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Nooksack River Delta

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description Nooksack River Delta Overview

Nooksack River Delta is the low-lying river-mouth region where the Nooksack River enters Bellingham Bay in northwestern Washington State. It contains tidal channels, wetlands, mudflats, and other estuarine habitats formed by sediment carried from the river into the bay. These habitats support salmon and other fish and wildlife, while flooding, river-channel change, sediment movement, and sea-level rise affect the delta's ecology and surrounding communities.

help Nooksack River Delta FAQ

Where is the Nooksack River Delta located?

It lies in Whatcom County in northwestern Washington, where the Nooksack River empties into Bellingham Bay. The delta connects river channels with extensive estuarine wetlands. [Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife](https://wdfw.wa.gov/places-to-go/wildlife-areas/nooksack-wildlife-area-unit)

Why is the Nooksack River Delta important for salmon?

Young salmon and steelhead use the estuary as a rearing and holding area while moving between freshwater and the sea. The Nooksack basin is one of the Washington river systems associated with all five Pacific salmon species. [Washington Department of Ecology](https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/publications/documents/8511001.pdf)

What kind of habitat does the Nooksack River Delta provide?

Its wetlands provide shallow, sheltered habitat for juvenile fish, waterfowl, and other estuarine wildlife. The transition from river water to Bellingham Bay makes the delta especially important during salmon migration.

Is the Nooksack River Delta protected as wildlife habitat?

The Nooksack Unit of the Whatcom Wildlife Area was acquired in part to protect critical salmonid and waterfowl habitat. It extends from the Nooksack estuary toward the Tennant Lake Unit. [Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife](https://wdfw.wa.gov/places-to-go/wildlife-areas/nooksack-wildlife-area-unit)

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