The Nooksack River was first determined 

eligible for a Wild and Scenic designation by the US Forest Service in 1990. The Forest Service concluded that portions of the North, Middle, and South Forks and their tributaries were all "eligible" for inclusion in the Wild and Scenic River System due to their special wild character and natural and recreational resources. 

     

Since this first recommendation, local, regional, and national partners have been working together to advance Wild and Scenic designation for the Nooksack River. The listing of local trout, salmon, and steelhead species under the federal Endangered Species Act in 1998, 1999, and 2007 led to an increased sense of urgency to seek designation to protect the upper watershed from habitat loss and water quality degradation.

 

The Nooksack Wild and Scenic Campaign is a collaborative effort between community partners that is coordinated by staff from the national non-profit organization American Rivers. See their page about the Wild and Scenic proposal here.  (Images courtesy of Brett Baunton)