View of Leque Island from the air
Drone flights notice: WDFW will be using a drone to collect aerial photos and video of habitat restoration work completed in 2022 on the Leque Island Unit of Skagit Wildlife Area. Weather permitting, drone flights will begin on June 5 and may continue through October 2023. Flights will be conducted by an FAA-certified drone pilot and will remain over WDFW lands. No closures will be required and no data will be collected on the public or area visitors. Drone flights will not be conducted during active waterfowl hunting seasons.
The Leque Island Unit consists of wetlands and tidal marsh habitat. This is a popular site for waterfowl hunting, wildlife observation and photography, and walking. The habitat provides areas for wildlife ranging from waterfowl, mammals, raptors, and passerine birds.
The unit is located west of Stanwood, between Port Susan and Skagit bays, in Snohomish County. The unit can be accessed from Highway 532 between Stanwood and Camano Island.
This unit is part of the Skagit Wildlife Area.
Game Management Unit: 407
Getting there
Maps and directions to WDFW-managed access points for this unit. Opens Google Maps in a new tab.
Recreation and public access
A Discover Pass is required on WDFW lands -- including water access areas, wildlife areas, and campgrounds -- unless you already have a Vehicle Access Pass issued with the purchase of an eligible hunting or fishing license. Recreate responsibly on public lands: please know the Public Conduct Rules.
Public facility information:
- Small parking areas
- No restroom
Recreation and access advisories
- There is one parking area in the northwest corner of the property at Davis Slough, and another parking area at the end of Eide Road.| Unit is closed during hours of darkness except during legal hunting seasons.
Hunting
This is a popular site for waterfowl hunting--including both decoy spreads and pass shooting--and holds good numbers of dabbling ducks that feed in nearby fields and rest in the marshes, sloughs and bay front during the day, as well as sea ducks and occasionally geese. Parking can be limited at both the Eide Road parking area and Davis Slough Water Access Area (on the southwest side of Highway 532).
A hand-launch access for small boats, canoes, and kayaks is available at Davis Slough.
Hunters also walk into the marsh during low tides, utilizing a path that roughly follows former dikes. If hunting on foot, be certain to double-check tide tables, be aware of No Shooting Zones near the parking areas, and please be courteous to other wildlife area users.
More information is available in our Skagit Wildlife Area Hunting Guide (PDF).
Hunting advisories
- It is unlawful to possess shot (either in shotshells or as loose shot for muzzleloading) other than nontoxic shot for any purpose on this unit (WAC 220-414-040).
Wildlife viewing
This unit includes wetlands and tidal marsh habitat, offering opportunities to view a variety of wildlife, including raptors, snow geese, and other waterfowl, shorebirds, and passerines.
In winter, waterfowl, including snow geese, may be viewed. Shorebirds are often seen in shallow water areas, and raptors can be observed hunting throughout the unit. Search online for the Tweeters Info Page to find the Tweeters - Northwest Birding email list managed by the University of Washington. This list provides information about current sightings throughout Western Washington.
Search for potential birding opportunities on or near a wildlife area unit by using eBird Northwest, a citizen science database portal that provides freely-shared bird lists at 'hotspots' and interactive maps plus other birding information updated daily.
Wildlife viewing advisories
- Waterfowl hunting occurs on this site and may influence your viewing trip. Please check current hunting regulations. Waterfowl seasons are mid-October through the last weekend in January.
Other recreational opportunities
This unit offers opportunities for dog walking and training.
Conservation
Special habitats and species
The Leque Island Unit lies between Port Susan and Skagit Bays and was once entirely salt marsh. Adjacent lands include the City of Stanwood, and private lands that were diked and drained by early settlers in the late 1800s for agricultural production, mainly cereal grains, vegetables, and dairy. During the Leque Island Restoration Project, the department worked with partners to remove the dikes from the island and restore the area to salt marsh habitat. The project finished in November 2019 and reopened to the public.
Conservation goals
- Protect and restore native plant communities
- Maintain healthy populations of game and non-game species
- Preserve habitat and species diversity for fish and wildlife resources
The Leque Island Unit lies between Port Susan and Skagit Bays and was once entirely salt marsh. Adjacent lands include the City of Stanwood, and private lands that were diked and drained by early settlers in the late 1800s for agricultural production, mainly cereal grains, vegetables, and dairy. During the Leque Island Restoration Project, the department worked with partners to remove the dikes from the island and restore the area to salt marsh habitat. The project finished in November 2019 and reopened to the public.
- Protect and restore native plant communities
- Maintain healthy populations of game and non-game species
- Preserve habitat and species diversity for fish and wildlife resources
Land stewardship
The Leque Island Unit was acquired originally for wildlife habitat and related recreation. After perimeter dikes on the island repeatedly failed during high tide and storm events, it was determined that removing the dikes to restore the area to salt marsh habitat was the best solution. WDFW and partners removed over 2.4 miles of levee to restore 250 acres of tidal marsh habitat in the Stillaguamish River watershed, where 85 percent of historic tidal marsh had been displaced. Estuaries are important for juvenile Chinook salmon as they transition from fresh to salt water, as well as shorebirds, waterfowl, and a host of other species in the area. Because Puget Sound's southern resident killer whales rely upon Chinook salmon for food, the project is also closely aligned with orca recovery efforts. For more information on these efforts, read about the Leque Island Restoration Project.
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased between 1957 and 2023.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| County | Transfer of land |
| Ducks Unlimited | Private Donation |
| Hunting & Fishing Clubs | Private Donation |
| US Fish and Wildlife Service | National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant |
| US Fish and Wildlife Service | North American Wetlands Conservation Program |
| US Navy | Mitigation Funds |
| WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife | WDFW Game Fund (now Wildlife Fund) |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | Estuary Salmon Recovery Program |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | Salmon Recovery Fund |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | State Bond Account |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program |
Management planning
2024 Skagit Wildlife Area Management Plan
Management of the Skagit Wildlife Area is focused on units located in the Skagit and Samish deltas east of Whidbey Island and Camano Island. These units include riparian forests, wetlands, Douglas fir forests, estuaries, floodplains, marine intertidal areas, islands, backwater sloughs, and agriculture lands. The primary management focus is on estuary and floodplain restoration, providing forage for wintering waterfowl, recovering federal and state listed species, and providing recreation.
Planning Advisory Committee
Skagit Wildlife Area Advisory Committee