County Council considering ban on paddleboards, tubes on South Fork of Nooksack

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Whatcom County Council is considering a move to deflate tubers on the South Fork of the Nooksack River.

The concern is that the warm-weather activity is hurting efforts to restore chinook salmon runs in the river.

Ecology lists the South Fork as an impaired water body with low flows, warm water and a lack of habitat.

Those conditions combined to kill over 2,500 returning salmon before they could spawn in 2021.

An ordinance would ban paddleboards and flotation devices propelled by arms or legs, but not affect most other legal boats or watercraft.

The council will hold a public hearing on the ban on August 9th.