South Fork Riparian Acquisition-Saxon Rd

This project will acquire an approximately 8-acre property completely within the HMZ + 300, including ~650 feet of shoreline and 7 acres of riparian forest. There is a single-family residential structure on the property and associated outbuildings, all located within 200 feet from the river, that will be removed. The shoreline on the property is vegetated and has not been hardened, and includes both main-channel and side-channel habitat. Acquiring and protecting this habitat will prevent future hardening of the streambank, which is likely due to the buildings proximity to the river, facilitate future in-stream restoration projects along this reach, and prevent degradation of riparian forest with the HMZ+300. Acquisition will also allow reforestation of the ~1-acre clearing after removal of the structures.

1. Acquire 8 acre shoreline property along the South Fork Nooksack to address limiting factors to high priority fish species, including South Fork Early Chinook and Winter Steelhead. 2. Restore residential areas within the South Fork Nooksack River floodplain to remove structures and replant as riparian forest. Long term benefits of an improved riparian area will reduce instream temperature and eventually contribute to instream complexity. Removing and preventing development in the floodplain will eliminate the need for bank hardening and will allow for natural floodplain processes.