2025 Trailhead Ambassador Program

Press Release
May 19, 2025

The Outdoor Equity Coalition (OEC) extends its heartfelt gratitude to Black Diamond Equipment for a generous donation of approximately $3,000 worth of new jackets to OEC Ambassadors welcoming visitors to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) lands in Skagit County.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is partnering with the Outdoor Equity Coalition for the 2025 Ambassador Program at the Fir Island Farm Reserve Wildlife Area Unit and at the Skagit Headquarters. 

Saturdays April - July, 2025, Fir Island

Saturdays April - August, 2025, Skagit Headquarters

Fir Island Farm Reserve Wildlife Area Unit

The Fir Island Farm Reserve is a Game Reserve with over 200 acres of restored intertidal estuary and managed agricultural land in southwest Skagit County. The reserve attracts thousands of snow geese, swans, ducks and shorebirds in the fall through early spring. The unit is managed to provide an undisturbed feeding and resting area for wintering waterfowl adjacent to Skagit Bay. Hunting and trapping is NOT allowed on this unit, but a short trail along the dike offers views of Skagit Bay and opportunities for shorebird and waterfowl viewing. A recent restoration project completed in 2016 restored approximately 130 acres of farmland to intertidal estuary providing critical juvenile rearing habitat for Endangered Species Act-listed chinook and other salmon.

The Fir Island Farm Unit is located in southwest Skagit County on Fir Island. The unit is located on Fir Island Road, about 2.7 miles west of the South Fork Skagit River bridge in Conway.

The Fir Island Farm Unit is part of the Skagit River delta. It is flanked by Dry Slough to the east and Brown's Slough to the west and Skagit Bay to the south. Agricultural lands in this area were diked and drained beginning in the late 1800's. This unit is part of the Skagit Wildlife Area. Game Management Unit: 407

Wildlife viewing
This unit includes intertidal estuary and managed agricultural fields, offering visitors the opportunity to view a variety of waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors.

This unit attracts thousands of snow geese in the fall through early spring. Managed agricultural fields provide a winter feeding and resting area for snow geese and other waterfowl adjacent to the Skagit Bay estuary. A bald eagle nest (active during nesting season) is located in a tree on the west side of the unit's entrance road. Google the Tweeters Info Page to find the Tweeters - Northwest Birding email list managed by the University of Washington; this list provides information about current sightings throughout Western Washington.

Search for potential birding opportunities on or near a wildlife area unit by using eBird Northwest, a citizen science database portal that provides freely-shared bird lists at 'hotspots' and interactive maps plus other birding information updated daily.

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Skagit Headquarters Wildlife Area Unit

The Skagit Headquarters Unit — also known as Wiley Slough — is tidal marsh (estuary) on Fir Island, west of and adjacent to Freshwater Slough. The unit is predominantly vegetated by cattail and sedge and used extensively by waterfowl and other waterbirds, shorebirds, raptors, and passerines.

Recreation opportunities include bird watching, waterfowl hunting, fishing, dog walking, photography, and bird watching.

The Skagit Headquarters Unit was acquired by WDFW in the 1950's to provide agricultural enhancements for wintering waterfowl and increased hunting opportunity. With the Endangered Species Act listing of many salmon species including Puget Sound Chinook, habitat management has since shifted to restore estuary habitat while continuing to provide access for hunting and wildlife watching.

A popular boat launch on Freshwater Slough provides access to the Skagit Estuary and Skagit Bay, Island Unit, and nearby waterways. Boaters and kayakers should check tide charts as the ramp can be difficult to use in low water, and strong currents may develop during outgoing tides. Kayakers may also access the marsh from a hand launch site near the parking area.

The Skagit Headquarters Unit is located at the south end of Fir Island in Skagit County, adjacent to the South Fork of the Skagit River and Skagit Bay. The unit is accessed by turning south from Fir Island Road on to Wylie Road, then following Wylie Road until it ends at the unit entrance road.

The Headquarters (Skagit) Unit is located on Fir Island, west of and adjacent to Freshwater Slough. Adjacent uplands are private lands that were diked and drained at the turn of the 20th century for agricultural production, mainly cereal grains, vegetables, and dairy.

This unit is part of the Skagit Wildlife Area.

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