The Cougar Creek-Neevel Levee Improvement Project is an early action project identified through the Floodplain Integrated Planning (FLIP) process. The project will improve the Neevel Levee to reduce the potential for erosion, replace a flood gate to improve fish passage and drainage and improve habitat.
Project Benefits
Improve fish passage
Increase flood protection by removing levee deficiencies
Improve agricultural drainage
Improve riparian and stream habitat
Project Overview
Status: 90% design complete
Next Steps: final design and permitting
Schedule: construction anticipated 2024
Engineering Design Consultant: Reichhardt & Ebe Engineering
Construction Contractor: TBD
Construction Costs: TBD
Project Description
Whatcom County River and Flood Division is currently managing a multi-stakeholder Floodplain Integrated Planning (FLIP) process that brings together flood risk reduction, salmon recovery and agricultural interests to identify mutually beneficial strategies and projects in the Nooksack River basin. The Cougar Creek-Neevel Levee Improvement Project is one of the early action projects identified through that process. The project includes the following components:
Replacement of a fish-blocking culvert with a larger culvert with a proprietary flood gate that will improve fish passage and flood drainage off of agricultural fields.
Realignment and widening of the Neevel Levee to reduce potential erosion damage.
Removal of a second culvert that was identified as a levee deficiency.
Installation of large wood habitat features in Cougar Creek.
Enhancement of riparian vegetation along Cougar Creek and the Nooksack River.