Chuckanut Ridge Bellingham, Washington OVERVIEW PRESENTATION An Ecological and Natural Wonder to be protected for Bellingham’s Future

Fraser River Delta Hydrologically speaking, our little piece of earth is a part of the Fraser River delta as well as Puget Sound. The importance of the Chuckanut Ridge is that it forms a geologic divide between two great watersheds: the Fraser River delta to the north & the Skagit River delta to the south. Many vulcanologists, floodplain managers & geomorphologists believe that at various pre-historic times the Nooksack River probably flowed north into the Fraser River. Fraser River Delta British Columbia Washington

Chuckanut Ridge / Cascades Fraser River Delta Skagit River Delta "The Chuckanut Formation consists of 6,000 meters of sedimentary sandstone deposit, the largest formation of its kind in North America. Over the last fifty million years, the movement of tectonic plates broke up and scattered this rock across an area that covers from Puget Sound to the foothills of the North Cascades, including Sehome Hill and the Western Washington campus." Ref.:

Chuckanut Ridge / Stair Steps to the Sea Mount Baker Mount Rainier Galbraith Mtn. Stewart Mtn. Squalicum Mtn. Sumas Mtn. Skagit River Delta Fraser River Delta “No where else in the entire Puget Sound region do the Cascade Mountain foothills extend all the way to the sea. The Chuckanut Mountains are part of what is known as the Puget Lowland Forest Eco- region, which, according to the World Wildlife Fund is in "critical" need of new protected areas.”

Proposed Fairhaven Highlands

Another Ridge Top This is a real place. A real ridge top. In the heart of the North Carolina Appalachians. It’s the Sugar Top Mountain Resort next to the Sugar Mountain Ski Area in Banner Elk, NC. A 10-story monolith on a 1500-foot high mountain among sparsely populated single family homes.

View SE from downtown Fairhaven Today Tomorrow?

Renderings developed from actual permit applications based on best available data of Alternate B: 2008 Enhanced Buffer Plan

Earthwork Scarring Cross-Section

Pretty Picture vs. True Earthwork

Earthwork Scarring Cross-Section FILL: Typically 2 Horz : 1 Vert CUT: Typically 1½ Horz : 1 Vert 200’ ± 400’+?

Forest Removal Root System ~ Tree Canopy Cut, Fill, Traffic = Slow Death

Room To Work

Land Disturbance Ridgetop Issaquah Highlands Project near Seattle Ref.:

Land Disturbance This parcel abuts Chuckanut Ridge. This is simply a stub road & utilities for a 7-acre parcel. Fairhaven Highlands is 85 acres.

True Extent of Clearing & Grading Very Steep Slopes From original permit application based on best available data of Alternate A: 2005 Plan 1.Developers representation 2.Independent toe- of-slope analysis 3.True & correct tree clearing & earthwork grading 4.True & correct “crewcut”

Issaquah Highlands ridgetop project near Seattle Ref.: It’s A Choice to Save Puget Sound

Ref.: Seattle Times 4-Part Story, May 14, 2008

Proposed Fairhaven Highlands Site Mount Baker

This project brought to you by … Greenbriar / Northwest Associates, LLC Attn: David Edelstein 2200 Division Street #E Bellingham, WA Horizon Bank 211 East Holly Street Bellingham, WA http://

SAVE Chuckanut Ridge YOU CAN HELP: 1.SIGN e-Petition for public purchase 2.DONATE $$$ now for legal defense 3.PLEDGE future matching purchase funds Copyright 2008 © Ch.E.E.R.S. --- Chuckanut Environmental & Earth Resource Services / Responsible Development PO Box 4057 Bellingham, WA