In the past, gravel and sand were removed from exposed bars along the river above the water line. But wasn’t the Nooksack River dredged into the 1990s? The Nooksack River has not been dredged in this manner in recent history. Dredging usually implies the removal of sediment from below the water surface and is often done in water bodies to allow for navigation. These sediments can include gravel, sand, silt, and clay. Gravel Removal FAQ’s What is dredging?ĭredging is the removal of sediments from the bottom of lakes, rivers, harbors, and other bodies of water. The following Frequently Asked Questions regarding gravel removal provide information on what it is and why it is not the principal solution to reduce Nooksack River flood risk. While gravel removal alone will not prevent flooding, it is not off the table and could be an effective method to reduce flood risk in certain situations when used alongside other flood prevention methods. These impacts must be carefully considered and compared against other flood reduction methods that may be more effective and protect more people overall. It could actually increase flood risk in other areas.

To have any sort of meaningful impact on the kind of flooding we saw in November 2021, vast amounts of sediment would need to be removed.

Some are advocating for dredging the river as the principal way to prevent future flooding, yet experience has shown that this has environmental impacts and likely will not provide the relief people want to see.ĭredging (or, more accurately, gravel removal), will not by itself prevent flooding. People are understandably concerned and looking for what can be done to minimize the risk of this happening again. The record-breaking rain and devastating flooding we experienced in November 2021 caused widespread damage and devastation, especially to people who live in the Nooksack River flood overflow corridor including the communities of Everson, Nooksack, and Sumas.

What is dredging a river