Lake Shannon, body of water
Lake Shannon is a long, narrow reservoir in Skagit County, Washington, stretching roughly 7 miles from the town of Concrete. The lake is created by the Lower Baker Dam, completed in the mid-1920s and rising about 285 feet high into a narrow canyon.
The reservoir was created in the 1920s when the Lower Baker Dam was built to generate electricity for the region. A fish passage system was later installed in the late 1950s to help salmon navigate upstream after the dam blocked their traditional spawning routes.
The lake's name reflects its location, and today it draws people seeking nature and quiet. The dense forests surrounding it are home to deer, black bears, and birds that visitors can observe from trails and the shoreline.
The lake is accessible via a public boat launch on the eastern shore, which is the only developed access point for water activities. Most exploration involves hiking trails or fishing, though road access to the area is limited and visitors should check current conditions before traveling.
The lake was originally a free-flowing river rich with salmon populations before the dam blocked their passage upstream. The fish passage system installed decades later represents an effort to balance hydroelectric power generation with restoring fish migration, a balance that continues to be maintained today.
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