Skagit County commissioners approve settlement with Seattle City Light on Skagit hydro relicensing after tribal endorsements

Skagit County commissioners on March 30 voted to approve a resolution endorsing a comprehensive settlement agreement with Seattle City Light tied to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission relicensing of the Skagit Hydroelectric Project.

Will Oney, who led the county presentation, urged commissioners to approve the settlement while noting important caveats about how a City Light–created Habitat Fund would operate and how county and district infrastructure interests should be respected. "I recommend you approve the FERC settlement agreement with the City of Seattle," he told the board, while pressing for clarity on the county’s role in selecting projects funded through the Habitat Fund.

Attorneys and tribal leaders made a direct appeal: Jack Fyander, who Will described as a tribal attorney present in the room, told the board the settlement was overdue and framed the funds as reparative. In a short clip shown to the board, Fyander said of the dams and their impacts, "Just consider it past due rent." Jennifer Washington, chairwoman of the Upper Skagit, and other tribal representatives urged approval and emphasized collaboration moving forward.

Will outlined the county’s concerns that the Habitat Fund—as described in the settlement—could buy land quickly and influence which projects are prioritized; he and other local leaders said the county and drainage districts must remain parties in project selection and that regulatory authority over land use remains with local governments. He also described the settlement’s potential scale, citing a $979,000,000 pledge for fish passage and $150,000,000 for downstream habitat improvements as part of the broader funding picture discussed in negotiations.

Supporters said the agreement combines flood-risk management improvements with fisheries restoration work and could unlock federal funds for major restoration projects if implemented in coordination with local and tribal partners. Opponents were not recorded in the transcript; multiple tribal speakers and county officials encouraged approval, and commissioners moved, seconded and passed a resolution approving the settlement.

What’s next: The board’s approval signals county support for the settlement and sets the stage for implementation discussions with Seattle City Light, Skagit treaty tribes, drainage districts and state and federal partners; speakers emphasized the need for vigilant oversight and clear mechanisms to ensure promised fish passage and habitat work is carried out in good faith.