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

Nooksack Wildlife Area Click to Enlarge Nooksack Unit In 2001, 250 acres were acquired adjacent to the Nooksack River, to protect critical salmonid and waterfowl habitat. The Natural Resource Conservation Service first purchased a conservation easement on the property; then the Department acquired the property deed with salmon restoration funds. The following year 350 adjoining acres were purchased, and the next year, 27.5-acres adjacent to that property were purchased with North American Wetland Conservation Act and state wildlife funds. These three purchases, totaling 627.5 acres, now form a continuous corridor of land from Ferndale to the mouth of the Nooksack River, owned by the Department or the Whatcom County Parks and Recreation Department. Federal grants (awarded to the Lummi Indian Nation), Natural Resource Conservation Service habitat restoration funds, Washington State duck stamp funds, Ducks Unlimited funds, and Federal Fish and Wildlife funds all contributed to a very successful partnership that completed nearly one million dollars of habitat restoration in the past three years on this unit. The Lummi Nation has secured federal funding through the Natural Resource Conservation Service and other federal grants to plant riparian trees and shrubs on more than 70 acres along the Nooksack River. Approximately 200 acres of argricultural lands are farmed annually to provide winter food crops for wildlife. Additionally, eight hunting/wildlife viewing blinds are available for use on the Nooksack Unit. Nooksack Estuary and Restoration Projects