This unit has limited access as it is only accessible by boat.
Aerial view of the Island Unit, Skagit Wildlife Area
The Island Unit is accessible only by boat. A boat launch at the WDFW Skagit Headquarters Unit provides access to the unit and portions of the Skagit River estuary via Freshwater Slough. The unit is a popular waterfowl hunting area. Other recreation includes fishing, wildlife observation, and hiking. A mixture of natural and agricultural crops are grown on the Island Unit to enhance food resources for wintering waterfowl and provide improved hunting opportunity.
The actively managed area of the unit is approximately 270 acres.
The Island Unit is located between Steamboat and Freshwater Sloughs in the Skagit River's South Fork in Skagit County. The unit can be accessed by boat at one of four boat-landing sites.
The Island Unit is located on the Skagit River's South Fork between Steamboat and Freshwater Sloughs. Deepwater Slough meanders through the island's center and these two islands are connected by a bridge. Adjacent lands are Skagit Bay Estuary and some private ownerships at the upper end of the island.
This unit is part of the Skagit Wildlife Area.
Game Management Unit: 407
Recreation and public access
A Discover Pass is required on WDFW lands -- including water access areas, wildlife areas, and campgrounds -- unless you already have a Vehicle Access Pass issued with the purchase of an eligible hunting or fishing license. Recreate responsibly on public lands: please know the Public Conduct Rules.
Public facility information:
- No facilities on the Island Unit
- Parking and restrooms ONLY at WDFW Skagit Wildlife Area Headquarters Unit boat launch
Recreation and access advisories
- This unit is accessible ONLY by boat. You can find more details on the maps on the kiosk at the WDFW Skagit Wildlife Area Headquarters Unit boat launch off of Wylie Road. Please contact the Skagit Wildlife Area Headquarters Office for more information.
- This unit is closed during hours of darkness except during legal hunting seasons.
- Visitors should be aware of river and tidal conditions.
- When landing a boat on the Island, it is recommended that the boat have front and back anchors. With the tide changes on the South Fork Sloughs, it is possible for the boat to be lodged high and dry on the bank when the tide goes out or get lodged at such an angle that the boat could fill with water as the tide returns. Tides and river levels may restrict access; visitors should carry and be able to understand a tide book (tides at this location closely resemble those listed under Seattle in Puget Sound tide books). Current river levels can be found on the National Weather Services Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service - Skagit webpage.
Hunting
This unit is a popular waterfowl hunting area. Check out the Skagit Wildlife Area Waterfowl Hunting Guide (PDF) for detailed information. While the unit is accessible ONLY by boat, a series of dikes provides easy walking access once you are on the island.
Hunting advisories
- It is unlawful to have in possession more than 15 shotgun shells or to fire (shoot) more than 15 shells in one day on this unit (WAC 220-414-050).
- It is unlawful to possess shot (either in shotshells or as loose shot for muzzleloading) other than nontoxic shot for any purpose on this unit (WAC 220-414-040).
Fishing
The unit can be accessed by boat at one of four boat-landing sites.
Fishing advisories
- When landing a boat on the Island, it is recommended that the boat have front and back anchors. With the tide changes on the South Fork Sloughs, it is possible for the boat to be lodged high and dry on the bank when the tide goes out or get lodged at such an angle that the boat could fill with water as the tide returns. Tides and river levels may restrict access; visitors should carry and be able to understand a tide book (tides at this location closely resemble those listed under Seattle in Puget Sound tide books). Current river levels can be found on the National Weather Services Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service - Skagit webpage.
Wildlife viewing
This unit includes a slough, intertidal estuarine habitat, and managed natural habitats and agricultural fields, offering opportunities to view a variety of wildlife, including shorebirds and waterfowl.
This unit offers opportunities to view wintering waterfowl at managed agricultural fields. Google the Tweeters Info Page to find the Tweeters - Northwest Birding email list managed by the University of Washington; this list provides information about current sightings throughout Western Washington.
Search for potential birding opportunities on or near a wildlife area unit by using eBird Northwest, a citizen science database portal that provides freely-shared bird lists at 'hotspots' and interactive maps plus other birding information updated daily.
Wildlife viewing advisories
- Waterfowl hunting occurs on these sites and may influence your viewing trip. Please check current hunting regulations. Waterfowl seasons begin in mid-October and run through the last weekend in January.
Conservation
Prior to WDFW purchase in the 1950s, dike construction, ditching, plowing, filling and conversion to agricultural production altered most of the island's historic tidal channels and land. In 2000, the Deepwater Slough estuary restoration project removed two dams on that slough and reconfigured 14,000 feet of dikes to reconnect flow from Freshwater Slough to six distributary channels of the Skagit River. This returned intertidal connectivity to 230 acres of estuary habitat. The project provides rearing habitat for chinook salmon and other fish, as well as migratory waterfowl and shorebird habitat. On the remaining agricultural acreage, WDFW continues to plant 130 acres of forage annually for wintering waterfowl and increased hunting opportunities. These crops include barley, corn, fava beans, and millet. Some areas of the Island Unit are also managed for moist-soil plants that are high-value winter forage for ducks, including wild millet, smartweed, yellow nutsedge, Biden, and foxtail (marsh bristle grass). Two water control structures allow for shallow flooding of agricultural fields.
Conservation goals
- Protect and restore native plant communities.
- Maintain healthy populations of game and non-game species
- Preserve habitat and species diversity for fish and wildlife resources
Land stewardship
The Island Unit was originally acquired to plant grains for waterfowl benefits.
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased between 1950 and 1953.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| US Fish and Wildlife Service | Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Program |
| WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife | WDFW Game Fund (now Wildlife Fund) |
Management planning
2024 Skagit Wildlife Area Management Plan
Management of the Skagit Wildlife Area is focused on units located in the Skagit and Samish deltas east of Whidbey Island and Camano Island. These units include riparian forests, wetlands, Douglas fir forests, estuaries, floodplains, marine intertidal areas, islands, backwater sloughs, and agriculture lands. The primary management focus is on estuary and floodplain restoration, providing forage for wintering waterfowl, recovering federal and state listed species, and providing recreation.
Planning Advisory Committee
Skagit Wildlife Area Advisory Committee
Plan Updates
Current land management projects
Island Unit Alternatives Analysis
WDFW is considering a habitat restoration project on the Island Unit, and assessed several options that ranged from no restoration to restoring 270 acres. WDFW will evaluate options based on state requirements and policies, as well as community values and input from the advisory group and the public. Learn more at the Island Unit Alternatives Analysis Project page.