Skagit Land Trust’s Strategic Direction for 2025–2030
The Skagit Context: Opportunity and Responsibility
The Skagit region encompasses the entire Skagit and Samish watersheds and adjacent marine areas. It is one of the most ecologically significant landscapes in the United States.
The Skagit River is the 3rd largest river on the continental U.S west coast, fed by almost 400 glaciers. 20% of all fresh water entering Puget Sound is from the Skagit River.
The Skagit River has one of the largest wild Chinook runs remaining in Puget Sound, and is the only river in Washington that supports all five species of native salmon.
The Skagit and Samish watersheds support one of the highest numbers and varieties of raptors in North America and 80% of Western WA’s wintering waterfowl.
Padilla Bay supports an eight mile long and three mile wide eelgrass meadow that it is nationally renowned as an ecological “marine nursery” and essential habitat.
The Skagit has 275 miles of marine shoreline. It includes the Skagit Delta – vital for salmon – and Cypress Island, the largest undeveloped island in the San Juans.
The Skagit Valley features fertile soils which cover over 93,000 acres and 90 different crops. Agriculture strength & significance in the Skagit is foundational to the community.
The Skagit has almost one million acres of working forests and federally-owned forested land. NW forests are among the greatest carbon sinks in the US and encompass essential habitats. The Anacortes Community Forest Lands is the largest urban forest park in WA.
Recreation is a major economic driver in the Skagit and a quality of life cornerstone. The Skagit’s protected lands, parks and trails offer world-class recreation and support over 3,800 jobs. People locally prioritize the natural environment. Growth in nature tourism and watchable wildlife is strong.
With climate change, the challenges the Skagit faces today will increase in frequency and become more severe. The county will experience more frequent flooding, climate related storms, sinking shorelines, erosion, less water in summers, and warmer river temperatures. While some fish and wildlife species have rebounded or are stable, others have plummeted as natural conditions are lost. Conflicts around land use are common. Skills and time are required to understand interdependencies and build relationships.
These dynamics create both urgency and opportunity for Skagit Land Trust.
Key Strategic Priorities
1. Promote Climate Resilience Across All Work
Protect and steward lands that strengthen ecological resilience to climate change by prioritizing strategic conservation, future-focused stewardship practices, and helping communities understand and support natures role in climate adaptation
Prioritize climate-informed land conservation by protecting wetlands, flood-prone areas, wildlife corridors, and other landscapes critical for ecological adaptation and long-term resilience.
Advance resilient stewardship practices through climate-adapted planting, forest diversification, and management approaches designed for future conditions. Partner in ways that allow our lands to be part of a climate resilient future.
Integrate climate considerations into planning and decision-making by incorporating climate science, vulnerability assessments, and long-term resilience criteria into acquisitions and stewardship management plans.
Strengthen public understanding and partnerships through education, climate-focused communications, policy engagement, and collaboration with organizations and experts advancing community resilience.
2. Strengthen Understanding and Support for Stewardship
Land protection is the beginning. If we don’t fund or support its care, the land we protect is still at risk. Our goal is to leave a place better than we found it. The following actions will help elevate these realities.
Expand stewardship communication and education through stories, telling the land’s history, videos, newsletters, personal testimonials, tours, sharing management actions, and events that highlight the daily work, challenges, long-term thinking and benefits of caring for conserved lands in perpetuity.
Develop a clear and inclusive understanding of stewardship by defining it in accessible terms. Give people knowledge they can employ on their own lands. Encourage personal connection through volunteerism and low-impact access that encourages stewardship ethics.
Integrate stewardship into conservation messaging and fundraising by clearly communicating the ongoing care and financial commitments required to ensure conserved lands remain healthy and resilient over a long period of time. Saving Land for Tomorrow means we don’t just save land; we keep it saved.
3. Advance Conservation Through Strong Partnerships on Working Lands
Clarify and expand the Trust’s role in agricultural and working forest conservation by promoting flexible, multi-benefit approaches that support both working lands and ecological health. We will build relationships with diverse interest groups and landowners, and work on approaches where both/and is possible.
