In 1990, the Washington State Legislature created the Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group (RFEG) Program to involve local communities, citizen volunteers, and landowners in the state's salmon recovery efforts. 

As one of the 14 RFEGs, NSEA was organized in 1990 as a coalition of community members and partners who work together for restoration of wild salmon runs in Whatcom County, from the Canadian border to the Skagit Watershed.