Monitoring

Nooksack River Instream Project Effectiveness, April 2020.  Contributing Authors: Michael Maudlin, Nooksack Tribe; Alex Levell and Nathan Rice, Lummi Nation

Habitat Assessments and Studies

UPPER SOUTH FORK NOOKSACK RIVER HABITAT ASSESSMENT, 2007
Habitat assessment covering 25 miles of the South Fork Nooksack upstream from the Saxon Road Bridge (RM 12.8).

SOUTH FORK NOOKSACK RIVER ACME-SAXON REACH RESTORATION PLANNING, 2002
This habitat assessment and restoration planning document covers South Fork Nooksack River and its floodplain between the Saxon Road Bridge (RM 13) and the Highway 9 Bridge at Acme (RM 8.5).

SOUTH FORK NOOKSACK RIVER ACME-CONFLUENCE REACH RESTORATION PLANNING, 2006
This document extends the South Fork Nooksack assessment and restoration planning and strategies downstream from the Highway 9 Bridge at Acme (RM 8.5) to the confluence (RM 0).

NOOKSACK CHINOOK SPAWNING & INCUBATION ASSESSMENT, 2003, Hyatt and Rabang, Nooksack Tribe Natural Resources Department.

LOWER NORTH FORK NOOKSACK RIVER REACH ASSESSMENT AND RESTORATION RECOMMENDATION, 2007
The focus of this assessment is the lower North Fork (RM 36.6 to 57.6) and includes detailed discussion of 14 reaches in the lower North Fork, and recommended restoration options in each of the reaches.

NOOKSACK CHINOOK SPAWNING & INCUBATION ASSESSMENT, 2003, Hyatt and Rabang, Nooksack Tribe Natural Resources Department

MIDDLE FORK NOOKSACK HABITAT ASSESSMENT, 2011
The primary objective was to characterize the habitat-forming processes that occur in the watershed, review and summarize existing data and develop recommendations for habitat protection and restoration projects.

LOWER NOOKSACK RIVER GEOMORPHIC ASSESSMENT FINAL REPORT, 2019
The purpose of this assessment is to evaluate and summarize the geomorphology of the Lower Nooksack River corridorfrom Deming to Bellingham Bay. The work is part of a larger effort to develop an integrated  management plan to reduce flood risk, reduce system management costs,and improve salmon habitat on the river while supporting existing land uses in the floodplain.
Appendix A: Geologic and Geomorphic History
Appendix B: Geomorphic Trends
Appendix C: Geomorphic Characterization to Support Future Habitat Analysis
Appendix D: River Processes: Hydraulics, Bed and Bank Material, Sediment Transport, and Regime Appendix

LOWER NOOKSACK SALMON HABITAT ASSESSMENT FINAL REPORT, 2019
This Lower Mainstem Nooksack River Salmon Habitat Assessment is part of a larger collaborative effort to  develop an integrated floodplain management plan for the Nooksack River area to restore salmon habitat while reducing flood risk and management costs and supporting existing agricultural land uses within the floodplain. The primary objective of this habitat assessment was to describe the current and historic salmon habitat conditions in the Lower Mainstem Nooksack River study area.

LOWER MAINSTEM NOOKSACK RECOMMENDED RESTORATION STRATEGIES, 2019

This table of recommended restoration strategies complements the two tables in Appendix D of the Lower Nooksack Salmon Habitat Assessment Final Report, 2019.

LOWER NOOKSACK RIVER PROJECT: ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS
This link will take you to the Whatcom County Public Works River and Flood Division site where you can download the Lower Nooksack Restoration Project, which addresses existing flood risks and habitat degradation in the Nooksack River downstream from the City of Ferndale. 

NOOKSACK RIVER ESTUARY HABITAT ASSESSMENT, 2005
Due to the size of this document, it has been separated into five files:

Table of Contents and Introduction
Estuarine Habitat Forming Processes and Habitat Characterization
Estuarine Fauna (macroinvertebrates and fish usage)
Conclusions, Restoration Options, and Bibliography
Appendices A-B
 

AN ASSESSMENT OF JUVENILE CHINOOK SALMON POPULATION STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS IN THE NOOKSACK ESTUARY AND BELLINGHAM BAY SHORELINE, 2003-2015
Report to City of Bellingham and Bellingham Bay Action Team in participation with the WRIA 1 Salmon Recovery Team

 

WRIA 1 NEARSHORE AND ESTUARINE ASSESSMENT AND RESTORATION PRIORITIZATION PLAN (NEARP) ADDENDUM 1, DECEMBER 2013

WRIA1 NEARSHORE AND ESTUARINE ASSESSMENT AND RESTORATION PLAN (NEARP), JANUARY 17, 2013
The City of Bellingham and Coastal Geologic Services assessment and prioritization plan and addendum for marine nearshore restoration and protection planning and implementation.

NOOKSACK RIVER WATERSHED RIPARIAN FUNCTION ASSESSMENT, 2001

The objectives of this report are to summarize large woody debris (LWD) recruitment potential and stream shading for the Nooksack River basin, evaluate results, and develop general recommendations for riparian restoration and protect.

