The Nooksack River GRP begins upstream partway up the South Fork of the Nooksack River, north of the border of Whatcom and Skagit Counties, near the town of Acme. It continues north along Highway 9 to where the main stem meets with the North, Middle and South Forks. The plan follows the river along Highway 9 to Deming and further northwest to Everson. Heading west of Everson, it includes a section of Lynden on the north side of the river, plus the flat land and tributary creeks to its south. West of Lynden, the river curves south through the City of Ferndale. The planning area includes a portion of the Lummi Indian Reservation, and then ends about 3 miles upstream of Bellingham Bay. Here it adjoins the existing San Juan Islands/North Puget Sound GRP, which covers the rest of the Lummi Indian Reservation and the Nooksack River delta.

The planning area is located entirely within Washington’s Water Resource Inventory Area Nooksack (WRIA 1), and contained within Whatcom County. The southern border of the plan abuts the Samish River GRP, and the Sumas River GRP is located to the plan’s northeast.

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The South Fork Nooksack River sources on the eastern slope of Twin Sisters Mountain, south of Baker. As it enters the planning area, it crosses Highway 9 in Acme, then flows north parallel to the highway for its final nine miles until the confluence with the main stem. The upstream sections of all three forks are characterized by steep, forested hills draining into creeks and streams that meet the rivers in narrow valleys. As the forks approach their confluence, the valley floors begin to widen and fill with farmland, with the South Fork valley particularly wide and gently sloped.

After the forks converge, the main stem Nooksack continues draining north along Highway 9, passing Deming and the Nooksack Indian Tribe Reservation. At RM 31, the Mount Baker Highway (SR 542) splits from Highway 9 and heads southwest towards Bellingham. From here west to Puget Sound and north to Canada, the valley is wide-open and essentially flat. The wetlands, groundwater, lakes and stormwater from this valley are the source of several large tributary creeks. Fourmile Creek and Deer Creek both empty into Tenmile Creek, which enters the Nooksack River just above Ferndale. Silver Creek empties into Bellingham Bay as part of the Nooksack delta.

The Nooksack River valley is home to many of Whatcom County’s 1,400 farms, and popular crops include corn and hay to feed dairy cows, although it is most famous for its berry farms. Sixty-five percent of the red raspberries grown in the US are from this county. It is also a center for milk production, producing 246 million dollars of milk annually from 44,000 cows (AG Water Board).

The Nooksack River creates the eastern border of this flat valley along Highway 9 up to Everson. Here, the highway continues north and separates the river from the adjoining Sumas River watershed. Although turn of the century flooding combined the rivers, Highway 9 and the railroad track have since separated surface drainage between the two systems. The Sumas River flows north to Canada, where it empties to the Fraser River flowing west to Vancouver, British Columbia. Many of the towns in this area, including Everson, Nooksack, and Lynden, originally began as Nooksack Indian Tribe settlements, which were then either relocated or destroyed as settlers capitalized on the area’s location as a through-route to Canada (Moles 2014).

In Everson, the Nooksack River makes a westward turn towards Lynden, a city along the north bank that became a popular relocation point for Dutch immigrants in the early 1900s (Doughtery 2008). Fishtrap Creek and Bertrand Creek, relatively large tributaries draining south from Canada, discharge the Nooksack River downstream of Lynden.

As the river continues south into Ferndale, it passes under bridges for Interstate 5, BNSF railroad, and finally Main Street, which connects the two halves of the city. Just downstream of the bridge is Hovander Homestead Park, a National Historic Site with a barn and farmhouse built over a century ago. The park adjoins Tennant Lake Park, a wildlife area and interpretive center co-managed by the Whatcom County Parks Department and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The last 3.5 miles of the river and delta, including Silver Creek, create the eastern border of the Lummi Nation’s reservation lands before it empties into Bellingham Bay. Most of this estuary area is undeveloped and difficult to access.

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As with most of Western Washington, the rainy season is considered to begin in October and end in May or June. The non-glacially fed areas, such as the creeks in the lower valley, experience low summer flows during the dry season.  Because of the agricultural nature of the lower Nooksack watershed, water levels are further drawn down by drainage activity and irrigation in the summer. The melting of glaciers and snow that are the source of the upper forks of the Nooksack River add extra runoff during the spring thaw, typically during the months of May and June.