Build partnerships within the agricultural and forestry community by engaging respectfully across scales and backgrounds
Clarify and communicate the Trust’s role in agricultural conservation by emphasizing that conservation does not remove productive farmland from agriculture.
Prioritize multi-benefit conservation projects that protect agricultural and forestry viability while also advancing habitat, wetland restoration, flood resilience, and climate adaptation goals.
Approach agricultural and working forest land ownership strategically and sustainably by emphasizing conservation easements, carefully evaluating stewardship capacity, and planning for long-term management needs and costs.
Support equitable access to farmland and forestry by exploring innovative conservation models and partnerships that help small and historically under-served farmers access to working lands.
4. Strategic Public Policy Engagement for Conservation Impact
Participate thoughtfully in public policy and community education on issues that directly affect the Land Trust’s mission, landscapes, and communities, while maintaining a clear focus on conservation, collaboration, and long-term organizational capacity.
Define clear criteria for policy engagement by focusing on issues with direct impacts on conservation priorities, habitat health, building community resilience, and improving access to natural systems.
Strengthen organizational capacity for policy work through dedicated staff, board and volunteer involvement and clear decision-making frameworks for public engagement.
Collaborate with partner organizations and public agencies to build effective relationships, share expertise and resources, and advance shared conservation goals.
Integrate environmental justice and community well-being into policy efforts by recognizing the connections between healthy ecosystems and healthy communities.
Balancing Growth and Conservation: As development pressures increase, SLT will continue to advocate for compact urban growth while protecting rural landscapes, natural processes, and ecological connectivity.
Communicate policy positions thoughtfully through an updated online presence. Provide clear guidelines for our members if advocating or educating, while remaining grounded in Skagit Land Trust’s core mission.
5. Design Responsible Recreation Opportunities To Improve Community Connections
Support thoughtfully designed public access to a portfolio of conserved lands that connect people to nature, strengthen community engagement, and advance equity- while ensuring minimal impact to wildlife and ecological integrity.
Develop criteria for selecting and designing public access sites by prioritizing properties near population centers, transit, and underserved “access deserts”. Plan and tailor access levels to each site’s ecological sensitivity.
Define a clear and consistent public access framework that clarifies types of access, and distinguishes between “access” and well-designed, supported accessibility.
Invest in infrastructure, information, and usability for designated portfolio areas by improving trails, signage, maps, accessibility details, and website clarity so the public can understand and responsibly use designated areas.
Balance recreation with habitat protection if needed through seasonal closures, trail design, signage, education, and limits on access – or guided access- to protect wildlife and sensitive ecosystems.
Strengthen education and outreach around responsible land use through interpretive signage, guided walks, volunteer programs, and public messaging on the lands history and future, stewardship ethics and habitat protection.
Collaborate on regional trail and access systems with local governments, transit partners, and recreation groups to support connected, equitable access while maintaining SLT’s primary focus on conservation.
6. Broader and More Inclusive Outreach
We will increase awareness of Skagit Land Trust, elevate the importance of conservation in the Skagit, and broaden engagement.
Expand inclusive outreach and strengthen engagement with Spanish-speaking communities through translated materials, bilingual signage, and intentional representation. Build broad sustained relationships to ensure outreach is accessible, trusted, and culturally relevant.
Broaden Community Partnerships by expanding work with tribal communities as well as attending their appropriate functions. Further outreach to recreation communities, recognizing shared conservation values. Develop ways to deepen relationships with the up-river community. Seek broader community presence for all levels organization.
Invest in Youth Engagement beyond field trips. Develop stronger pathways for youth involvement through internships, field studies, and volunteer opportunities.
Strengthen Digital Presence to increase visibility and emotional connection through more dynamic online storytelling. Use social media, wildlife cameras, short-form video, and real-time conservation updates to bring people closer to the land and SLT’s work.
Illustration by Brenda Cunningham
Looking Ahead
Skagit Land Trust is well-positioned to build on its legacy and address the challenges of the next decade. By focusing on climate resilience, connected landscapes, stewardship, selected policy involvement, and inclusive community engagement, the Trust aims to:
Protect critical ecosystems at scale in collaboration
Strengthen long-term stewardship capacity and understanding
