River & Flood

Prepare for and Stay Safe During a Flood

Learn what do do before, during, and after a flood by reading the 2023 Flooding in Whatcom County Newsletter. This newsletter provides important contacts and emergency preparedness and safety information. It was mailed in early fall to owners of flood prone properties.

Nooksack River Floodplain Improvements Videos

This video series gives an overview of the Floodplain Integrated Planning (FLIP) process with examples of actions being taken by our community.

View the River & Flood Video Series

Nooksack Transboundary Flood Initiative

Representatives from the State of Washington, the Province of British Columbia, local Tribes and First Nations, Whatcom County, and the City of Abbotsford have joined together to establish the Nooksack Transboundary Flood Initiative (NTFI) to better address repeated flooding events in the Nooksack and Sumas watersheds and the shared reliance on transboundary ecosystems and resources. The initiative aims to identify and pursue flood risk reduction and ecosystem restoration through:

  • Research and planning
  • Project review, coordination, and capital project support
  • Pursuit of funding
  • Communication

Recent and Current Projects

View the Flood Hazard Reduction and Flood Damage Repair Projects handout to learn about recently completed and ongoing projects. The handout was updated April 2023.

Response to Floods

Whatcom County has been working with numerous partners to respond to the devastating November 2021 Nooksack River floods and take action to prepare for future floods. Follow these links to learn more.