One of the largest conservation projects in Whatcom Land Trust history, nestled between the Twin Sisters Mountains and the South Fork Nooksack River, with its cold flowing waters and young trees ready to grow big and tall, can now breathe a sigh of relief. We did it! Most importantly all of you did it, the local community members dedicated to protecting this Whatcom County gem. On February 1, 2019, the 1,400 acres of Skookum Creek and Duck Pond became forever protected for a future of improved watershed health, salmon habitat, landscape connectivity and recreational possibilities which will work to improve the overall quality of life for humans, fish and wildlife, and the flora and fauna which inhabit the South Fork Valley and beyond.

The $4 million Skookum campaign to purchase, manage and steward this property, and to provide funds to protect other special places, was one of the largest privately-funded community campaigns in Whatcom Land Trust’s 35-year history. This acquisition represents a shared community vision of protected water quality not only for Skookum Creek, but the South Fork Nooksack River and all downstream areas of the main-stem Nooksack River. Here in the Pacific Northwest we depend on clean, reliable water sources, healthy forests, abundant salmon runs, prosperous agriculture lands, and functioning marine environments. The 1,400 protected acres of Skookum Creek and Duck Pond is an excellent step in achieving these goals.