Wells Creek, Glacier Creek, Middle Fork Nooksack River, South Fork Nooksack River
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Canyon Creek
The river proper begins with the merging of three main tributaries, namely the North Fork, Middle Fork and South Fork, near Deming. All three forks originate in the Mount Baker Wilderness, and the North Fork, the longest of the three, is sometimes considered the main river.[2] The Nooksack is approximately 75 miles (121 km) in total length measuring from the North Fork headwaters. The lower Nooksack flows as a northerly loop through the fertile southern Fraser Lowland agricultural area before emptying into Bellingham Bay and, via the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Strait of Georgia, communicating with the Pacific Ocean.
Looking down at the raging North Fork Nooksack River from the Mount Baker Highway, which, at this location, runs along a 200-foot cliff that drops almost straight into the river. This location is just upstream from Nooksack Falls.
The North Fork Nooksack River rises at the Nooksack Cirque east of Mount Shuksan within the western part of North Cascades National Park in central Whatcom County. Gathering meltwater off East Nooksack Glacier, it flows generally west past north of Mount Baker. For most of its course, this fork is paralleled by State Route 542 (also called the Mount Baker Highway). The river picks up large creeks such as Price Creek, a short creek draining Price Lake; as well as Ruth Creek, before the uppermost highway bridge crosses it.
At Nooksack Falls, the river flows through a narrow valley and drops freely 88 feet (27 m) into a deep rocky river canyon. The falls are viewable from the forested cover near the cliff edge. A small parking lot nearby contains a kiosk with information about the falls and a hydroelectric project.
Continuing west, the North Fork receives several tributaries including Wells Creek, which joins the river at the base of the falls, and Glacier Creek and Canyon Creek, before the river turns briefly south. The Middle Fork and South Fork join the North Fork within a few miles of one another. The Middle Fork joins first, with its confluence opposite Welcome. The South Fork joins just southeast of Deming and the Nooksack Indian Reservation, creating the Nooksack River proper.
The traditional name of the North Fork in the Nooksack language is Chuw7álich ("the next point").[6]
Middle Fork
The Middle Fork Nooksack River, about 20 miles (32 km) long, originates on the southern slopes of Mount Baker near Baker Pass.[7] It flows generally northwest between Mount Baker and Twin Sisters, and drains into the North Fork opposite Welcome, about 4.5 km (2.8 mi) northeast of the confluence between the North and South Forks.
The traditional name of the Middle Fork in the Nooksack language is Nuxwt’íqw’em ("always-murky water").[6]
South Fork
The South Fork Nooksack River, about 50 miles (80 km) long, rises in southern Whatcom County, east of Twin Sisters Mountain near Bell Pass and Lake Wiseman.[8] It flows briefly south, entering Skagit County, then northwest to re-enter Whatcom County. It flows past the town of Acme, and due north until merging with the North Fork near the State Route 9 bridge, 1.6 km (1 mi) southeast of Deming and the Nooksack Indian Reservation.
The traditional name of the South Fork in the Nooksack language is Nuxw7íyem ("always-clear water").[6]
Nooksack proper
Glacier Creek joins the Nooksack River
After the Middle and South Forks join, the combined river flows northwest, emerging from the valley south of the Sumas Mountain and flowing past Everson and Lynden. Near Everson, the river is at risk of floods breaching the right bank, allowing flow into lower lands to the north, through Sumas River and into Canada. At Lynden the river turns southwest and, near Ferndale, south. Its mouth is at the north side of Bellingham Bay at the Lummi Indian Reservation, approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Bellingham.[9]
River modifications
The river supplies the nearby town of Glacier, Washington with hydroelectric power from a dam on the North Fork near Nooksack Falls. The Middle Fork was partially blocked with a diversion dam built by the City of Bellingham in the late 1950s for diverting water into Lake Whatcom, which supplies the city's drinking water. As of July 2020, this old water diversion system has been modified to remove the dam and restore the river channel for the benefit of critical salmon spawning habitat.[10]
In the late 19th century, most of the stream flow of the Nooksack River near its mouth flowed through the present channel of the short Lummi River to Lummi Bay, northwest of Bellingham Bay. Near the start of the 20th century, a log jam plugged the channel to Lummi Bay, forcing the river to change its channel to the present one. The accumulation of the new river delta has been an ongoing field of research regarding the new wetlands it has created. The river only resupplies the previous delta on Lummi Bay during high-flow conditions.
