SF (Nuxw7íyem) Nesset Phase 2-3 Final Design

Salmonid Restoration Planning and Assessments

Project ID	14-1658 P
Recovery Domains	Puget Sound
Start Date	12/04/2014
End Date	06/30/2017
Year	2014
Status	Completed
Last Edited	05/01/2025

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Description

The Nooksack Tribe finalized design for restoration of instream habitat in the South Fork Nooksack River, Nesset Reach (Phase 2 reach; RM 10.95-11.4), near Acme, Whatcom County. The goal is to address South Fork Nooksack Chinook limiting factors of lack of key habitat, low habitat diversity, and high water temperatures. Preliminary design was for 23 ELJ’s designed to form pools, create temperature refuges, remove channel constraints, and reconnect the floodplain. Final design is for 5 ELJs in the phase 2 portion of the reach. Specific deliverables include: (1) Final design report and drawings, with design review comments (there were no comments from reviewers); (2) Permit applications submitted to agencies; and (3) Cultural resources compliance. Restoration will also benefit ESA-listed steelhead and bull trout; coho, chum, riverine sockeye, and pink salmon; and cutthroat trout.

South Fork Nooksack early Chinook are essential for ESU recovery, but abundances are critically low. The adjacent favorable landownership through the reach presents a unique opportunity to restore habitat and reconnect floodplains in a relatively unconfined reach of the lower South Fork. The reach is also expected to be heavily used by chinook returning to the Skookum hatchery (two miles upstream) as part of the South Fork Nooksack Chinook population-rebuilding program. Funding this design project advanced priority actions in a priority reach.

Project Benefit

To complete a restoration design for phase 2 of the reach.

Source

Funds

PCSRF

$108,100

Other

$22,267

Report Total:

$130,367

Worksites

1-Nesset Phase 2-3

Worksite Identifier: 1-Nesset Phase 2-3
Start Date:
End Date:

Area Description

No Area Description data was found for this worksite.

Location Information

Basin: Puget Sound (171100)
Subbasin:
Watershed:
Subwatershed:

State: Washington
Recovery Domain: Puget Sound
Latitude: 48.69643346
Longitude: -122.16718058

ESU

Un-Named ESU Chum
Un-Named ESU Coho
Un-Named ESU Pink
Un-Named ESU Steelhead
Puget Sound Chinook Salmon ESU

Map

Photos

Metrics

B.0 Salmonid Restoration Planning and AssessmentsY (Y/N)

. . B.0.a Planning And Assessment Funding 130,367.00
. . B.0.b.1 Area Encompassed 21.0
. . B.0.b.2 Stream Miles Affected .45

. . B.1 Restoration Planning And CoordinationY (Y/N)

. . . . B.1.a Planning and Coordination funding 130,367.00

. . . . B.1.b.11 Engineering/design work for restoration projectsY (Y/N)

. . . . . . B.1.b.11.a

Name of plan implemented
Shared Strategy Development Committee. 2007. Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan. Seattle, WA. https://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/publications/recovery_planning/salmon_steelhead/domains/puget_sound/chinook/pugetsoundchinookrecoveryplan_wo_exec_summary.pdf

. . . . . . B.1.b.11.b

Description and scope of the plan implemented
This project will address South Fork Nooksack Chinook limiting factors of lack of key habitat, low habitat diversity, and high water temperatures. Restoring habitat in the Forks is identified on pages 159-160.