There are two USGS stations along the mainstem Nooksack River tracking velocity and river height. One is located at the Mount Baker Highway (542) bridge near Deming, at river mile 31. This gage shows that the highest flows are in November and May, averaging over 5,500 and 5,100 cubic feet per second (cfs), respectively. The quietest months of August and September average 2,000 cfs and below (USGS).  At the downstream gage in Ferndale, near RM 6, rainfall on the tributary creeks adds additional flow during the early spring (USGS).

The low, quiet summer flows are popular times for recreational floating on the river, using inflatable rafts or inner tubes. During this season, logjams and sandbars emerge that may prevent boats with propellers from accessing all stretches of the river uninterrupted.

The southern border of the plan abuts the Samish River GRP, with which it also shares a wetland complex. Part of the complex is the source of a small tributary draining to the South Fork Nooksack River, and another part of the complex forms the headwaters of the Samish River itself. Studies to determine whether there is actually a connection or transfer between the two watersheds are so far inconclusive (Gendaszek 2014). In the event of a heavy flood, the Nooksack River may overtop and combine with the Sumas River watershed.

The planning area fully resides within the boundaries of Water Resource Inventory Area Nooksack (WRIA 1).

Nooksack (WRIA 1): The Nooksack watershed comprises the western portion of Whatcom County, as well as small portions of Skagit County and British Columbia, Canada.  It is bounded by Bellingham Bay and the Strait of Georgia on the west and its east side includes portions of the Cascade Mountain range, including Mt. Baker.  This watershed has a mix of urban, agricultural, rural land uses.  The watershed consists of the Nooksack River, which originates in the Cascade Mountains, and its numerous tributaries.  It also includes the Sumas River (tributary to the Fraser River), and coastal drainages including the Lummi River, and Dakota, California, Terrell, Squalicum, Whatcom, Padden, and Chuckanut Creeks.  The Nooksack River is a source of drinking water for the city of Bellingham, and several other cities in Whatcom County (WA Dept. of Ecology 2012).

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Further inland near the Cascade foothills, the temperatures are slightly more variable and precipitation increases. Clearbrook, a few miles north of Everson, averages 16” of snowfall out of 46” of total precipitation, and highs of 75 to lows of 30 (WRCC 2011).

Upstream of the planning area, the Cascade Mountains experience extreme weather. The Glacier Ranger Station averages 45” of annual snowfall out of 61” of total precipitation, and highs of 75 to lows of 25 (WRCC 2000). Just east of that station, the Mount Baker Ski Area holds the US record for annual snowfall, with an accumulation of 1,140 inches (95 feet) of snow during the1998-1999 ski season (NOAA 1999).

Winter often means the chance of severe storms. In the past, blizzards, ice storms, and windstorms have caused major damage and flooding throughout western Whatcom County. These storms are most likely to occur from November to February, although they may hit as early as October and as late as March. Historic storms included wind gusts up to 104 mph, wind-chills of 70 below zero, and lowland snowdrifts 25 feet high (Whatcom County DEM).

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When the Nooksack River runs above 9600cfs, a portion of the water diverts through an elevated culvert into the Lummi River, vastly increasing its usual flow. Below that water level, the Lummi River has very low discharge and water speed, but can also experience tidally influenced flows when tides are above 8 feet.

In the 1970s, the USGS developed relations between travel time and dye clouds for various discharges in the Nooksack River at the USGS gaging station in Ferndale. The relations were developed for the section of the River between Everson and the Lummi Indian Reservation over the river discharge range between 1,150 cfs and 20,000 cfs at the USGS gaging station in Ferndale (Parker 1974).

Figure 2-1: Time of Travel from Everson at Various Discharge Levels

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Oil Types:  Both refined petroleum products and crude oil are transported in bulk within this planning area.

Crude oil and refined products contain a mix of hydrocarbons with varying properties; different types of crude oil and refined products will behave differently when spilled. Recent changes in oil production have led to an increase in the movement of Bakken light crude transported through the planning area via rail, and diluted bitumen from Canada transported through the planning area via pipeline and, to a lesser extent, rail.