Floods
The river is subject to flooding due to high rainfall amounts in the region and some of the deepest snow packs in the country. The Pineapple Express, a weather pattern that brings central Pacific wind and rain to the northwest, can sometimes catalyze flooding. For example, flooding in Everson occurred 14 times from to 1936 to 2003.[11] Specific examples of floods are:
In November 1990, flooding caused over $20 million in damage and the closure of the Trans-Canada Highway for 26 hours.[12][13]
In November 1995, flooding caused $4 million in damage in Whatcom County.[11]
During a November 2006storm, the river flooded the city of Everson.[14]
Both the USA and Canada have faced long-term political hurdles to adequate flood prevention. "On the Washington side, there has been a reluctance to spend money to benefit Canada", and on the Canadian side, "B.C. has been reluctant to use the International Joint Commission following a 1988 report that resulted in the cancellation of the Sage Creek coal mine on the Flathead River".[12]
^ abcNathan Vanderklippe (December 3, 2021). "The U.S. rebuffed decades of pleas from B.C. to shore up a dike for $29 million. Now, damage from flooding will hit $1 billion". The Globe and Mail. p. A1 and A12.
^Blumenthal, Les (October 12, 2008). "Endangered species ruling could slow development in floodplains". The News Tribune. Tacoma News, Inc. Retrieved 2008-10-12.[dead link]
^"Immediate evacuation order for Sumas Prairie due to landslide in Abbotsford". Abbotsford News. 2021-11-16. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
^Hauser, Christine; Chung, Christine (2021-11-16). "Evacuations Continue After Mudslides in British Columbia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
January 06, 2023
nooksack, river, river, western, whatcom, county, northwestern, state, washington, draining, extensive, valley, systems, within, north, cascades, around, mount, shuksan, mount, baker, twin, sisters, portion, fraser, lowland, south, canada, united, states, bord. The Nooksack River is a river in western Whatcom County of the northwestern U S state of Washington draining extensive valley systems within the North Cascades around Mount Shuksan Mount Baker and the Twin Sisters and a portion of Fraser Lowland south of the Canada United States border Nooksack RiverNorth Fork Nooksack RiverAerial photo of the river in Ferndale WA Nooksack BasinMouth of the Nooksack River in WashingtonLocationCountryUnited StatesStateWashingtonCountiesWhatcomCitiesFerndale MariettaPhysical characteristicsSourceCascade Range locationMount Baker Wilderness coordinates48 50 0 N 121 33 18 W 48 83333 N 121 55500 W 48 83333 121 55500 2 elevation3 620 ft 1 100 m 3 MouthBellingham Bay coordinates48 46 29 N 122 35 57 W 48 77472 N 122 59917 W 48 77472 122 59917 Coordinates 48 46 29 N 122 35 57 W 48 77472 N 122 59917 W 48 77472 122 59917 1 elevation0 ft 0 m 3 Length75 mi 121 km 4 Basin size786 sq mi 2 040 km2 5 Discharge locationFerndale 5 average3 814 cu ft s 108 0 m3 s 5 minimum466 cu ft s 13 2 m3 s maximum48 200 cu ft s 1 360 m3 s Basin featuresTributaries leftWells Creek Glacier Creek Middle Fork Nooksack River South Fork Nooksack River rightCanyon CreekThe river proper begins with the merging of three main tributaries namely the North Fork Middle Fork and South Fork near Deming All three forks originate in the Mount Baker Wilderness and the North Fork the longest of the three is sometimes considered the main river 2 The Nooksack is approximately 75 miles 121 km in total length measuring from the North Fork headwaters The lower Nooksack flows as a northerly loop through the fertile southern Fraser Lowland agricultural area before emptying into Bellingham Bay and via the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Strait of Georgia communicating with the Pacific Ocean Contents 1 Course 1 1 North Fork 1 2 Middle Fork 1 3 South Fork 1 4 Nooksack proper 2 River modifications 3 Floods 4 See also 5 ReferencesCourse EditNorth Fork Edit Looking down at the raging North Fork Nooksack River from the Mount Baker Highway which at this location runs along a 200 foot cliff that drops almost straight into the river This location is just upstream from Nooksack Falls Nooksack River cirque The North Fork Nooksack River rises at the Nooksack Cirque east of Mount Shuksan within the western part of North Cascades National Park in central Whatcom County Gathering meltwater off East Nooksack Glacier it flows generally west past north of Mount Baker For most of its course this fork is paralleled by State Route 542 also called the Mount Baker Highway The river picks up large creeks such as Price Creek a short creek draining Price Lake as well as Ruth Creek before the uppermost highway bridge crosses it At Nooksack Falls the river flows through a narrow valley and drops freely 88 feet 27 m into a deep rocky river canyon The falls are viewable from the forested cover near the cliff edge A small parking lot nearby contains a kiosk with information about the falls and a hydroelectric project Continuing west the North Fork receives several tributaries including Wells Creek which joins the river at the base of the falls and Glacier Creek and Canyon Creek before the river turns briefly south The Middle Fork and South Fork join the North Fork within a few miles of one another The Middle Fork joins first with its confluence opposite Welcome The South Fork joins just southeast of Deming and the Nooksack Indian Reservation creating the Nooksack River proper The traditional name of the North Fork in the Nooksack language is Chuw7alich the next point 6 Middle Fork Edit The Middle