Operation and maintenance of the Middle Fork Diversion facility in a manner that permits fish passage prevents strandings, and ensures needed instream flows downstream to the Nooksack River estuary while at the same time ensuring that water of sufficient quantity and quality is available for the City of Bellingham service area.

• Diversion management could provide opportunities for fish habitat protection and enhancement by ensuring adequate stream flow, improved water quality, and appropriate ramping rates.

• Diversion management could not only ensure that water of sufficient quantity is available for the City of Bellingham service area, but also could provide for new or expanded uses of water for instream and/or out-of-stream purposes.

• Diversion management could not only ensure that water of sufficient quality is available for the City of Bellingham service area, but could also provide for greater dilution of pollutant loads from the diversion location to the Nooksack River estuary.

• Diversion management could provide opportunities for instream flow protection and enhancement.

• None listed in database.