Public commenter recounts Upper Skagit village and dam impacts during county meeting

During the meeting adjournment, a public commenter addressed the commissioners with a historical account of an Upper Skagit village site, using the place name Diwollop and variants 'Yadusa' and 'Yadasa.' The commenter described the site as culturally significant and said it was once called 'the Valley of the Spirits.'

The commenter traced impacts to regional dam and hydroelectric development, noting Seattle City Light began construction work in the early 20th century and that the dams (including work at Gorge and Ross sites) prevented salmon from reaching traditional Upper Basin spawning areas. The speaker said the power lines and dams loom over reservation lands and argued those projects had major cultural and ecological effects on the tribes.

Why it matters: the remarks frame local landscape and infrastructure projects as having long-term cultural and ecological consequences for the Upper Skagit people and may inform future county conversations about parks, land trust work and cultural-resource considerations.

Quote "Built on an Upper Skagit village site, Diwollop. It means the place to go to snare goats... it's also the Skagit Gorge that's been dewatered," the commenter said, and later connected the dam construction to lost salmon runs.

What comes next: the comment was made during public comment and did not trigger a formal county action in this meeting. Commissioners had earlier discussed Big Rock Park and partnerships with the Skagit Land Trust; the public comment provides on-record cultural context that county staff and decision-makers may consider when planning park access and interpreting cultural resources.

Ending The public commenter’s remarks provide recorded local testimony about tribal history and environmental impacts that may be relevant to forthcoming park planning and land-trust activities.