Fir Island (Washington)

Infobox Place
name =Fir Island
official_name =
other_name =
native_name =
nickname =
settlement_type = Island
total_type =
motto =


imagesize =
image_caption = Snow Geese feed in agricultural fields of Fir Island in the winter


mapsize =
map_caption =


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
image_dot_

dot_mapsize =
dot_map_caption =
dot_x = |dot_y =
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =
pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of Washington
pushpin_mapsize =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = USA
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Washington
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Skagit County
subdivision_type3 = Bodies of Water
subdivision_name3 =Skagit River and Skagit Bay of Puget Sound
seat_type =
seat =
parts_type =
parts_style =
parts =
p1 =
p2 =
established_title =
established_date =
area_magnitude =
unit_pref =
area_footnotes =
area_total_sq_mi =15.5
area_land_sq_mi =
area_water_sq_mi =
area_water_percent =
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_ft =
elevation_max_ft =
elevation_min_ft =
population_as_of =
population_footnotes =
population_note =
population_total =
population_density_sq_mi =
timezone = PST
utc_offset = −8
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = −7
coor_type =
latd=48 |latm=21 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=122 |longm=23 |longs= |longEW=W
postal_code_type =
postal_code =
area_code =
website =
footnotes =

Fir Island is bounded by North and South Forks of the Skagit River and Skagit Bay of Puget Sound in the southeastern corner of Skagit County, Washington. Triangular in outline, convert|5.3|mi|km east–west by convert|6.5|mi|km north–south with an area of nearly convert|9900|acre|km2, Fir Island is occupied by 195 families. The village of Conway, located on the east shore of the South Fork of the Skagit River, is connected by bridge to the island. La Conner, convert|3.7|mi|km northwest, is the nearest town.

Natural History

A major component of the Skagit River Delta, the island is an important habitat for wildlife. Migrating from the northern portion of Wrangel Island in Russia, 30,000 to 70,000 Snow Geese spend the winter on the Skagit River Delta and the Fraser River Delta of British Columbia. Important internationally, this population and one that winters in California, are the only Snow Geese that migrate between Eurasia and North America and the only remnant still extant in Eurasia.cite web | last = Boyd | first = Sean | title = Lesser Snow Geese: an indicator of wildlife sustainability in the Georgia Basin | publisher = Environment Canada | url = http://www.ecoinfo.org/env_ind/region/snowgeese/snowgeese_e.cfm | accessdate = 2008-02-12 ] cite journal| last =Kuznetsov| first =Sergei B.| coauthors =Baranyuk, Vasily V, Takekawa, John Y| title = Genetic differentiation between wintering populations of Lesser Snow Geese nesting on Wrangel Island| journal = The Auk| volume =115| issue =4| pages =pp.1053–1057| publisher = American Ornithologists' Union| date =Oct 1998| url =http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3793/is_199810/ai_n8817939| accessdate = 2008-02-17 ]

Other migratory waterfowl include Tundra Swans, Trumpeter Swans and the Bald Eagle. Over the course of a year, 180 species of birds have been recorded at Skagit Wildlife Area, convert|13000|acre|km2 of mostly tidelands and intertidal marsh, the largest section of which is located on the southern margin of the island.cite web | last = Garrett | first = John | title = Wildlife Viewing Areas: North Central Washington (Region 4): Skagit Wildlife Area | work = Wildlife Areas and Access Points | publisher = Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife | date = 2005 | url = http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/r4skagit.htm | accessdate = 2008-02-10 ]

Near the south end of Fir Island, the Wiley Slough Restoration Project is intended to restore natural processes to a convert|180|acre|km2 portion of Skagit Wildlife Area. The project includes removal of convert|6500|ft|m of existing dikes, construction of convert|6500|ft|m of new dikes, and construction of a new tide gate on Wiley Slough upstream of the existing one which will be removed. The main goal of the project is to increase the diversity of species that depend on estuaries, especially Puget Sound Chinook Salmon that are listed as threatened under the provisions of the Endangered Species Act. Despite opposition by hunters, the project is supported by many in the community and Governor Christine Gregoire.cite web | title = Biological Assessment | work = Wiley Slough Restoration Project | publisher = Skagit River System Cooperative | date = 2006-11-30 | url =http://www.wileyslough.org/ | accessdate = 2008-02-10 ] cite web | title = Wiley Slough Recreational Replacement Lands | publisher = Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife | url = http://wdfw.wa.gov/hab/sepa/07062_replacement.pdf | format = pdf | accessdate = 2008-02-10 ]

kagit River floods

Island floods occur periodically. On November 25 1990, the convert|152000|cuft|m3|-2 per second flow of the Skagit River caused it to overtop its convert|10|ft|m earthen dikes and the island was inundated. No human fatalities occurred but livestock deaths were reported. Dike repairs the following summer cost $7 million.cite news | last = Egan | first = Timothy | title = Fir Island Journal; A Peace With the River on Its Terms | work = The New York Times | publisher = The New York Times Company | date = November 18 1991 | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE1DE1E3DF93BA25752C1A967958260 | accessdate = 2008-02-10 ]

On October 21 2003, a peak flow of convert|135000|cuft|m3|-2 per second occurred when the Skagit River crested at more than convert|14|ft|m|0 above flood stage. A total of 3,400 people were evacuated from flood prone areas along the river. On November 8 2006, in the aftermath of a strong Pineapple Express storm, a flow of convert|125000|cuft|m3|-2 per second and a crest convert|8.2|ft|m feet above flood stage were recorded. cite web | title = USGS 12200500 Skagit River Near Mount Vernon, WA| work = National Water Information System | publisher = Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey | url = http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/dv/?site_no=12200500&agency_cd=USGS&referred_module=sw | accessdate = 2008-02-10 ] Such floods deposit great quantities of driftwood along river channels and on tidelands.cite news | last = McQuaide | first = Mike | title =Skagit River delta is a world of wonders for kayakers | publisher = The Seattle Times Company | date = March 11 2004 | url = http://www.nwsource.com/travel/washington/puget-sound/la-conner/skagit-river-delta-world-wonders-kayakers | accessdate = 2008-02-10 ]

References