NSEA - Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association

10/13/2026

Thank you, Students for Salmon Funders! 🐟

NSEA’s Students for Salmon (SFS) program has begun for the 2026-2027 school year! 4th grade students will be studying and restoring salmon-bearing creeks throughout Whatcom County this school year, and our first outdoor field trips are already taking place at streams near their schools.

This would not be possible without our generous SFS funders, so we would like to give a special thank you to BP, City of Bellingham Public Works, Superfeet, and Keta Legacy Foundation. Thanks to them, thousands of students will get to connect with their local creek this year, and we will be able to continue instilling a stewardship ethic in Whatcom County youth for years to come.

bp
City of Bellingham, Washington - Government
Superfeet Worldwide
Keta Legacy Foundation

10/12/2026

Today, we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day – a holiday that commemorates the past, present, and futures of Native peoples. While acknowledging the historic injustices and lasting impacts of colonialism, this holiday honors Indigenous communities and their stories, traditions, contributions, resilience, and sovereignty.

Please join our local community in celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day TONIGHT at Lummi Nation School! All are welcome to this family-friendly, intergenerational community event for everyone in Whatcom County.

✨2026 Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration ✨

📅 Monday, October 12, 2026
🕠 Doors open: 5:30 pm (with dinner service)
🎤 Program: 6:00 - 8:00 pm
💃 Jam + dancing: 8:00 pm until late!
📍 Location: Lummi Nation School, 2334 Lummi View Dr, Bellingham

🌎 All are welcome! This family-friendly, intergenerational community event is offered free of charge for everyone in Whatcom County.

🍽️ Dinner, community, student speakers, music, and dancing — come celebrate with us!

This year’s theme is: Answering the Call of our Ancestors. This year our young people will be taking the stage and making meaning of this year’s theme. What is the calling from our previous generations and how do we answer their message?

This year's event will be joined by multiple Native Youth Councils from around Whatcom County. We will enjoy a community dinner catered by local caterer Seawolf Surf n Turf managed by local business owner Cesarita Ballew. Singing, dancing and jam out to follow the program! All drum groups are welcome to jam. Host drum group is the Lhaqtemish Singers.

This event is sponsored by the Community Consortium for Cultural Recognition.

AA/EO for questions, feedback, and accommodations please contact [email protected]

10/10/2026

to the amazing volunteers that joined to remove invasive blackberry along Terrell Creek this morning in the Birch Bay watershed! NSEA crews, volunteers, and partners have spent a lot of time planting native trees and shrubs in this area over the years and it was great to help maintain those plantings and remove about 9 cubic yards of weeds with volunteers, plus staff from Whatcom Conservation District and Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resources Management District.

This creek, which runs from Lake Terrell into Birch Bay, is home to coho and chum salmon and provides important riparian habitat for a variety of birds and mammals. The water that flows into the bay also directly influences estuarine species like shellfish, so improving water quality and keeping it cold, clean, and clear isn't just for the salmon! 🐟🏞🐟

🐳 Next week is Orca Recovery Day and we will be planting trees along Kenney Creek! Check out our upcoming event page for details on how to join - www.n-sea.org/get-involved/upcoming-events/

10/10/2026

Enter to win a boat adventure for two with North Sound Scenic Tours! 🚣🏞️

Choose between Fly Fishing 101 or a guided naturalist tour for a unique way to experience the Nooksack or Skagit River.

Drawing will take place on Friday, October 23rd at NSEA’s Salmon Soirée. All proceeds support NSEA's mission to recover wild salmon for generations to come

Participants DO NOT need to be present to win!

🎟 Only $10 per ticket – get yours today through the link below!

https://event.auctria.com/455d4e35-a01b-4f88-9a7a-fa9d86cf5057/a809178051b511ea91bae14d12592328

10/09/2026

Plant a tree, leave a legacy. You can help orca by restoring streamside habitat for salmon. Bring your pod and join us for Orca Recovery Day on Saturday, October 17th from 9 am–12 pm. We will be planting trees to support the health of Kenney Creek, the salmon that call it home, and the orca that rely on those salmon. Learn more and register here: whatcomlandtrust.org/event/orca-recovery-day-2026

10/09/2026

This is a photo of students from Cascadia Elementary in Ferndale on an outdoor field trip through NSEA’s Students for Salmon program.

These excited kids walked from their school to Cedar Creek Park to learn about their local creek, study salmon habitat, and conduct water quality experiments. This program supported many academic learning standards expected at the fourth-grade level in a memorable way for these young scientists.

This is what outdoor education looks like. And this was possible because of the generosity of our community.

23% of fourth-grade classrooms in Whatcom County are still at risk of not participating in Students for Salmon this school year due to a lack of funding. You can help us close that gap by making a gift today. Just $16 sponsors one student. A gift of $500 sponsors one classroom. Every dollar makes a difference.

There are only two days left to donate, so make your impact today! 💕

Donate by Friday, Oct 9 through the link below, or click the link in our bio.

https://secure.givelively.org/donate/nooksack-salmon-enhancement-association/2026-back-to-school

10/08/2026

Riparian zones are important for more than just salmon!

Riparian zones, the area around a creek, are some of the most biodiverse habitats in the world. Did you know it's estimated that up to 80% of wildlife in Washington use a riparian zone regularly, whether for food, shelter, or migration?

This diversity plus muddy streambanks create space to test your animal track ID skills! 🐾

While out collecting temperature data in Squalicum Creek, the stewardship team came across these footprints. Being in the middle of Bellingham, we think these belong to some unsurprising and common critters, raccoon and deer. 🦌🦝

The deer print is unmistakable with its classic heart shape of the hoof. The raccoon can be harder to identify, but we could see five similarly sized toes on a 2-3-inch-long print.

We're excited to look for more signs of wildlife this fall! What animal tracks have you spotted by a creek?

10/07/2026

Join us at NSEA’s Salmon Soiree for an evening with journalist, nature writer, and author Lynda Mapes in conversation about salmon in the Nooksack – celebrating and reflecting on the magic of these fish and why their recovery is so important.

Enjoy this special appearance along with dinner, drinks, a live auction, and more at our annual fundraising event!

100% of proceeds benefit salmon habitat restoration, environmental education, and community programs in Whatcom County.

🗓 Friday, Oct 23 | Doors open at 5:30pm
📍Chuckanut Bay Distillery Ballroom

🎟 Get your tickets today! https://event.auctria.com/455d4e35-a01b-4f88-9a7a-fa9d86cf5057/aa6cd270-8751-11e9-a741-3fcfcb35cbb0

10/06/2026

The fish are making their return to Aslan! Fish Have Feelings is made with Salmon Safe hops by Aslan Brewing Co. and partial proceeds will be donated to NSEA! 🐟🐟

This West Coast IPA has spawned hop flavors of pine, grapefruit, and stone fruit that are supported with a light crackery malt backbone. Head over to Aslan today to grab yourself a pint or pick up some to take home with you.

Thank you Aslan Brewing Company for protecting water resources and all living beings that thrive because of them. NSEA is grateful for this partnership and respects all you do to make Whatcom County a great place to work, live, and play! 🍻❤️

10/05/2026

Welcome NSEA’s new education coordinator, Noah!

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Hi, I’m Noah, and I'm excited to be here at NSEA! Being an environmental educator is one of my dream jobs, and I’m thrilled to be the new coordinator for Keystone Nature Preschool!

I have been working with kids and for nonprofits since I was a camp counselor as a teenager. In college I studied geophysics and environmental science, developing a deep appreciation for Washington’s complex natural systems. More recently, my career has brought me into recreation and academic preschool classrooms.

I am a passionate advocate for conservation and outdoor fun, and in my spare time I pursue hobbies in reading, figure skating, and exploring Bellingham’s parks!