Swinomish Channel: Difference between revisions
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[[File:La Conner 32218.JPG|right|thumb|View north from [[La Conner, Washington|La Conner]] of the Swinomish Channel]] |
[[File:La Conner 32218.JPG|right|thumb|View north from [[La Conner, Washington|La Conner]] of the Swinomish Channel]] |
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The '''Swinomish Channel''' is an {{convert|11|mi|km|adj=on}} long<ref name=historylink/> salt-water [[channel (geography)|channel]] in [[Washington (state)|Washington State]], United States, which connects [[Skagit Bay]], to the south, and [[Padilla Bay]], to the north, separating [[Fidalgo Island]] from mainland [[Skagit County, Washington|Skagit County]].<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1526870|Swinomish Channel}}</ref> The Swinomish Channel is the smallest of the three entrances to [[Puget Sound]]—the other two being [[Deception Pass]] and [[Admiralty Inlet]].<ref>{{GNIS|1507653|Puget Sound}}</ref> |
The '''Swinomish Channel''' is an {{convert|11|mi|km|adj=on}} long<ref name=historylink/> salt-water [[channel (geography)|channel]] in [[Washington (state)|Washington State]], United States, which connects [[Skagit Bay]], to the south, and [[Padilla Bay]], to the north, separating [[Fidalgo Island]] from mainland [[Skagit County, Washington|Skagit County]].<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1526870|Swinomish Channel}}</ref> The Swinomish Channel is the smallest of the three entrances to [[Puget Sound]]—the other two being [[Deception Pass]] and [[Admiralty Inlet]].<ref>{{GNIS|1507653|Puget Sound}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 06:12, 10 August 2013
The Swinomish Channel is an 11-mile (18 km) long[1] salt-water channel in Washington State, United States, which connects Skagit Bay, to the south, and Padilla Bay, to the north, separating Fidalgo Island from mainland Skagit County.[2] The Swinomish Channel is the smallest of the three entrances to Puget Sound—the other two being Deception Pass and Admiralty Inlet.[3]
The Swinomish Channel is partly natural and partly dredged.[4] Before being dredged it was a collection of swallow tidal sloughs, salt marshes, and mudflats known as Swinomish Slough. The United States Army Corps of Engineers used dredging and diking to create a navigable channel, completed in 1937. It is heavily used by fishing boats, tugs, recreational craft, and shallow-draft freight vessels.[1]
To maintain navigable depths the Swinomish Channel must be dredged at least every three years. Dedicated federal funding for continued dredging was eliminated in the 1990s. A study in 2004–2008 determined that sedimentation would render the channel's north end impassable for virtually all vessels by 2015, and its south end by 2019. The channel was dredged in 2008. Funding for addition dredging remains uncertain. In 2012 the Army Corps of Engineers received funding for another dredging project, which was finished in January, 2013.[5][6]
References
- ^ a b "LaConner -- Thumbnail History". HistoryLink. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Swinomish Channel
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Puget Sound
- ^ Kirk, Ruth (1995). Exploring Washington's Past: A Road Guide to History. University of Washington Press. p. 236. ISBN 978-0-295-97443-9. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
- ^ "Swinomish Channel to be Dredged This Year". Port of Skagit. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
- ^ "Swinomish Channel Watch". Port of Skagit. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
48°24′43″N 122°29′52″W / 48.41194°N 122.49778°W
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