A landmark agreement with Tribes and federal agencies to guide the future of the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project (Skagit Project) will be referred to Seattle City Council for review and consideration next week.
“This marks a major milestone in the Skagit relicensing process,” said Mayor Katie Wilson. “The settlement is an expression of Seattle’s commitment to safe, renewable energy. Through it, we are also committing to putting people first by respecting Tribal sovereignty and leadership, prioritizing flood risk management for downstream communities, and enhancing education and recreation opportunities. The Skagit ecosystem and the broader public will be better served because of this agreement achieved through years of collaboration.”
Chris Townsend, City Light’s director of natural resources and hydro licensing, has been working toward this outcome for more than eight years.
“This settlement provides a clear and strong framework for how we will operate the Skagit Project for decades to come,” said Townsend. “It reflects difficult technical work, extensive scientific study, and sustained negotiation. Most importantly, it establishes a clear framework for our ongoing partnerships to increase salmon harvest and recovery, enhance flood risk management, steward the river responsibly, and provide reliable carbon-free hydropower.”
The settlement includes substantial commitments to:
- Comprehensive fish passage and habitat programs, intended to increase salmon harvest and recovery.
- Continued prioritization of flood risk management, updating protocols to protect people, farmland, homes, and infrastructure.
- Tribal cultural access and protection of resources.
- Public recreation enhancements in one of the wildest, most biologically diverse places in North America including trails, river access and campsites.
- Education and interpretation centers to continue serving students, local communities, and utility ratepayers with hands-on outdoor education and cultural programming.
- Estuary and river restoration to support native fish species and improve water quality.
- Adaptive management frameworks grounded in ongoing scientific research and data sharing.
For more detailed information, please consult the following documents:
- Skagit Project Comprehensive Relicensing Settlement: Investing in the Skagit Watershed’s Future
- Comprehensive Fish Passage and Habitat Programs
- Managing Flood Risks for Skagit Communities
- Enhancing Public Recreation and Education
A collaborative path forward
The relicensing settlement is the result of years of negotiations with multiple parties. It incorporates the latest available science, integrates Tribal ecological knowledge, and reflects public priorities for river restoration and recreational use.
“Reaching this milestone wouldn’t be possible without an extraordinary team. City Light employees, all the signing organizations, environmental and engineering experts and the public all have had important roles in getting to this point,” said Mayor Wilson. “It is through everyone’s passion and hard work that we are one step closer to having a new operating license for one of our city’s most important sources of renewable energy.”
Next steps
Reaching a settlement is a milestone, not the finish line.
The Seattle City Council must review and authorize City Light to sign the settlement. The Council’s Parks and City Light Committee will consider the agreement on March 18, 2026. If the committee advances it, the full City Council will take it up next.
Once all parties have signed, the settlement will move to the next phase of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing process. After City Light files an amended license application, FERC will begin its multi-year environmental review and public comment process.
Early implementation actions identified in the settlement will begin this spring and a new license is anticipated around 2030.
You can learn more about the settlement agreement and relicensing on our website.