Northern State Recreation Area

1. Northern State Recreation Area The Hansen Creek Restoration Project ESRM 200 Term Project -Katherine Herr-

2. Basic Information & Location • The Northern State Recreation Area (NSRA) is a 726 acre historic property now owned by Skagit County off of the North Cascades Highway (Hwy 20). • Running through the NSRA is Hansen Creek, a 12 square-mile watershed in the lower Skagit area.

3. Why the Changes in Land Use?

4. History of the Site • After financial panic in 1893, the town of Sedro-Woolley expanded its economic base from a stool with three legs, to four: • The Logging Industry • Agriculture • Skagit Steel • Northern State Hospital for the Insane - 1909

5. History of the Site Largely Self-Sufficient, Innovative & Humane Hospital • Largest working dairy in the county • Dairy products and meat • Profitable vegetable and fruit crops • Plenty of poultry and hogs • Eggs and meat • Bakery producing upwards of 550 loaves/day • Hospital Saw-mill • Cedar fence posts and cordwood

6. Current Uses • Now Northern State is a Historical Site owned by Skagit County. • Gravel trails, an informational kiosk, and small parking lot have been put in to allow public access for many different recreational activities through some of the hospital property, mostly near the dairy.

7. Recreational Opportunities • Trails open for • Walking • Biking • Equestrian Use • Frisbee-Golf Course • Open Historic Buildings

8. The Hansen Creek Restoration Project

9. Hansen Creek Restoration Project • Original planning for the restoration of the Hansen Creek watershed began in 1993. • Plans were reassessed in 1999, and funds were secured to start the project. • Assessments and the updated master-plan were approved for the southern-bordering watershed in 2000. • Main components include • Large log structures (habitat and soil securing) • Raptor Perches • Taking out dikes/ reconnecting Hansen creek to the flood plain and other small tributaries • Widening and clearing out underbrush bordering the creek to make it more salmon friendly • Multiple plantings (soil securing, future foliage)

10. Restoration Project Priorities & Ideas • Open Natural Area • 500 acre minimum • Protection of wetland and stream-based habitat • Trails • 5 mile minimum • Multiple Uses • Campground • 40 acres • Open Grass Picnic Area • 5 acres • Environmental Education Center • 2.5 acres • Derived from the fact that the Education Center at Padilla Bay is the county’s most utilized public facility. • Playground • 1.5 acres • Ball Fields • 40 acres • Equestrian / Multi Use Event Center • 25 acres • Infrastructure • 10+ acres

11. Potential Problems • The goals of the project display the many social-recreational needs and desires of the local community • How many “improvements” can this property handle? • Close to town • Encouraging higher recreational traffic • Allowing wildlife habitat

12. Questions? Sources • Northern State Hospital for the Insane http://www.skagitriverjournal.com/NearbyS-W/NSH/NSH1-Intro.html • Skagit County Parks and Recreation Master Plan(Revised w/ Appendices & Maps) http://www.skagitcounty.net/Common/asp/default.asp?d=ParksAndRecreation&c=General&p=northernstate/main.htm • Hansen Creek Restoration Project http://www.skagitparksfoundation.org/nsrahansencreek.htm