This 2 mile reach of the Skagit River between Gorge Dam and Gorge Powerhouse is typically dewatered by the Skagit Hydroelectric Project and is closed to public access. This stretch of the Skagit River and surrounding lands is the place where all life began for the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe and they refer to it as the 'Valley of the Spirits.'
With Skagit Hydropower Licensing underway, American Whitewater advocates for returning flow to the river channel here and exploring the feasibility of providing opportunities for whitewater recreation subject to permission from the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe. Seattle City Light has studied the feasibility of providing these opportunties as part of the relicensing process for the Skagit Hydroelectric Project. The study report from a July 2023 study evaluating four different flows (750 cfs, 1000 cfs, 1250 cfs, and 1500 cfs) can be found on the FERC website here: <
https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/docinfo?accession\_number=20231128-5047 >.