About NSEA

NSEA is a community–based nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring sustainable wild salmon runs in Whatcom County.

In 1990, the Washington State Legislature created the Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group (RFEG) Program to involve local communities, citizen volunteers, and landowners in the state's salmon recovery efforts. 

As one of the 14 RFEGs, NSEA was organized in 1990 as a coalition of community members and partners who work together for restoration of wild salmon runs in Whatcom County, from the Canadian border to the Skagit Watershed. 

The NSEA Approach

• Partnerships
  NSEA mobilizes diverse partners and partnerships between government agencies, willing landowners, volunteers, contractors, engineers, and laborers.
  
• Volunteer Involvement
  NSEA trains and organizes literally hundreds of volunteers every year.  This generates significant matching funds for grants and a cost-efficient labor force.   
  
• Voluntary Approach
  NSEA works through a non-governmental, non-regulatory, non-enforcement approach to salmon habitat restoration. 
  
• Nonprofit Organization
  NSEA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit with a local community board of directors.  All donations are tax deductible.
  
• Cost Efficient Operation
  NSEA keeps a low overhead, uses lots of donated volunteer help, takes advantage of matching funds, and has low administrative costs.
  
• Locally Focused Approach
  NSEA has a local community board of directors who live in, work in, and know the local watershed.  NSEA is able to establish long-term relationships with landowners and partners to carry out projects.
  
• Education and Outreach
  NSEA uses education and outreach to engage the community in salmon recovery.  NSEA has well-established school and outreach programs.
• Business Connections
  NSEA has strong connections to the business community, and has established many business partnerships.
• Nonpolitical Approach
  NSEA is a nonpartisan, nonpolitical, nonprofit organization.  We believe in taking action, not taking sides.
• Technical Skills
  NSEA staff, volunteers, and partners have technical fisheries skills and the ability to provide volunteer and professional labor.
• Cooperative Compliance
  NSEA provides an opportunity for landowners to achieve compliance with certain standards and avoid legal entanglements.
• Long-Term Commitment
  As a stable community-based organization, NSEA is here to work on long-term projects, inventing resources for many years and decades to keep working at the job of salmon recovery.
  

NSEA Reports

• NSEA Annual Report for 2008

• NSEA Strategic Plan

• Form 990 for 2007

• Auditor's Report for 2004