Skagit River

Skagit River
Gorge Lake portion of the Skagit River in Washington
Map of the Skagit River drainage basin
Location
CountryCanada, United States
RegionBritish Columbia, Washington
CitiesNewhalem, Marblemount, Rockport, Concrete, Sedro-Woolley, Mount Vernon, Burlington
Physical characteristics
SourceAllison Pass
 • locationE. C. Manning Provincial Park, British Columbia
 • coordinates49°07′23″N 120°52′39″W / 49.12306°N 120.87750°W / 49.12306; -120.87750
 • elevation4,480 ft (1,370 m)
MouthSkagit forks near Puget Sound
 • location
Skagit City, Washington
 • coordinates
48°23′14″N 122°22′01″W / 48.38722°N 122.36694°W / 48.38722; -122.36694
 • elevation
10 ft (3.0 m)
Length150 mi (240 km)
Basin size2,656 sq mi (6,880 km2)
Discharge 
 • locationMount Vernon, WA, river mile 1 (rkm 1.6)
 • average16,530 cu ft/s (468 m3/s)
 • minimum3,050 cu ft/s (86 m3/s)
 • maximum180,000 cu ft/s (5,100 m3/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftCascade River, Sauk River
 • rightBaker River
TypeScenic, Recreational
DesignatedNovember 10, 1978

The Skagit River (/ˈskæɪt/ SKAJ-it) is a river in southwestern British Columbia in Canada and northwestern Washington in the United States, approximately 150 mi (240 km) long. The river and its tributaries drain an area of 1.7 million acres (690,000 hectares) of the Cascade Range along the northern end of Puget Sound and flows into the sound.[1]

The Skagit watershed is characterized by a temperate, mid-latitude, maritime climate. Temperatures range widely throughout the watershed. Recorded temperatures at Newhalem range from a low of −6 °F (−21 °C) to a high of 109 °F (43 °C), with greater extremes likely in the mountains. The highest temperatures are commonly recorded in July; the lowest are in January.

  1. ^ Dietrich, William (February 18, 2007). "Awash In Trouble". The Seattle Times.