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Bertrand Creek Levee Setback Project

Bertrand Creek is one of the major tributaries in the lower Nooksack River watershed, with the lower creek flowing through primarily agricultural and rural residential lands. Until this summer, the creek was tightly constrained by levees, particularly near its confluence with the Nooksack.

During the winter, the lower Bertrand Creek levees inhibit the downstream movement of floodwaters in the right bank floodplain. The levees were prone to damage, requiring nearly annual repair and maintenance work. When they failed, it was often a significant breach, with the floodwaters strewing debris across adjacent fields.

In addition, the levees cut off the lower Bertrand from most of its natural floodplain, which limited natural channel forming and maintaining processes and opportunities for restoring salmon habitat. The levees also affected the Nooksack River's ability to access part of its floodplain, causing increased flooding problems upstream.

Whatcom County River and Flood used a computer model to analyze the Bertrand levee system, the level of protection it provided, and options for lowering the levees to move floodwaters more efficiently along the floodplain. County staff worked closely with adjacent landowners and Diking District No. 4 to establish a lower levee elevation (36.5 feet) that will provide flood protection for adjacent agricultural lands during the spring, while allowing winter floods to move more efficiently, reducing the amount of time that land is flooded.

To create the setback, the County worked with the adjacent landowners to acquire flood easements (for the new levee alignment) and conservation easements.

During the summer of 2006, Whatcom County River and Flood lowered approximately 8,550 lineal feet of existing levees. Total levee length was reduced by 600 lineal feet, which will lower maintenance costs. About 3,500 lineal feet were also set back from Bertrand Creek, reconnecting the creek to 21 acres of its historical floodplain. The setback will provide unique opportunities for restoring winter rearing and flood refuge habitats for juvenile salmon.

Project design, land acquisition, and construction were funded by the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District, the Army Corps of Engineers, Diking District No. 4, the Pioneers in Conservation Grant Program, and the Bertrand Watershed Improvement District. Revegetation work is funded by the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and the Washington Centennial Clean Water Fund.

Benefits to Salmon

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