BELLINGHAM, Wash. – A dam on the Middle Fork of the Nooksack River will soon come down, allowing the river to flow freely for the first time in almost 60 years.
The river has been choked by the dam that pooled water for the City of Bellingham’s intake to supplement Lake Whatcom since 1961.
Assistant Public Works Director Renee LaCroix says the Lummi and Nooksack Tribes, the City, state and federal agencies have been planning the project for years.
Then an important benefactor stepped up in 2017.
Crews have been preparing the site and the dam will be completely removed in July, providing 16 miles of cold, pristine spawning habitat for salmon, steelhead and trout.
A modern, non-intrusive intake for the city has already been put in place.