Fork Nooksack River about 20 miles 32 km long originates on the southern slopes of Mount Baker near Baker Pass 7 It flows generally northwest between Mount Baker and Twin Sisters and drains into the North Fork opposite Welcome about 4 5 km 2 8 mi northeast of the confluence between the North and South Forks The traditional name of the Middle Fork in the Nooksack language is Nuxwt iqw em always murky water 6 South Fork Edit The South Fork Nooksack River about 50 miles 80 km long rises in southern Whatcom County east of Twin Sisters Mountain near Bell Pass and Lake Wiseman 8 It flows briefly south entering Skagit County then northwest to re enter Whatcom County It flows past the town of Acme and due north until merging with the North Fork near the State Route 9 bridge 1 6 km 1 mi southeast of Deming and the Nooksack Indian Reservation The traditional name of the South Fork in the Nooksack language is Nuxw7iyem always clear water 6 Nooksack proper Edit Glacier Creek joins the Nooksack River After the Middle and South Forks join the combined river flows northwest emerging from the valley south of the Sumas Mountain and flowing past Everson and Lynden Near Everson the river is at risk of floods breaching the right bank allowing flow into lower lands to the north through Sumas River and into Canada At Lynden the river turns southwest and near Ferndale south Its mouth is at the north side of Bellingham Bay at the Lummi Indian Reservation approximately 3 miles 4 8 km west of Bellingham 9 River modifications EditThe river supplies the nearby town of Glacier Washington with hydroelectric power from a dam on the North Fork near Nooksack Falls The Middle Fork was partially blocked with a diversion dam built by the City of Bellingham in the late 1950s for diverting water into Lake Whatcom which supplies the city s drinking water As of July 2020 this old water diversion system has been modified to remove the dam and restore the river channel for the benefit of critical salmon spawning habitat 10 In the late 19th century most of the stream flow of the Nooksack River near its mouth flowed through the present channel of the short Lummi River to Lummi Bay northwest of Bellingham Bay Near the start of the 20th century a log jam plugged the channel to Lummi Bay forcing the river to change its channel to the present one The accumulation of the new river delta has been an ongoing field of research regarding the new wetlands it has created The river only resupplies the previous delta on Lummi Bay during high flow conditions Floods EditThe river is subject to flooding due to high rainfall amounts in the region and some of the deepest snow packs in the country The Pineapple Express a weather pattern that brings central Pacific wind and rain to the northwest can sometimes catalyze flooding For example flooding in Everson occurred 14 times from to 1936 to 2003 11 Specific examples of floods are In November 1990 flooding caused over 20 million in damage and the closure of the Trans Canada Highway for 26 hours 12 13 In November 1995 flooding caused 4 million in damage in Whatcom County 11 During a November 2006storm the river flooded the city of Everson 14 In November and December 2021 water from the Nooksack River filled the Sumas Prairie in Canada s Fraser Valley This resulted in evacuations because of a landslide 15 1 billion in damage in Abbotsford British Columbia 12 16 and further damage elsewhere Both the USA and Canada have faced long term political hurdles to adequate flood prevention On the Washington side there has been a reluctance to spend money to benefit Canada and on the Canadian side B C has been reluctant to use the International Joint Commission following a 1988 report that resulted in the cancellation of the Sage Creek coal mine on the Flathead River 12 See also EditList of rivers of WashingtonReferences Edit U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System Nooksack River a b U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System Nooksack River a b Google Earth elevation for GNIS coordinates Nooksack River Archived 2004 07 02 at the Wayback Machine The Columbia Gazetteer of North America a b c Nooksack River Basin Water Resource Data Washington 2005 USGS a b c Cultural Resources Department NookSack Indian Tribe Archived from the original on 2014 01 04 Retrieved 2013 09 16 U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System Nooksack River U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System Nooksack River Course info mainly from Washington Road amp Recreation Atlas Benchmark Maps 2000 Bang Watch a Nooksack River dam finally coming down freeing miles for fish habitat The Seattle Times 2020 07 20 Retrieved 2020 08 04 a b Peter Neil Grout Richard April 2003 update Nooksack Rivers International Task Force a b c Nathan Vanderklippe December 3 2021 The U S rebuffed decades of pleas from B C to shore up a dike for 29 million Now damage from flooding will hit 1 billion The Globe and Mail p A1 and A12 Down by the River The Bellingham Herald February 6 2018 Blumenthal Les October 12 2008 Endangered species ruling could slow development in floodplains The News Tribune Tacoma News Inc Retrieved 2008 10 12 dead link Immediate evacuation order for Sumas Prairie due to landslide in Abbotsford Abbotsford News 2021 11 16 Retrieved 2021 11 16 Hauser Christine Chung Christine 2021 11 16 Evacuations Continue After Mudslides in British Columbia The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2021 11 16 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nooksack River amp oldid 1072421059, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
