Washington State Department of Ecology

Nooksack - WRIA 01

Grants awarded through June 2010

$2,069,766

Projected grants July 2012 - June 2013

$145,000 for Instream Flow Negotiations Support

Initiating governments

Whatcom County
City of Bellingham
Public Utility District No. 1
Lummi Nation
Nooksack Tribe

Mission Statement

In the broadest terms the object of the project are to assess the status of the water resources in WRIA 01, determine the best management strategies to balance the competing demands for water, and to ensure long-term sustainability of that balance. Critical to that process is the balance between instream and out-of stream uses of water, and the provision of adequate future water supplies for uses such as agriculture, energy production, and population and economic growth.

Background

The Nooksack Watershed Plan was approved by Whatcom County in June 2005, and the Nooksack Watershed Phase 4 Implementation Grant was signed in June 2006. Their detailed implementation plan and water monitoring plan were finished in July 2007. In 2011 the Watershed Planning Staff Team formally merged with the WRIA 1 Salmon Recovery Funding Board, and became the WRIA 1 Watershed Management Team. This group also serves as Local Integrating Organization for the Whatcom Action Area of the Puget Sound Partnership.

Instream flow status

Existing instream flows were set in 1985 (WAC 173-501). As a part of the Watershed Plan, the WRIA 01 Instream Flow Action Plan was developed. This plan describes a basin-by-basin approach to examine instream flow needs and consider treaty reserve water rights for the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Tribe.

The first areas to initiate negotiations were the Bertrand Creek and Middle Fork Nooksack River watersheds, beginning in spring 2006. In 2008 these pilot negotiations were combined and expanded to include the entire Nooksack drainage. By expanding the area of consideration, water managers can better utilize regional resources and address water needs more holistically. The goal is to recommend amendments to the existing instream flow rule in about five years.

Planning document

Memorandum of Agreement

Other resources

2010 State of the Watershed Report - The first report is an easy-to-read summary of progress toward the goal of ensuring long-term protection and enhancement of our communities' water resources. This report documents how well we are doing to protect and manage riverine and coastal watersheds. It is a snapshot of the work we are doing in Whatcom County and an account of what is known about our water, our land, and our fish.
Nooksack Watershed Management Project