Crude oil from the Bakken fields in North Dakota has properties similar to gasoline or diesel, and poses a higher risk of fire because much of it will evaporate quickly into flammable vapors. Unlike gasoline, the heavier hydrocarbons in the crude will persist in the environment after the light ends evaporate or burn. Bitumen from the oil sands in Alberta, Canada, is heavy, almost asphalt-like, until it is mixed with lighter oil products known as diluents to create diluted bitumen. Once mixed, the diluted bitumen will initially float on water after being spilled. Environmental conditions, such as the density of the receiving waters and sediment load of the receiving waters, will affect how long diluted bitumen floats. As the light diluents evaporate, the remaining heavy constituents may sink into the water column (NASEM 2016). There are specific response actions recommended for non-floating oils, detailed in the Non-Floating Oil Spill Response Tool in the Northwest Area Contingency Plan (NWACP), Section 9412.

Pipelines: There are two pipelines carrying petroleum products through the Nooksack River area: the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline, importing crude oil from Canada, and the BP Olympic Pipeline, distributing gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from the refineries at Cherry Point and Ferndale.

The Trans Mountain Puget Sound pipeline system is operated by Kinder Morgan Canada. It carries crude oil products via the Trans Mountain pipeline from Abbotsford, British Columbia, for delivery to four refineries in Whatcom and Skagit counties in Washington State. The system capacity is approximately 180,000 barrels (7.5 million gallons) per day.

The BP Olympic Pipeline travels 400 miles from the Cherry Point refinery northwest of Bellingham to Portland, Oregon, with additional input lines from the refineries at Phillips 66 Ferndale, Tesoro Anacortes, and Shell Anacortes. It delivers product to terminals at Harbor Island in Seattle, SeaTac airport, and Tacoma before exporting 1.3 billion gallons per year across the Columbia River to Oregon.

Rail Transportation and Facilities: Rail companies transport oil via both unit trains and manifest trains in this area. Unit trains include: up to four locomotives, buffer cars, and 118 loaded tank cars transporting oil in 714-barrel (29,998 gallon) capacity USDOT-approved tank cars. Manifest trains include: up to four locomotives, a mix of non-oil merchandise cars, and one or more 714-barrel (29,998 gallon) capacity USDOT-approved tank cars carrying refined oil products, such as diesel, lubrication oil, or gasoline. These trains may include emptied tank cars, each with residual quantities of up to 1,800 gallons of crude oil or petroleum products. Every train locomotive typically holds a few hundred gallons of engine lubrication oil, plus saddle tanks that each have an approximate capacity of 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel.  Manifest trains may also transport biological oils and non-petroleum chemicals.

Unit trains carrying crude currently operate on specific routes. Unit trains carrying crude from the Bakken Formation in North Dakota enter Washington State near Spokane, continue along the Columbia River to Vancouver, and then head north along I-5.  These trains enter Whatcom County from the southwest on tracks along Puget Sound, cross the Nooksack River in Ferndale between I-5 and the Main Street Bridge, then continue north to Canada. Unit trains of diluted bitumen also may be transported from Canada into the US using the same tracks. North of the planning area, the Custer spur splits west from the main line to deliver Bakken crude to the refineries at BP Cherry Point and Phillips 66 Ferndale.

The other tracks in the Nooksack River area are known as the Sumas subdivision, which parallel Highway 9 north to Canada. Another spur connects downtown Lynden to Sumas, Washington on the Canadian border. Unit trains do not currently operate on these tracks. BNSF owns the commercial rail track in this planning area, although other rail companies may operate trains on BNSF tracks (WA Dept. of Ecology).

Recreational Boating: Because this GRP is inland, and the Nooksack River is too shallow for most commercial traffic, boating associated with the tribal commercial, ceremonial, and subsistence fishery and recreational boating are the only notable risks of oil spills from vessels. Because these boats are typically powered by gasoline engines, these boats are unlikely to carry a significant volume of oil. There are two public boat launches on the Nooksack River, at RM 5.8 in Ferndale, and at RM 31 between Everson and Deming.

Road Systems: Vehicle traffic on roadways pose an oil spill risk in areas where they run adjacent to the shorelines, or cross over lakes, rivers, creeks, and ditches that drain into the Nooksack River. Interstate 5 carries West Coast traffic between Canada and Mexico and poses the most significant risk of highway spills, due to the frequency of large tanker trucks carrying a number of fuel types. State Highway 9 does not have the traffic capacity of I-5 but is more convenient to move fuel between smaller upland communities. Highway 9 travels from the southeastern corner of the plan area along the South Fork, then north through central Whatcom County to become Canadian Highway 11 after crossing the border. There is potentially high use by logging trucks and local fuel trucks serving the inland communities in these areas.

A vehicle spill onto one of these bridges or roadways can cause fuel or oil to flow from hardened surfaces into the Nooksack River or its tributaries. Commercial trucks can contain hundreds to thousands of gallons of fuel and oil, especially fully loaded tank trucks, and may carry almost any kind of cargo, including hazardous waste or other materials that might injure sensitive resources if spilled. Smaller vehicle accidents pose a risk as well, a risk commensurate to the volume of fuel and oil they carry.

Aircraft: A corner of Bellingham International Airport (BLI) overlaps the planning area along I-5 near Silver Creek, on the outskirts of Bellingham. Run by the Port of Bellingham, it handled over 62,000 flights in 2016. Some commercial carriers use BLI for flights along the West Coast, but the majority of flights are local tourism and other small craft (NASEM). Since this airport is within three miles of the river, the potential exists for aircraft failures during inbound or outbound flights that could result in a spill by releasing aviation fuel to the Nooksack River or its tributaries.

Other Spill Risks: Other potential oil spill risks in the area include fuel storage areas (including waste oil storage), road run-off during rain events, on-shore or near shore activities where heavy equipment is being operated or stored, and the migration of spilled oil through soil on lands adjacent to the river or its tributary streams.

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This section is purposely broad in scope and should not be considered comprehensive. Some of the sensitive resources described in this section cannot be addressed in Response Strategies and Priorities because it is not possible to conduct effective response activities in these locations. Additional information from private organizations or federal, state, tribal, and local government agencies should also be sought during spills.

This material is presented with enough detail to give general information about the area during the first phase of a spill response. During an actual incident, more information about resources at risk will be available from the Environmental Unit in the Planning Section.

Note: specific resource concerns related to areas that already have designated protection strategies may be found in the “Resources At Risk” column of the matrix describing the individual strategies.

The information provided in this section can be used in:

• Assisting the Environmental Unit (EU) and Operations in developing ad hoc response strategies.
• Providing resource-at-risk “context” to responders, clean-up workers, and others during the initial phase of a spill response in the GRP area.
• Briefing responders and incident command staff that may be unfamiliar with sensitive resource concerns in the GRP area.
• Providing background information for personnel involved in media presentations and public outreach during a spill incident.
• Providing information on benthic and water column species or cultural resources present to assist in planning for oils with the potential to sink or submerge.

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Classification types are listed below, with the abbreviation of each type provided in the brackets (to the right of the classification).

• Federal Endangered (FE)
• Federal Threatened (FT)
• Federal Candidate (FC)
• State Endangered (SE)
• State Threatened (ST)
• State Sensitive (SS)

Federal and State Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive species that may occur within this area, at some time of the year, include:

Mammals:

• None are expected to be impacted in this area

Birds:  

• marbled murrelet [FT/SE]
• sandhill crane [SE]
• streaked horned lark [FT/SE]
• yellow-billed cuckoo [FT/SE]

Fish:

• bull trout [FT]
• chinook salmon [FT]
• coho (Puget Sound) [FC]
• steelhead [FT]

Reptiles/Amphibians:

• Oregon Spotted Frog [FT/SE]

Critical habitats:

These are the specific areas occupied by an endangered or threatened species that contain the physical or biological features that are essential to the conservation of that species – and that may need special management or protection. Critical habitat may also include areas that were not occupied by the species at the time of listing but are essential to its conservation.

The following species have designated critical habitat within this area.

• bull trout
• chinook salmon (Puget Sound)
• steelhead (Puget Sound)
• Oregon spotted frog