WHATCOM COUNTY FISH PASSAGE BARRIER INVENTORY- FINAL REPORT, 2006
The purpose of this inventory is to locate barriers on both public and private land and assess the amount of fish habitat that each barrier blocks. This provides a comprehensive picture of the entire stream system.
Appendix B- South Fork Nooksack Sub-basin Report
Appendix C- Middle Fork Nooksack Sub-basin Report
Appendix D- North Fork Nooksack Sub-basin Report
Appendix E- Deming Sub-basin Report
Appendix F- Sumas Sub-basin Report
Appendix G- Lynden North Sub-basin Report
Appendix H- Tenmile Sub-basin Report
Appendix I- Coastal Sub-basin Report
Appendix J- Chuckanut Foothills Sub-basin Report
Appendix K- Samish Sub-basin Report

RIPARIAN VEGETATION INVENTORY AND FUNCTION ASSESSMENT OF TRIBUTARIES AND MARINE SHORELINE, June 2010
A riparian vegetation inventory and function assessment was conducted in Dakota, California, and Terrell Creeks, as well as along the coastal marine shoreline between the U.S.-Canadian border and Point Whitehorn.

RIPARIAN VEGETATION INVENTORY AND FUNCTION ASSESSMENT OF TRIBUTARIES AND MARINE SHORELINE, October 2012
Anchor QEA conducted a riparian vegation inventory and function assessment in 2010 to address data gaps on riparian conditions in areas of Northwest Whatcom County.  This is a similar report for areas of Southwest Whatcom County.

SALMON AND STEELHEAD HABITAT LIMITING FACTORS IN WRIA 1, THE NOOKSACK BASIN, July 2002
Washington State Conservation Commission prepared a habitat limiting factors report for WRIA 1 that consolidates habitat information in a Statewide consistent form, and rates various categories of habitat conditions.

Restoration Project Feasibility Studies

HABITAT RESTORATION OPTIONS - CANYON CREEK ALLUVIAL FAN HABITAT RESTORATION, 2007
This report presents recommendations to restore salmon habitat in lower Canyon Creek, North Fork Nooksack River. Background information and analysis leading to preliminary designs and cost estimates are presented for a first phase of work to address chronic fish passage barrier at rivermile 0.2. Concepts are also presented to restore habitat diversity and complexity in the lower one mile of stream.

WRIA Salmonid Recovery Plan and Restoration Strategies

WRIA 1 SALMONID RECOVERY PLAN, 2005
The WRIA 1 Salmonid Recovery Plan identifies actions necessary to recover WRIA 1 salmonid populations, especially listed species.  The plan outlines the framework for implementing recommended actions that have been agreed to by local, state, tribal, and federal governments and stakeholders in WRIA 1.  This is a locally developed plan and is incorporated as a chapter into the Shared Strategy's "Plan for Recovery of Puget Sound Salmon" (Shared Strategy 2001).

Annual Project Development Matrices

The Project Development Matrices list restoration strategies by reach for each of the Nooksack River Forks.  The restoration strategies that have high to moderate benefit to Nooksack early Chinook are highlighted as either Tier 1 or Tier 2.  The matrices are used by potential sponsors considering grant application to the Salmon Recovery Funding Board; projects that implement strategies that have a high or moderate level of importance for chinook will have a higher likelihood of funding success..

Annual Work program updates

Each year, watershed groups representing the fourteen chapters of the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan develop updates to their three-year work programs that describe the watershed's status of recovery actions and identifies the anticipated actions for the next three years necessary to implement the Salmon Recovery Plan.  The work programs are intended to provide a road map across the Puget Sound region on priorities for implementing the salmon recovery plan, inform and support funding requests, and establish a recovery trajectory within each watershed and the region. The information below includes the WRIA 1 three-year work program update for habitat actions pertaining to chinook recovery, which is currently the priority for WRIA 1 salmon recovery.  Updates to the other Puget Sound watersheds' work programs can be found on the Puget Sound Partnership website.

In April 2022, the WRIA 1 Lead Entity adopted a multi-year work plan for culvert and fish barrier projects planned over a five-year horizon.  The plan was established as an outcome of a WRIA 1 Culvert Subcommittee that meets once or twice a year to review work completed and planned.  The work plan is updated on a regular basis.

WRIA 1 Culvert Multi-Year Work Plan

Other Nooksack Basin Studies and Reports

HISTORICAL AQUATIC HABITAT IN RIVER VALLEYS AND ESTUARIES OF THE NOOKSACK, SKAGIT, STILLAGUAMISH, AND SNOHOMISH WATERSHEDS
Brian D. Collins and Amir J. Sheikh, Department of Earth & Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA  98195, May 1, 2003

HISTORICAL CHANNEL LOCATIONS OF THE NOOKSACK RIVER
Brian Collins and Amir Sheikh, Department of Earth & Space Sciences, Universiy of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, November 23, 2004
Due to the size of this document, it issplit into multiple files:
Part 1a;  Part 1b;  Part 2aPart 2bPart 2c

SOUTH FORK NOOKSACK RIVER CLIMATE RESEARCH ASSESSMENTS

1. EPA Region 10 Climate Change and TMDL Pilot Project, South Fork Nooksack River, Washington Fact Sheet

2. Quantitative Assessment of Temperature Sensitivity of the South Fork Nooksack River Under Future Climates Using QUAL2Kw
Butcher, J.B., M. Fizullabhoy, H. Nicholas P. Cada, and J.T. Kennedy. 2016. EPA/600/R-14/233. Western Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR

3. Qualitative Assessment: Evaluating the Impacts of Climate Change on Endangered Species Act Recovery Actions for the South Fork Nooksack River, WA.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 2016.  EPA/600/R-16/153. Western Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR.