NSEA - Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association

NSEA - Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association Community-based nonprofit focused on reversing the trend of declining salmon runs in Whatcom County

08/25/2026

Check out our Dam Cam! 🦫
Hoping to catch a beaver at work, NSEA's field crew recently placed a game camera at one of our project sites on Tenmile Creek where there is a large beaver dam. Unfortunately, the beaver stayed out of sight like a ninja, but we did catch other wildlife capitalizing on the beaver's hard work. The heron definitely noticed the camera!

At Camp Keystone, full day campers have the opportunity to venture out on outdoor field trips. We are always looking for...
08/20/2026

At Camp Keystone, full day campers have the opportunity to venture out on outdoor field trips. We are always looking for new places they can explore, so we decided to try out Riverside Park next to the Nooksack River.

Our campers had so much fun playing games in the field and digging in the sand. They even got to look at macroinvertebrates (aquatic critters that salmon fry eat) collected by one of our educators!

After collecting the macros, the teachers portioned them into trays for campers to freely explore and observe. They found mayfly, stonefly, and caddisfly larva and learned about their important relationship with salmon. 🐟

Campers were so engrossed in their investigation – educators said they'd never seen something hold their focus for so long! Hands-on learning activities like these are so important for instilling love and curiosity for nature in future generations. 💕

Monitoring 20+ year old planting projects 🌲🌲NSEA's field crew has begun collecting data at our legacy sites (restoration...
08/17/2026

Monitoring 20+ year old planting projects 🌲🌲

NSEA's field crew has begun collecting data at our legacy sites (restoration projects that are over 20 years old). In collaboration with Jim Helfield, a professor at College of the Environment at WWU, we have created a monitoring protocol to assess these young forests - including canopy cover, stand density, understory composition, and invasive species presence.

Collecting this data will help us measure the long-term success of our riparian plantings and evaluate how well these habitats are functioning over time. It will also help us learn, improve, and strengthen our restoration efforts.

Pictured here is Restoration Tech Will with our 1x1 meter quadrat while we assessed understory plant species. Most recently, we finished monitoring a stretch of riparian buffer on Squalicum Creek right next to NSEA that was planted in 1996. It never ceases to amaze us how these projects develop over a span of three decades!

to the expert litter sleuthing volunteers who joined NSEA along the Nooksack River this morning to steward the popular...
08/15/2026

to the expert litter sleuthing volunteers who joined NSEA along the Nooksack River this morning to steward the popular riverside park at Nugent's Corner. Together, we removed an impressive 141 pounds of trash (400 gallons!) including cans, cigarette butts, and even, strangely, discarded records and a beanbag from the beach and trails! 💿🪑📦

The Nooksack River is critical habitat for all five species of Pacific salmon. Salmon spawning habitat all along the Nooksack River faces challenges such as reduced riparian cover, increasing water temperatures, water pollution from runoff, and more. Today, we did our part to reduce impacts to the Nooksack River watershed by removing trash that would otherwise end up in the river, causing further harm.

NSEA will be hosting our last litter pick-up of the year next Saturday, August 22nd. This event will be followed by our Fall Work Party season, which will be filled with planting events, Salmon Sightings, and more. Find out more and register at www.n-sea.org.

Stopping to smell the flowers at Hovander Park 🌸🌼Every week at Camp Keystone, our full-day campers go on field trips to ...
08/14/2026

Stopping to smell the flowers at Hovander Park 🌸🌼

Every week at Camp Keystone, our full-day campers go on field trips to different parks all over Whatcom County. One of our most popular spots is the fragrance garden at Hovander Homestead Park in Ferndale. The kids get to walk through a beautiful garden and smell the fragrant flowers and herbs. One even smells like mint chocolate!

The garden is just one small part of the fun to be had. The campers also love climbing to the top of the watchtower for a bird’s eye view of Tennant Lake and Mt. Baker. We usually wrap up the field trip with a walk through the wetlands along the boardwalk trails where we see frogs, tiny fish, and beautiful native plants in full bloom.

It feels like such a magical place with so many ways to engage their senses and build a connection with their natural world!

Join us THIS Saturday 8/15 to help pick up litter along the Nooksack River! Together, we can protect our local waterways...
08/13/2026

Join us THIS Saturday 8/15 to help pick up litter along the Nooksack River! Together, we can protect our local waterways for fish, wildlife, and our community as a whole.

Sign up today at www.n-sea.org/stream-stewards (link in bio).

to the mighty team of volunteers that joined NSEA this sunny morning along Terrell Creek to remove invasive Himalayan ...
08/08/2026

to the mighty team of volunteers that joined NSEA this sunny morning along Terrell Creek to remove invasive Himalayan Blackberry in an effort to improve habitat for chum and coho salmon! Together, we removed nearly four cubic yards of invasive vegetation that was impeding on young native trees and shrubs.

Originating from Lake Terrell in NW Ferndale, Terrell creek flows 7.5 miles through agriculture, residential, and conserved lands before emptying into Birch Bay. Since the early 2000s, NSEA has collaborated with nearly half of the landowners along this creek, working to improve habitat through invasive vegetation removal, tree and shrub planting, and more. The area we worked in this morning was thanks to collaboration with BP! Removing invasives will help ensure that young native trees and shrubs planted at past volunteer events have a fighting chance to grow and thrive until they eventually form a healthy riparian habitat.

You can join NSEA next Saturday, August 15th, as we scout the beaches and clean up any litter around the Nooksack River by Nugent's Corner. Find out more and register at https://n-sea.org/get-involved/volunteer-work-parties/

Do you know the three C’s needed for salmon to survive? Cold, Clean, & Clear water! Fifteen miles of Terrell Creek have ...
08/07/2026

Do you know the three C’s needed for salmon to survive? Cold, Clean, & Clear water! Fifteen miles of Terrell Creek have been restored for salmon thanks to people who care! Join us in September at Run with the Chums to meet , one of our partners in salmon restoration and a sponsor of this event!

This annual 5K Fun Run is enjoyable for the whole family and welcomes people of all speeds. Check-in opens at 8:30 AM on September 12th, the Smolt Sprint, for racers under 10, starts at 9:30 AM, and the 5K begins at 10 AM. Register at: bit.ly/RWTC26-Reg

WE ARE HIRING! Development Manager, Restoration Tech, & internship positions available!Go to www.n-sea.org/get-involved/...
08/07/2026

WE ARE HIRING! Development Manager, Restoration Tech, & internship positions available!

Go to www.n-sea.org/get-involved/work-with-us/ or the link in our bio to read the position descriptions and apply today!

❤ Development Manager ❤
Apply by August 21
We are looking for an individual with passion and enthusiasm for building relationships with NSEA donors, connecting the community with NSEA’s mission and work, and cultivating a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization and its supporters.

🌲Restoration Technician I🌲
Apply by August 28
Support NSEA’s habitat restoration projects on our field crew. Projects will include planting trees and shrubs, conducting monitoring surveys, maintaining restoration sites, interacting with community volunteers and landowners, maintaining a native plant nursery, and use of hand/power tools.

🍂 Fall Stream Stewards Internship 🍂
Apply by August 21
Help lead NSEA's Saturday community work parties, where volunteers come together to restore salmon habitat across Whatcom County. Interns play key roles including guiding small volunteer groups and supporting educational activities.

NSEA staff and the Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) crew meet once a month for an all staff meeting. These are import...
08/03/2026

NSEA staff and the Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) crew meet once a month for an all staff meeting. These are important opportunities for the entire team to come together to align organizational objectives, share updates, and build a strong culture of care for each other. We also make plenty of time to "connect before content".

In July we played the game Human Knot, promoting teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills among everyone…while laughing!

The ability to be silly together increases job satisfaction, reduces burnout, and creates stronger social bonds in a positive atmosphere. This is an important foundation for the tireless work of a community-based nonprofit.

The charge at NSEA is big – and it's heavy at times. Our monthly all staff meetings focus on connection in a variety of ways. We are a strong team because of this, and able to make a larger impact with our work!

Address

Bellingham, WA
98226

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+13607150283

Website

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