NF (Xwqélém) Farmhouse Ph 2a Restoration

The Nooksack Tribe constructed engineered log jams (ELJs) to restore instream habitat in the North Fork Nooksack River, RM 48.2-48.3, near Kendall, Whatcom County. The goal of the project was to address North/Middle Fork Nooksack chinook limiting factors of high channel instability and low habitat diversity. Specifically, this project constructed 7 log jams in a 0.1-mile river segment, as part of the first portion of the 41 total log jams that were in the original Phase 2 design, which is part of a larger five-phase project of restoration planned in the Farmhouse reach (RM 46.4-49). The ELJs were designed to: (1) increase length of side channels available for spawning;(2) form pools and increase habitat diversity; and (3) promote forested island formation and persistence. The project was designed to benefit ESA-listed chinook, but it will also benefit ESA-listed steelhead and bull trout; coho, chum, riverine sockeye, and pink salmon; and cutthroat trout.

To improve instream habitat complexity by installing engineered log jams, benefitting ESA-listed Chinook salmon and Steelhead trout.