided. If personal information cannot be avoided in the visuals they will be blurred, including faces and vehicle license plates.

Spencer Island is a tidally-influenced area that is inundated at high tide. The inside of the unit and some exterior portions are not accessible without a boat. The area provides habitat for salmon and other fish as well as waterfowl, raptors, and other species.

The Island Unit is located in the South Fork of the Skagit River between Freshwater Slough and Steamboat Slough, and is only accessible by boat. The dike on the east lobe of the Island Unit failed during a high-water event on Nov. 15, 2021, opening a portion of the unit to inundation by tides and river flows. Flood flows may have also caused damage to dikes on the west lobe of the unit.

Aerial visuals will help WDFW monitor the situation at the Island Unit and provide important insights to inform ongoing management and restoration planning.

“We’re monitoring the dike breach at the Island Unit closely and considering next steps pending final recommendations from our staff, partners, and contractors,” said Brendan Brokes, WDFW’s North Puget Sound Region Director. “Restoration of this 270-acre portion of the Skagit Wildlife Area through collaboration with local leaders, waterfowl hunters, and others as well as tribal co-managers remains a high priority for us.”

A long-term plan to fully restore the Island Unit to estuary habitat for salmon and other species was announced in February 2021 following extensive engagement with hunters and other stakeholders and tribes as well as public comment. The age and deteriorating condition of dikes and tide gates at the site were among many considerations involved.

Restoration at the Island Unit will involve excavating channels, removing tide gates and dikes, and incorporating features to support recreational uses of the site. Implementing these restoration actions is expected to occur over the next several years.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works to preserve, protect and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.