American Whitewater has worked with the Forest Service to develop guidelines that protect salmon while providing opportunities for paddlers to enjoy the North Fork Nooksack River.

The Nooksack River is an important river for Chinook salmon which are protected under the Endangered Species Act. These fish are particularly vulnerable when spawning (August thru September). American Whitewater has developed the following guidelines with the US Forest Service for recreational activities on the North Fork Nooksack for the protection of these fish:

• Avoid recreational activities that include contact access on the water (e.g. paddling, fishing, wading) from August 15th to October 15th. During this period of low water, which occurs during the Chinook spawning period, fish are particularly vulnerable to disturbance from boats that pass overhead or individuals wading in the river. An exception is allowed at higher flows above 1000 cfs (as measured by the USGS gauge).
• An exception to the above guidelines is made for the short high gradient Horsehoe Bend section. Because this reach is of higher gradient than that typically used by spawning salmon it may be used by paddlers during the period August 15th to October 15th (paddlers are asked to carefully review the information on access points in the run description).
• Following the completion of spawning in mid October, eggs in gravel are vulnerable through the end of March. Do not get out of your boat or wade in the river in areas where the substrate is smaller than the size of a grapefruit as you could crush eggs by walking in areas with gravel.

By following these voluntary guidelines we can protect fish and provide recreational opportunities. By demonstrating cooperation with these guidelines we can avoid mandatory river closures and retain this more flexible alternative.

For more than 3 decades hydro developers have had their eyes on the Nooksack and its tributaries for hydropower development. The following projects have all been explored or considered in the Nooksack basin. Those for which a formal application was filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission are indicated by project number below:

• Smith Creek
• Sygitowicz Creek
• Mirror Lake
• Diamond Creek
• Warm Creek, P-10865, Dismissed March 7, 2003
• Clearwater Creek, P-11495, Dismissed February 12, 2003
• Skookum Creek, P-11850, Surrender of Preliminary Permit November 19, 2003
• Nooksack Falls (on the NF Nooksack), P-11857, Project Determined to be Non-Jurisdictional March 25, 2004
• Boulder Creek, P-4270, Dismissed November 10, 1999
• Deadhorse Creek, P-4282, Dismissed February 10, 2000
• Canyon Creek, P-4312, Dismissed February 10, 2000
• Wells Creek, P-4628, Dismissed February 10, 2000
• Heislers Creek (on the MF Nooksack), P-11389
• Glacier Creek, P-4738, Dismissed February 10, 2000
• Swamp Creek
• Ruth Creek

American Whitewater has been a formal stakeholder on several of these projects dating back to 1992 given the potential direct impacts to whitewater boating opportunities.

American Whitewater supports protection of rivers in the Nooksack drainage through Wild and Scenic designation.

The Forest Service has formally studied rivers in the Nooksack drainage for Wild and Scenic designation and recommended these rivers to Congress for designation:

• North Fork Nooksack: Headwaters to Confluence with South Fork Nooksack
• South Fork Nooksack: Headwater to National Forest boundary
• Bell Creek: Headwaters to South Fork Nooksack

The Forest Service determined that the Wells Creek and Middle Fork Nooksack were not suitable for designation. American Whitewater disagrees with this assessment and also believes that the Clearwater should be designated given ongoing threats to hydropower development on one of the best creek runs in the region.

Access to the North Fork Nooksack has presented challenges because the take-out for the run is downstream of the Forest Service boundary. We are exploring opportunities to provide access with the Forest Service and other stakeholders.

The diversion weir on the Middle Fork Nooksack is a barrier to fish passage and navigation. American Whitewater supports removal of this structure. In the alternative, public access and safety must be considered with any modifications. The City of Bellingham maintains a Middle Fork Diversion Dam project page.