Blasting began Monday to tear down a dam on the Middle Fork of the Nooksack River east of Bellingham. The project aims to open up 16 miles of river for salmon, steelhead and trout habitat.
The dam, constructed in 1962, has been used to divert water intermittently as a supplement to Bellingham’s main reservoir.
In 2000, the City was approached by the Nooksack Indian Tribe and Lummi Nation who offered to work together to restore fish passage. A formal partnership agreement was signed with the tribes and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in 2002.
In 2017, American Rivers joined the effort as a formal partner, with funding provided by Paul G. Allen Family Foundation for project management and coordination, as well as design and construction funding match.
Construction began in early 2020. The dam will be removed in summer 2020. The dam removal will restore fish passage and “the spiritual power and beauty in the eyes of the Nooksack Indian Tribe”.