Our Impact
Thirty-five years of bringing salmon home.
Since 1991, NSEA has done the hard work of salmon recovery in Whatcom County. We remove barriers to migration, replant streambanks, and rebuild the instream habitat salmon need, and none of it happens without a community that shows up. We have made real progress, and there is a lot of work still to do.
By the numbers
Boots-on-the-ground impact.
173
fish passage barriers removed
147.8
miles of upstream habitat opened
504,467
native trees and shrubs planted
408,883
volunteer hours
35,840
students reached
2,286
pieces of Large Woody Debris installed
612,040
linear feet of stream improved
1,439
volunteer work parties hosted
Numbers are cumulative since NSEA’s founding in 1991, current through end of 2025.
Why it matters
Salmon need our help.
Pacific salmon and steelhead need cold, clear waters of well-forested streams, and the ability to move upstream to their natal spawning grounds. Decades of development have left our streams in poor condition unsuitable for salmon survival, with a drastic decrease in forested streambanks needed to sustain cold clear water, and culverts that impede salmon migration.
Together with landowners, partners, and volunteers, we’re rebuilding habitat so salmon have a home to return to.
Where we work
Restoration across the Nooksack watershed.
NSEA works in creeks and rivers throughout Whatcom County’s Nooksack Basin. Explore where our restoration projects are on the map below.
Accountability
Transparency is part of the work.
NSEA publishes annual reports, IRS Form 990s, and our Strategic Plan for public review. We believe accountability to our community and our funders is inseparable from the mission.
Independently verified
Charity Navigator 4-Star Charity
Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency
NSEA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. EIN: 94-3140165.
Our funders and partners
Together we do more.
NSEA’s work is made possible by a network of government agencies, private foundations, and community partners who share our commitment to salmon recovery. We are grateful for their sustained investment in this watershed.
Stories
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The power of rivers and changing floodplains
I got the opportunity again this year to be part of the combined review team for Salmon Recovery Funding (SRF)…
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Celebrating another fun summer of Camp Keystone!
Last summer, campers of ages three to six returned to NSEA’s campus for another great year of Camp Keystone. Camp…
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Volunteer, show up, get rewarded: a new community initiative from Backcountry Essentials
Backcountry Essentials is launching a new community initiative to celebrate folks who volunteer with local organizations. Participants simply volunteer, stop…
Get in touch
Ready to invest in rebuilding salmon habitat?
You can be a crucial part of the work to bring salmon home. NSEA welcomes inquiries from foundations, agencies, and individual major donors. For information about grant opportunities, project partnerships, or funding priorities, reach out directly.