Restoration and protection projects found in this project folder are located in the Sauk River between the confluence with the Skagit River and the Suiattle River within the rearing range of all Sauk and Suiattle Chinook stocks. This rearing range is characterized by alternating sections of wide and narrow floodplains and has a moderately high level of floodplain disturbance. As a whole, this rearing range has the largest length of off-channel habitat per mainstem length of any of the rearing ranges, primarily because of the very wide floodplain and large amount of habitat near the mouth of the river. However, there are a number of hydromodifications and floodplain impacts, mostly associated with bridges, roads, and also some private property developments.

The restoration strategy for this rearing range is to extend bridge crossings where they cross the floodplain, remove hydromodifications where they interfere with floodplain functions, and soften hydromodifications with the use of wood and complex structures where they are on the edge of the floodplain. There are also a number of roads that could be relocated outside or to the edge of the floodplain, although some of them are major highways so the expense may be high. Lastly, it is important to protect existing habitat by keeping roads, hydromodifications and developments out of the floodplain and avoiding timber harvest in the floodplain.

Those projects contributing to the recovery goals in the Skagit Chapter of the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan have project numbers beginning with the number 10.08, a reference to the chapter and section in that document. All other projects either pre-date the recovery plan or benefit other species.