Washington Wildlife Areas Whatcom Wildlife Area

Contact Information: Tom Reed, Manager 5975 Lake Terrell Road Ferndale, Washington 98248 (360) 384-4723 Home Lake Terrell Unit Tennant Lake Unit   Birds of Tennant Lake   Seasonal Programs Nooksack Unit Lummi Island Unit Leased Lands Unit   A Vehicle Use Permit is REQUIRED on ALL WDFW Lands Purchase Vehicle Use Permit About Vehicle Use Permit

Whatcom Wildlife Area Click to Enlarge Whatcom Wildlife Area The 4,560-acre Whatcom Wildlife Area consists of five parcels in Whatcom County, north of the City of Bellingham. The majority of this wildlife area lies within a few miles of Puget Sound, and about ten miles south of the Canadian border. The Whatcom Wildlife Area is ideally situated between the Fraser and Skagit rivers, and between the largest estuaries on Puget Sound/Georgia Basin and major Pacific Flyway waterfowl wintering areas. The Skagit estuary supports the highest numbers of wintering waterfowl in Puget Sound and the Fraser estuary in western Canada is that region’s most important waterfowl wintering area. As waterfowl and shorebirds move between these two estuaries, they either pass through or stop in the Whatcom Wildlife Area. The Whatcom Wildlife Area consists of a mix of open water, wetland, grassland, riparian shrub, and mixed forest totaling 4,650 acres. The management goals for the Whatcom Wildlife Area are to preserve habitat and species diversity for fish and wildlife resources, maintain healthy populations of game and non-game species, protect and restore native plant communities, and provide diverse opportunities for the public to encounter, utilize, and appreciate wildlife and wild areas. The Lake Terrell unit (1,500 acres) is ten miles northwest of Bellingham and five miles west of Ferndale. It includes Lake Terrell, a 500-acre shallow lake with two peat bog marshes on the south and southwest sides. Headquarters for the Whatcom Wildlife Area are located at Lake Terrell. The Tennant Lake unit (987 acres) is approximately two miles north of Bellingham and one mile south of Ferndale, is mostly in the floodplain of the Nooksack River. Some of the lower portions flood annually. Tennant Lake is an 80-acre, shallow, eutrophic lake. One half mile south is Claypit Pond, which developed as clay was dug up to help manufacture brick and glass (prior to department ownership). Fairly extensive swamp/marsh areas occur adjacent to both lakes. The Tennant Lake Interpretive Center is located at this unit. The Nooksack unit (627.5 acres) extends from the Nooksack River estuary north to Slater Road, where it meets the Tennant Lake unit. With these purchases, the eastern bank of the Nooksack River is protected from its mouth to Ferndale, as well as most of Tennant and Silver creeks. A dike running on the east bank currently protects the previously farmed lowlands from flooding. As this unit is a significant part of the Nooksack estuary, it is quickly being replanted with native vegetation, and tidally-influenced habitats are being restored for salmon and waterfowl. The Lummi Island unit (700 acres) is seven miles southwest of Bellingham. The property is located on the island’s steeper, rockier west side. The Lummi Island Wildlife Unit is not open to the public and there is no access. It is set aside as a sensitive wildlife area. Leased Units: The British Petroleum (formerly Arco) Oil Company unit is approximately 1,000 acres of privately owned industrial land four miles north of the Lake Terrell headquarters. The Intalco Aluminum Corporation segment is another 1,000 acres of industrial property, one mile south of the Lake Terrell headquarters. Both properties are leased by the Department for public hunting, fishing and related recreational activities.