To better understand the salmon habitat it has within its jurisdictional boundaries, the City of Mt. Vernon used this funding to study the significance of habitat areas within the entire Big Bend Reach of the Skagit River (RM 7-19). This area is within the Skagit Watershed Council (SWC) Delta Target Area. Dikes parallel both sides of the river. This study examined the question: What are the habitat values of lands located between the river and the dikes and what steps should be taken to protect and/or restore these critical habitat lands? The study looked at establishing a series of opportunities for migratory and rearing areas within the study reach that act as refuges for in-migrating adult and out-migrating juvenile salmon. It also looked at the health and function of riparian areas. This information allowed government entities and property owners to implement salmon recovery projects in a prioritized and systematic fashion. A quick look in this reach determined there are more than 14 current or potential habitat areas ranging in size from 10 to 132 acres between the river and dikes. It is acknowledged that there is a lack of salmon habitat and refugia along the lower main stem of the Skagit River. Natural functions on the delta are 70% degraded from historic levels (SWC, 1999). Habitat and refugia have been largely removed, are inaccessible or degraded, and are limiting factors for our most at risk salmon species (Skagit Chinook and coho), as well as all other salmonids.