MIDDLE FORK Restoring Habitat for Puget Sound Chinook , Steelhead, and Bull Trout NOOKSACK PASSAGE PROJECT

OVERVIEW PROJECT BENEFITS The Middle Fork Nooksack Fish Passage Project will reestablish access to approximately 16 miles 16 miles of critical spawning and rearing habitat for Puget Pristine Fish Habitat Restored Sound Act listed Chinook Spring Chinook1 salmon, Bull Trout salmon, Steelhead, and Bull Trout. and steelhead will regain access • Project elements include: to historic pristine spawning and rearing habitat. • Removal of City of Bellingham’s diversion to restore fish passage; 45% • Maintaining municipal water supply by Steelhead Habitat Restored relocating intake upstream; and • Adding a fish screen for fish protection. Steelhead will regain access to an estimated 45% of their historic habitat in the Nooksack Middle Fork PROJECT IMPORTANCE watershed. • Determined to be the single most effective action for 2 this watershed to increase Chinook populations. 31% • Highlighted as the number one Priority Action in the Increase in Abundance Water Resource Inventory Area 1 Salmon Recovery Spring Chinook1 salmon population Plan.2 abundance will increase.2 • Cited by Puget Sound Chinook Recovery Plan as a prime example of a major action to restore historic Chinook salmon spawning and rearing habitat in Additional Benefits Puget Sound. The project is of significant cultural • Poised to contribute to Southern Resident Killer importance to local tribes, provides Whale recovery through increased prey availability. improved public safety for recreational kayakers and increases water supply • Helping to restore sacred fish populations for Lummi reliability. Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe. 1 North/Middle Fork Nooksack spring Chinook salmon population 2 Based on Ecosystem Diagnosis and Treatment [EDT] analysis PUGET SOUND SPECIES RECOVERY BENEFITS • Spring Chinook Salmon • Coho Salmon • Steelhead • Bull Trout Total Funds Raised to Date • Southern Resident Killer Whales Targeted $18,736,632 Project Status Completion Construction 2020 Funding Needed Project Partners: $2 million

For more information, please contact April McEwen, Project Manager, American [email protected] Steve Day, Project Engineer, City of Belingham [email protected]