North Fork Eagle Reserve

Location: North Fork Nooksack River
Acres: 63

Salmon spawning, bald eagles, eagle roost

 

Photo by Alan Fritzberg

North Fork Eagle is a dynamic 42-acre parcel acquired by WLT in 1999. Just upstream of the confluence of the North and Middle Forks of the Nooksack River, chum salmon spawn and die here. This attracts large numbers of Bald Eagles who feed on the salmon and roost in the riparian forest. There are no flood control structures on this stretch of the river. Numerous side channels, river bars and quiet pools develop naturally. Log jams have accumulated, providing over for salmon smolts and creating large pools for fish in need of rest. The Nooksack Elk Herd moves through this property regularly.  Salmon, Elk and Eagles: Three species whose health reflects the overall well-being of the ecosystem humans rely on.

The purchase of this property was made possible by a grant from the Department of Fish and Wildlife in cooperation with the Department of Ecology. The terms of the grant require Whatcom Land Trust to manage the property for protection of wetlands, wildlife and habitat.

 

Each generation needs to make its own decisions and its own discoveries – which means that one of this generation’s responsibilities is to see that the next generation will still have something left to discover. — Tony Hiss, The Experience of Place