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• Wetlands in this region include areas along the main stem of the Nooksack River. All wetland types support a diverse array of bird, insect and fish and wildlife species.
• Islands along river provide important nesting habitat for a variety of bird species, as well as habitat for a variety of mammals. Associated gravel bars provide spawning habitat for Chinook salmon.
• Human-made structures such as pilings, rock jetties or log rafts may be used as roosting or nesting areas for a variety of birds.
• Shallow intertidal and subtidal habitats of the delta and lower reach of the river are critically important as rearing areas for juvenile salmon, Dungeness crab, hardshell clams and other fish and shellfish. These habitats are often important feeding areas for marine birds, shorebirds, and herons.
• Lowland lakes serve as foraging areas for wintering waterfowl concentrations. Western grebes, mergansers, cormorants, coots and Canada geese are the most numerous species. These areas also support the breeding activities of freshwater resident species such as mallards, pintail, etc.
• Steep forested hill slopes in developed areas along river valley. These areas provide wildlife habitat and migration corridors.
• Subsurface Habitats
• Fine sediments (mud/silt/sand) – Associated with slow/still water flows. May have aquatic vegetation present.
  • Animals associated with these areas tend to be: cold or warm water fishes; birds (dabbling ducks); semi-aquatic mammals (muskrat, beaver, etc.); shellfish (freshwater clams); amphibians and reptiles (frogs, newts, salamanders, turtles, etc.); insects caddis flies, mayflies, dragonflies, and stoneflies). Many other animals also utilize these areas for foraging.
• Coarse sediments (gravel/cobble) – Associated with moderate water flow. May have aquatic vegetation present.
  • Animals associated with these areas tend to be: cold and/or warm water fishes; birds (dippers, harlequin ducks); semi-aquatic mammals (muskrat, beaver, etc.); shellfish (freshwater mussels, crayfish); amphibians and reptiles (tailed frogs, torrent salamanders; insects caddis flies, stoneflies). Many other animals also utilize these areas for foraging.
• Bedrock – Associated with fast water with little or no deposition of loose bed materials. Aquatic vegetation typically not present.
  • Animals associated with these areas tend to be mostly cold-water fishes, birds (dippers, harlequin ducks), and amphibians (torrent salamanders).

Fish:

• Salmonids (including Chinook, coho, chum, pink, sockeye, cutthroat trout (resident and coastal, steelhead, and bull trout) are present in the river system throughout the year. Spawning occurs throughout the system and juvenile salmonids use backwaters, nearshore areas, and protected bays as rearing and foraging areas prior to migration into the ocean. Returning adult salmonids support significant tribal, commercial, and recreational fisheries.
• In addition to salmonids, several dozen species of freshwater fish exist in the Nooksack River basin. These species all provide important contributions to stream ecology.
• Freshwater mussels have been documented in tributaries to the Nooksack River.
• Hardshell clams are found intertidally along marine shorelines throughout the Nooksack Delta. Extensive geoduck beds also occur intertidally and sub-tidally throughout much of the region.
• Dungeness crabs are commonly found within the Nooksack Delta and throughout Bellingham Bay.

Wildlife:

• Seabird concentrations routinely occur year-round in marine areas adjacent to the river mouth and adjacent shoreline. The largest concentrations occur in these areas during the fall through spring seasons. There are no significant seabird nesting colonies in this region.
• Waterfowl concentrations, including trumpeter swans, may be found seasonally throughout the region with heavy concentrations in the lower river and delta.
• Shorebird concentrations are common along the outer part of the delta and other scattered sites.
• Harbor seal haulouts are present in the area in the vicinity of the river delta. In addition, California sea lions are often observed using navigational buoys adjacent areas as haulouts.
• Mammals common to the region include deer and various semi-aquatic species such as muskrat, beaver, river otter, etc. throughout the basin. In general, this group is dependent on riverine areas, ponds, tributaries, and riparian forests for den sites and foraging areas.
• Waterfowl concentrations of various species may be found throughout the region in lowland lakes and ponds, wetlands, and agricultural fields near water bodies. Concentrations especially prevalent from fall through spring.
• Nesting raptor species, throughout the region include bald eagles, osprey, and peregrine falcons.
• Resident and migratory songbirds heavily utilize riparian habitats year-round and are susceptible both to oil and to response activities that disturb riparian vegetation

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2. Smith Road/Wiser Road shorebird staging area:  Farm fields and wetlands north of Bellingham in the vicinity of Smith and Wiser roads are used by shorebirds during spring migration for staging, feeding, and resting habitat.
3. Whatcom County shorebird and waterfowl wintering area: Bird concentrations present along river main stem (~RM 11 thru RM 16), farm fields, wetlands, and Wiser Lake.  Species present may include various geese, swans, cormorants, grebes, ducks and a shorebirds.
4. Green Lake and Fountain Lake: Waterfowl concentrations, especially geese and swans.
5. Paatstel (formerly Squaw) Creek sandhill crane staging area: Wetlands and farm fields located between Paatstel Creek and Kamm Ditch provide sandhill crane staging areas during spring migration.
6. Headwaters of the Sumas River (above South Pass Rd.): Oregon spotted frogs, western toads, tailed frogs, great blue heron, and peregrine falcons.
7. Lake Fazon: Waterfowl concentrations, especially geese and swans.
8. South Fork of the Nooksack River (~RM 10 to ~RM 0): From Acme to the confluence with the main stem.  Oregon spotted frog breeding – particularly in Black Slough.  This reach is also adjacent to documented marbled murrelet breeding habitat.

