Restoration
California Creek
California Creek has a documented presence of chum and coho, as well as winter steelhead, coastal cutthroat trout, and bull trout. There is also a potential for fall Chinook presence. This creek is a major tributary to Drayton Harbor, and its subbasin makes up 40% of the Drayton Harbor watershed. Land along California Creek has been altered for residential, forestry, and recreational use, and has seen environmental concerns such as warming water temperatures and invasive vegetation.
Since 2017, when the Whatcom Land Trust purchased land near the mouth of California Creek, NSEA, alongside the Whatcom Land Trust and Whatcom Conservation District, has been working to restore this critical salmon habitat.
The California Creek Watershed
California Creek watershed. Basemap imagery © Esri.
California Creek Ecology
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.
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.
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.
California Creek Work Parties
2,860+
native trees & shrubs planted
470+
community volunteers
61,000+
sq ft of invasives cleared
