South Fork Park
Planning efforts for South Fork Park began in 2007. The development of the park is currently underway with improvements being made to the trailhead, featuring parking, restrooms, and the initial phase of trail development. In 2017 we plan to install a looped trail and finalize the agreement with the Department of Natural Resources that will allow access to the Nesset Farm.
Planning
Since 2007, Whatcom County Parks and Recreation has held multiple public planning sessions to gather ideas and input to formulate park goals for the South Fork Park. From those meetings Parks has developed a proposed plan based on public input received.
The result as well as the initial alternatives can be previewed by following the links on this page. The plan will be presented to the County Council for approval later this year.
About the Park
The site consists of 3 separate parcels totaling 603 acres:
- The Galbraith Farm
- The Nesset Farm and homestead
- The Overby Farm
All 3 tracts border, and are heavily influenced by the South Fork of the Nooksack River. The Galbraith Farm has frontage along Mosquito Lake Road and is located 0.5 mile east of Acme. The sites are rich in history and have a diversity of environments.
Quarterly Reports
| 2016 Project Updates | 2017 Project Updates | 2018 Project Updates | 2019 Project Updates | 2020 Project Updates | 2021 Project Updates | 2022 Project Updates | 2023 Project Updates | 2024 Project Updates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Quarter Report | First Quarter Report | First Quarter Report | First Quarter Report | First Quarter Report | First Quarter Report | First Quarter Report | First Quarter Report | First Quarter Report |
| Second Quarter Report | Second Quarter Report | Second Quarter Report | Second Quarter Report | Second Quarter Report | Second Quarter Report | Second Quarter Report | Second Quarter Report | |
| Third Quarter Report | Third Quarter Report | Third Quarter Report | Third Quarter Report | Third Quarter Report | Third Quarter Report | Third Quarter Report | Third Quarter Report | |
| Fourth Quarter Report | Fourth Quarter Report | Fourth Quarter Report | Fourth Quarter Report | Fourth Quarter Report | Forth Quarter Report | Fourth Quarter Report | Fourth Quarter Report |
South Fork Master Plan - Proposed Action
Environmental Documentation
- Draft Environmental Assessment (PDF)
- State Environmental Policy Act Appeal (PDF)
- State Environmental Policy Act Environmental Checklist (PDF)
- Whatcom County Hearing Examiner - Summary of Appeal and Decision (PDF)
- Whatcom County Planning and Development Services - Determination of Nonsignificance (DNS) (PDF)
Park Property Easements & Restrictions
- Assignment of Rights - Overby Farm State of Washington (PDF)
- Conservation Easement - Overby Farm Whatcom Land Trust (PDF)
- Deed of Right to Use Land for Public Recreation Purposes - Nesset Farm State of Washington (PDF)
- Living Trust and Conservation Easement - Nesset Farm Land Trust(PDF)
- Riparian 500 Foot Conservation Easement - Galbraith Farm Whatcom Land Trust (PDF)
