Flood concerns shut down Hovander park in Ferndale

Hovander Homestead Park and the Tenant Lake Interpretive Center area and Fragrance Garden are expected to reopen Friday, Dec. 11, provided the weather cooperates.

Whatcom County Parks and Recreation, which manages those Ferndale-area parks, closed them Wednesday, Dec. 9, because of concerns the Nooksack River would flood the area. The Nooksack actually ended up cresting below flood levels, much lower than predicted, but spots in Hovander still get inundated.

Another round of problematic weather is expected to hit the county Thursday. Coastal flooding is possible during high tides through the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. And expect more wind — 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph into Thursday night — but they shouldn’t be as strong as the most recent windstorms.

With the ground already saturated and more rain in the forecast over the next several days, the risk of landslides remains elevated. Several already have been reported around the state.

This story was originally published December 9, 2015 at 10:19 AM with the headline "Flood concerns shut down Hovander park in Ferndale."