Lummi River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lummi River |
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|---|---|
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Divergence of the Lummi from the Nooksack 13 ft (4.0 m) 48°49′38″N 122°35′37″W / 48.8272222°N 122.5936111°W |
| River mouth | 0 ft (0 m) 48°47′24″N 122°39′50″W / 48.79°N 122.6638889°W |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Lummi River → Lummi Bay → Strait of Georgia |
| GNIS ID | 1506383 |
The Lummi River is a waterway in Washington state. It used to be the main path for the Nooksack River to flow into Lummi Bay. This was before the early 1900s. Back then, the Nooksack River emptied into Lummi Bay, not Bellingham Bay as it does now.
Contents
A River's Changing Path
For a long time, a huge log jam, about a mile long, blocked the channel that is now the main Nooksack River. This meant most of the Nooksack's water flowed through what we now call the Lummi River.
How the River Changed
In the late 1800s, the city of Bellingham wanted to create a clear waterway. They hoped this new path would lead into Bellingham Bay and be usable past Ferndale. So, they decided to remove the massive log jam.
Once the log jam was gone, the Nooksack River's main flow shifted. It started moving into the southern channel, which is its path today. To control the water, a dam was built at the start of the Lummi River. This dam was later damaged and replaced. A new dam and spillway system was built, but it also got damaged over time.
The Lummi River Today
Today, the Lummi River is much narrower than it used to be. Its main job now is to act as an overflow channel for the Nooksack River during times of high water. This means it only gets water from the Nooksack when there's a lot of rain or snowmelt. A special pipe, called a culvert, lets water through the levee (a protective wall) into the Lummi River.
The river has been artificially straightened and surrounded by dikes. This helps prevent floods in the nearby fields. The Lummi River flows across flat land that was shaped by glaciers. Because it's a short river and doesn't carry much water, it flows slowly.
Impact on the Delta
The Lummi River Delta used to be very large. It might have been as big as the Nooksack River Delta is in Bellingham Bay today. But with much less water flowing through the Lummi River, the delta has shrunk a lot. The natural forces that shape the land have changed it significantly.
Farming and Habitats
Changing the river's path and building dikes created new areas for rich farmland. This was good for farming. However, it also meant that many coastal wetlands were lost. These wetlands are important natural areas. The changes also harmed the places where salmon live and reproduce.
Today, there are plans to study how to bring back these important natural habitats. This could help restore the environment for salmon and other wildlife.
