Tennant Lake Wildlife Area Unit
The Whatcom Wildlife Area has eight units totaling approximately 4,320 acres north of Bellingham in Whatcom County. A majority of the land is within a few miles of Puget Sound and about 10 miles south of the Canadian border. The Tennant Lake Unit is situated in the Nooksack River's mainstem floodplain, and the river hugs the unit's western border. Most wetlands in the lower Nooksack were diked and ditched by the beginning of the 20th century.
Habitat types on the wildlife area include submergent and emergent marsh, grasslands, open water, and deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forest. Without disturbance, the climax vegetation in this area would be western red cedar and Douglas fir. A wide range of wetland and riparian dependent species and upland species occur on the Whatcom Wildlife Area. The area also supports important habitat for wintering waterfowl, and is located on the Pacific Flyway.
The Whatcom Wildlife Area was purchased beginning in the 1940s primarily for waterfowl habitat preservation and public recreation, with more recent acquisitions focused on salmonid habitat preservation. By actively managing lands, restoring habitats, and preserving wild places, the department serves as stewards for Washington's natural places, protecting the state's land and water for its human and wildlife populations.
Wildlife area units
Management planning
2006 Whatcom Wildlife Area Management Plan
Every eight to 10 years, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) revises management plans for each of its 33 wildlife areas to document current conditions, address new agency initiatives, and identify new management priorities and actions. In between those major revisions, WDFW updates plans every two years to outline short-term objectives and accomplishments. In 2014, WDFW began the process of updating existing plans, many of which were written in 2006. The new plans are being developed with significant public participation and input.