The path to the slough and the walking bridge is steep, though— steep enough to make it difficult for people who use wheelchairs to get down to the site. 

To help solve this problem, our engineering technician, Renee McMinn, designed four wheelchair ramps to be placed along the length of the hill. These wheelchair ramps act as resting points for people using wheelchairs to take a break from going down the steep parts of the path.

These ramps are Renee's first design project here at the County. Her process was careful and measured.

"The ramps are placed at the steepest parts of the hill, where they're most needed," said Renee.

She took sustainability into account in her planning, too.

"We used old, leftover, pressure-treated lumber so we didn't have to get any new supplies," she said.

After Renee designed the ramps, our Environmental Services team built them at the site.

Learn more about the culvert removal and restoration work here at our Cedar Grove Fish Passage project page.

Why is artificial turf illegal?

Natural lawns with grass and dirt are permeable. They act like a sponge and absorb rainwater where it falls, slowing down and letting it return to the ground.

Development laws limit the amount of impervious surface added to a property.

Artificial turf is impervious. This means that water can't absorb into it, the same way it can't absorb into concrete or asphalt. When water can't be absorbed by the ground, it becomes runoff. When contractors install artificial turf, they need to make a stable base for the turf to sit on, so they add crushed rock underneath. Over time, the fine bits of rock in crushed rock lock together and reduce or eliminate the ability of water to flow into the ground.

Why is runoff bad?

Runoff flows across whatever surface it's on and picks up everything it touches before it flows into local waterways. Runoff carries dirt, garbage, chemicals, oil, and pet waste into our streams, rivers, and eventually Puget Sound.

Too much runoff can also flood streets, parking lots, or even your property. If the water can't sink into the ground, it can become an issue on the surface. Just 200 square feet of artificial turf creates 124 gallons of runoff during a one-inch rainstorm. That, plus all your paved areas and your roof, adds up to a LOT of runoff– maybe enough to cause flooding downstream.

Runoff from artificial turf also carries chemicals and plastic particles from the turf. These chemicals and microplastics harm fish and other wildlife. They can also harm the people that eat those animals.

My lawn is too much maintenance. What is an alternative to artificial turf?

Keeping a lawn green and free of moss and weeds year-round is difficult in the Pacific Northwest. Replacing your lawn with native shrubbery or ground cover can help reduce maintenance. Native plants are adapted to our climate and so are often heartier than lawns during our dry summers. If your lawn is in a moist, shaded area, you may choose to embrace a moss lawn.

Check out WSU’s guide to drought tolerant landscaping to learn more about planning your garden for our climate.

I still want to install artificial turf. What should I do?

Even if artificial turf isn't illegal where you live, you may still need a permit to install it. Contact the planning department of your city or county to apply for an artificial turf permit or ask more questions about your area's laws.

I was told I couldn't install artificial turf. What happens if I do it anyway?

You may be asked to remove the artificial turf you installed and replace it with a lawn or other permeable surface at your own cost.

Farm Tip of the Month

Farmers are starting to turn their animals out to pasture as grass reaches 6-8 inches and the ground becomes less saturated.  These hungry mouths and heavy hooves can be hard on the landscape. Luckily there's a way to help keep your pastures looking lush all season long!

Rotational grazing is one option that is beneficial to your animals and your pastures. Rotational grazing means dividing your pasture into sections using fencing and letting animals graze one section at a time. This way, pastures are evenly grazed, but not overgrazed, and each section has a chance to rest and regrow.

Grass that is grazed this way grows back faster and healthier. Grazing on healthy pastures keeps your animals healthy, too! Overgrazed pastures lead to more mud, weeds, and parasites, some of which can kill livestock.

Here are some tips for successful pasture rotation:

• Wait until the grass in your first pasture has reached 6 to 8 inches before you start grazing.
• Rotate your animals to the next pasture when they have grazed the grass down to 3 inches.
• Try to divide pastures to allow each section to rest at least 30 days before grazing it again. Temporary fencing is a great way to trail run pasture sizes. 
• Use this pasture stocking calculator to determine how many acres you'll need for each animal.
• Once you have rotated your animals through all available pastures, rotate back to the first pasture. If the pasture has not grown back to 6 to 8 inches, feed animals in a confinement area until the grass has reached the proper height. Check out the farm section of our March newsletter to learn why maintaining grass length is so important, and how to tell if it's time to graze.

Visit Skagit Conservation District's Farming Resources page and WSU's Pasture Grazing Management page to learn more about pasture health and confinement areas, as well as more farming tips and knowledge!

We've been regulating weeds in Washington State since 1881. The weed that started it all? Canada thistle!

Canada thistle, our noxious weed for May, is thought to have been brought over by European settlers, maybe even on the MAYflower (see what we did there?).

This prickly plant is known for invading pastures, pushing out grass and forage. Here's what you need to know about Canada thistle:

Description: Canada thistle grows in circular patches with green stems 2 to 5 feet tall. The stems branch at the top and grow many flowerheads. The flowers start out as scaled bulbs until fine purple, pink, or sometimes white petals emerge from their tops. In full bloom, the petals have a bursting appearance. Its leaves are narrow and lobed or toothed, often with thin, sharp spines along the edge.

Toxicity: Canada thistle is not particularly toxic, but its spines are certainly painful, and it results in economic loss by taking over pastures.

Control: Mowing Canada thistle and planting competitive, non-invasive grass over it can help control or eliminate it. Do not allow the plants to go to seed, or they will spread further. It can also spread via root if not adequately controlled. Canada thistle is hard to control once it gets established, so if you have an infestation, take care of it quickly.

If you are experiencing a larger infestation, please reach out to our Noxious Weed Coordinator, Madelyn Loy, at (360) 416-1467 or mloy@co.skagit.wa.us to discuss control options and support.

Learn more about Canada thistle from the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board.

Photos courtesy of the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board.

Program News

Skagit County recently received funding to remove and replace the farthest downstream culvert on Carpenter Creek!

This culvert, located on Cascade Ridge Road, is currently making it harder for fish including sockeye, coho, cutthroat trout, and steelhead to reach important upstream habitat. Once the culvert is removed, these species will have access to many more acres of feeding and spawning grounds.

Learn more about how we help fish access essential habitat at the Skagit County Fish Passage Improvement page.

Photo taken from Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife report.