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March 30, 2026
 

Skagit County Commissioners to Vote to Approve Seattle City Light FERC Relicensing Agreement

The Skagit Board of County Commissioners has approved the proposed Comprehensive Settlement Agreement related to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing of Seattle City Light’s three-dam Skagit River Hydroelectric Project.

Working closely with tribal and agency partners, Skagit County has participated in the FERC relicensing negotiation process since 2019. Over the past several weeks, all participating Skagit Treaty Tribes, federal agencies, and state agencies have signed the Settlement Agreement.  

The Seattle City Council will consider approval of the Settlement Agreement over the coming weeks. If approved, the settlement agreement will be submitted to FERC for environmental review and potential adoption, forming the basis for a new federal operating license for Seattle’s Skagit River dams up to 50 years in duration. 

“The FERC settlement requires Seattle City Light to provide a safe and appropriate level of Army Corps-managed flood storage at Ross Dam, which plays a major role in keeping our community safe from flood risk,” said Commissioner Peter Browning. “This is consistent with federal law, which makes flood risk reduction the first operational purpose of Seattle City Light’s Skagit River dams. We thank the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Skagit Dike Districts, and Skagit Drainage Districts for their continuous support and assistance as we negotiated this vitally important part of the settlement agreement.”  

Pursuant to the settlement agreement, Seattle City Light has pledged $979 million to build fish passage over its dams, which are some of the few dams in the region that still lack a fish passage system. Fish passage has proven highly successful at Puget Sound Energy’s nearby hydroelectric dams on the Skagit-tributary Baker River, which is directly responsible for increasing the number of Baker River salmon from near-extinction to nearly 100,000 returning fish in 2025.  

“Salmon are a central part of our community’s culture, and fish passage is a proven way to significantly increase harvest for tribal and non-tribal fishers alike,” said Commissioner Joe Burns. “The promise of fish passage is a major reason that we approved the settlement agreement, and we look forward to Seattle City Light implementing fish passage in good faith.”

Seattle City Light is also pledging $150 million toward downstream habitat restoration plans that heavily involve Skagit local government’s critical infrastructure as well as conversion of prime Skagit farmland.  

“We appreciate Seattle’s habitat funding pledge, which, if directed appropriately, could help recover salmon and improve infrastructure resilience,” said Commissioner Ron Wesen, Chair of the Skagit Board of County Commissioners. “But planning major projects that involve our infrastructure and prime farmland requires County and District involvement and coordination before land is acquired,” Wesen added. “We look forward to working closely with Skagit Tribal governments, Skagit Dike Districts, and Skagit Drainage Districts to ensure Seattle’s habitat funds meaningfully contribute to Skagit salmon recovery and infrastructure resilience.” 

In approving the settlement agreement, the Board underscored the need for a unified community approach to implementation. “The task now is for our community to come together and hold Seattle accountable to its promises,” said Commissioner Browning. “We see this Settlement Agreement as long-overdue environmental justice and regional equity.” 

For further information please contact Will Honea, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, by email at willh@co.skagit.wa.us or by phone at (206) 799-4955.