Restoration
Whatcom Creek
Running through central Bellingham to the heart of downtown, Whatcom Creek has a rich cultural and ecological history that showcases the importance of protecting natural resources and the effects that we can have on the environment around us. Beginning in nearby Lake Whatcom, this creek travels a little over 4 miles before entering Bellingham Bay, draining nearly 8 square miles of land.
Home to fall Chinook, coho, chum, pink, and sockeye, Whatcom Creek remains vital rearing and spawning habitat for local salmon populations. Development along the riparian areas of this creek makes it prone to low water quality levels caused by pollution and major events such as the 1999 Olympic Pipeline Explosion have had drastic impacts on the local ecosystems.
The Whatcom Creek Watershed
Whatcom Creek watershed. Basemap imagery © Esri.
Whatcom Creek Ecology
Chum
Also called dog salmon
Chum are the second largest salmon species. They spawn from October through January in the Nooksack and in creeks like Terrell, Squalicum, and Whatcom.
Pink
Also called humpy salmon
Pink are the smallest of the five species, the most abundant species in Washington. In Puget Sound, they return in odd-numbered years.
Coho
Also called silver salmon
Coho are the most widely distributed salmon in Whatcom County. Their young spend a full year in freshwater before migrating to sea.
Chinook
Also called king salmon
Chinook are the largest of the Pacific salmon. The Nooksack supports both a spring and a fall run, and Puget Sound Chinook are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Whatcom Creek Work Parties
3,300+
native trees & shrubs planted
2,400+
community volunteers
27,000+
lbs of invasives removed
