Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) is partnering with the United States Forest Service (USFS) to provide a controlled drainage along Road #33 in order to reduce risk of road failure, erosion & sediment production & to reduce potential impacts on fish habitat & water quality in Wells Creek, a major tributary to the North Fork Nooksack River. The proposed drainage corrections will prevent sedimentation during storm events. The drainage corrections design has been implemented on other similar projects by the USFS & has proven to be successful. The USFS has completed more than 50 miles of road treatment in the North Nooksack River. This project represents 13 miles of the remaining road miles to be treated. Logging, resulting in sedimentation, has heavily impacted the Wells Creek system, resulting in increasing impact to aquatic life & less holding habitat for the populations of native char, trout and salmonids downstream. This roadwork was first identified in 1990 during a road deficiency survey & in 1999, following storm activity. The headwater area of Wells Creek is identified as a potential mass wasting area. Continued sediment loading & flood events are severely limiting recovery of Chinook, Coho, steelhead, native char, & bull trout populations in the Nooksack system. The Wells Creek Road Sediment Control project complements other sediment reduction projects implemented by USFS, WA DNR, NSEA, and private timber owners.
