Beamer, E., McBride, A., Henderson, R. and Wolf, K., 2003. The Importance of Non-natal Pocket Estuaries in Skagit Bay to Wild Chinook Salmon – An Emerging Priority for Restoration. Skagit System Cooperative, La Conner, WA. pp. 9.

The Skagit River basin, encompassing over 3,100 square miles (8,030 square kilometers), is one of the largest and last remaining strongholds of fish and wildlife habitat in the Puget Sound region. The geomorphic output from this watershed is an 80,728 acre (32,670 hectare) delta, connecting the river to Skagit Bay, part of the protected inland waters of the larger Puget Sound fjord estuary system. Together with Skagit Bay, the Skagit River watershed and delta estuary form the juvenile rearing habitats for endangered Skagit Chinook. For the last 10 years the Skagit System Cooperative (SSC) has been studying habitat use of juvenile chinook salmon in order to identify opportunities for habitat restoration. Past results have directed us to Skagit Bay nearshore habitats, where we have identified pocket estuaries (small sub-estuaries connected to Skagit Bay) as a priority for research and restoration.