The primary purpose of the investigation of the water resources
of the Nooksack River was land classification. The
Nooksack basin lies largely within the Mt. Baker National Forest
and a considerable area of public lands will be involved
in any plan for the ultimate development of its water power.
Surveys on a scale of 1:24,000 and 1:31,680 were made from the
mouth of the Nooksack River upstream to include such stretches
of ell streams in the basin as appear to have sufficient flow
and head or storage possibilities to attract future power development.
A dam site on the main stream and one on South Fork
were mapped on a scale of 400 feet to the inch. A dam site on
the main stream near Deming was mapped in 1938 by the U.S. Engineers.
Areas within the basin not covered by these surveys
are largely shown on quadrangle maps, The lower basin has been
mapped on a scale of one inch to the mile, and the upper basin
on a scale of one quarter inch to the mile (Mt. Baker district).
These surveys and a brief record of discharge on the principal
streams of the basin together with a general reconnaissance
form the basis of this report. It outlines roughly a plan of
development showing the potential power of the Nooksack River
and its tributaries, and considers briefly the problems of flood
control and irrigation within the basin.
