A U.S. Geological Survey  monitoring station tracks flow and temperature on the Cascade River. The river is cold and clear, averaging roughly 42 degrees with low turbidity. A significant number of old logging roads and culverts have already been repaired, thus improving water quality and fish passage.

The Cascade is an important river for salmon recovery. Coho are spread throughout the Skagit River system, with volatile population numbers. In odd years, pink salmon return in strong numbers to the Cascade to spawn. There is also a wild, unique Chinook population that regularly returns to the Cascade to spawn. 

The Cascade River is classified as scenic under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.  Roughly 90 percent of the adjacent land is federally owned. Much of this is administered by the Forest Service that includes Inventoried Roadless Areas. The river is located in North Cascades National Park, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, and Glacier Peak Wilderness. There are a number of camping and recreation sites accessible by a gravel road that follows the river.