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Figure 2: Nooksack River specific geographic areas of concern.

Figure 3: South fork of the Nooksack River specific geographic areas of concern.

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During a spill response, after the Unified Command is established, information related to specific archeological concerns will be coordinated through the Environmental Unit. In order to ensure that tactical response strategies do not inadvertently harm culturally sensitive sites, WDAHP should be consulted before disturbing any soil or sediment during a response action.  WDAHP and/or the Tribal governments may assign a person, or provide a list of professional archeologists that can be contracted, to monitor response activities and cleanup operations for the protection of cultural resources. Due to the sensitive nature of such information, details regarding the location and type of cultural resources present are not included in this document.

Cultural Resources Contacts 

Discovery of Human Skeletal Remains:

Any human remains, burial sites, or burial-related materials that are discovered during a spill response must be treated with respect at all times (photographing human remains is prohibited to all except the appropriate authorities).  Refer to Section 9403 of the Northwest Area Contingency Plan for National Historic Preservation Act Compliance Guidelines during an emergency response.

Procedures for the Discovery of Cultural Resources:

If any person monitoring work activities or involved in spill response believes that they have encountered cultural resources, all work must be stopped immediately and the Incident Commander and Cultural Resource Specialist notified.  The area of work stoppage must be adequate to provide for the security, protection, and integrity of the material or artifact(s) discovered.

Prehistoric Cultural Resources (May include, but are not limited to, any of the following items):

• Lithic debitage (stone chips and other tool-making byproducts)
• Flaked or ground stone tools
• Exotic rock, minerals, or quarries
• Concentrations of organically stained sediments, charcoal, or ash
• Fire-modified rock
• Rock alignments or rock structures
• Bone (burned, modified, or in association with other bone, artifacts, or features)
• Shell or shell fragments
• Petroglyphs and pictographs
• Fish weirs, fish traps, and prehistoric water craft
• Culturally modified trees
• Physical locations or features (traditional cultural properties)

Historic cultural material (May include any of the following items over 50 years old):

• Bottles, or other glass
• Cans
• Ceramics
• Milled wood, brick, concrete, metal, or other building material
• Trash dumps
• Homesteads, building remains
• Logging, mining, or railroad features
• Piers, wharves, docks, bridges, dams, or shipwrecks

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The Air Operations Branch (Operations Section) will manage all aircraft operations related to a response and will coordinate the establishment of any Flight Restriction Zones as appropriate. Environmental Unit staff will work with the Air Operations Branch Director to resolve any conflicts that arise between flight activities and sensitive resources.

In addition to restrictions associated with wildlife, Tribal authorities may also request notification when overflights are likely to affect culturally sensitive areas within reservations.  See Oil Spill Best Management Practices (NWACP Section 9301) for more information on the use of aircraft and helicopters in open water and shoreline responses.

Wildlife Deterrence: The Wildlife Deterrence Unit within the Wildlife Branch (Operations Section) manages wildlife deterrence operations. These are actions intended to minimize injuries to wildlife by keeping animals away from the oil and cleanup operations. Deterrence activities may include using acoustic or visual deterrent devices, boats, aircraft or other tools. The Wildlife Branch works with state and federal agencies, and the Environmental Unit (Planning Section), to develop deterrence plans as appropriate.

For more information see the Northwest Wildlife Response Plan (NWACP Section 9310) and Northwest Area Wildlife Deterrence Resources (NWACP Section 9311).

Oiled Wildlife: Capturing oiled wildlife may be hazardous to both personnel and the affected animals. Incident personnel should not try to approach or capture oiled wildlife but should report any observations of oiled wildlife to the Wildlife Branch (Operations Section).

For more information see the Northwest Wildlife Response Plan (NWACP Section 9310).

Wildlife Refuges and Wilderness Areas: There are no federal wildlife refuges or wilderness areas within this region.

Aquatic Invasive Species: The waters of this region may contain aquatic invasive species (AIS) – species of plants and/or animals that are not native to an area and that can be harmful to an area’s ecosystem. If so, preventative actions may be required to prevent the spread of these species as a result of spill response activities and the Environmental Unit is able to recommend operational techniques and strategies to assist with this issue.

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