Toxics Cleanup Program   |  Site Information   |  Bellingham Bay  |  Habitat

Potential Restoration Projects

Each opportunity is followed by a number that corresponds to the score it was given through the Habitat Action Team’s ranking process.  (Total points possible: 57)  Click here for more information on the evaluation criteria used to score the following habitat restoration and protection opportunities. 

(Please click on the following thumbnail photos for a larger view.)

Cement Company Dock
This dock is a relatively wooden structure near Little Squalicum Creek that extends through intertidal and shallow subtidal water.  The primary action would be removal of the treated wooden piles to remove creosote from the aquatic environment and restore substrates. (Score: 39)
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Mt. Baker Plywood

• West: The beach area west of Mt. Baker Plywood consists of large boulders and rocks.  Opportunities at this site include either removing the large boulders and rocks to expose underlying sediments and supplement with finer mixed coarse gravel and sand, or placing finer mixed coarse gravel and sand over the large boulders and rocks to fill interstices. (Score: 40)
   

• Northwest: A portion of the shoreline appears to be fill.  The fill could be removed and the area graded to support marine buffer, possibly salt marsh and sand/mud flat. (Score: 51) 
   

• South: The fill could be removed and the site graded to provide habitat suitable for sand/mudflat and salt marsh habitat with a marine buffer fringe. (Score: 53) 
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Squalicum Creek Waterway

• Removal of treated wooden piles, a pier, log rafting structures, and log rafts. (Score: 51)
   

• The elevations of the creek estuary could be raised to provide intertidal and shallow water habitat such as eelgrass, kelp or salt marsh and associated functions.  Shoreline buffer could also be established. (Score: 52)
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Bellingham Cold Storage

The fill could be removed and the site graded to provide estuary habitat suitable for marine buffer, saltmarsh and/or intertidal mud/sandflat. (Score: 52)
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Squalicum Harbor Breakwater

Elevations off portions of the breakwater could be raised from about -18 ft MLLW to provide gently sloping intertidal and shallow subtidal habitat and functions.  Side slopes on the seaward edge of the breakwater could be modified to incorporate finer grained material to provide intertidal/shallow water functions.(Score: 46)

Update! This work is scheduled to take place in coordination with the Weldcraft sediment cleanup in fall 2003.

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Squalicum Marina

The substrate along the marina margins modified to incorporate finer grained rocks to provide intertidal/shallow water functions. (Score: 42)
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Port-Hilton Harbor

Shallow water habitat could be established by raising the elevation next to the Aerated Stabilization Basin (part of the Whatcom Waterway site).  Marine buffer fringe habitat could be established at high elevations and/or site elevations could me modified to meet the elevations of the existing eelgrass bed.  Allow for natural eelgrass colonization or do limited eelgrass transplanting. (Score: 56)
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Georgia-Pacific Aerated Stabilization Basin (ASB)

The Aerated Stabilization Basin is part of the Whatcom Waterway cleanup site.

• East: Shallow water habitat could be established by raising the elevation next to the ASB.  Marine buffer fringe habitat could be established at high elevations and the site could support either marsh plants or eelgrass at lower elevations. (Score: 50)
   

• South: Elevations could be raised or modified to expand the existing eelgrass bed on the west side of the ASB.  About 200, 000 cubic yards would be required to create habitat at elevations suitable for eelgrass. (Score: 50)
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Sash & Door (Holly Street Landfill)

This action would involve removing fill from the Sash and Door site and establishing estuarine riparian buffer, marsh, and mudflat banks. (Score: 52)
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Update! If funding is available, this work will be done as part of the Holly Street Landfill cleanup.

Lower Whatcom Creek

The action would involve removing wooden structures, derelict floats, etc. in the vicinity. (Score: 39)
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Citizens Dock

This dilapidated dock was removed in 1999.  (Score: 41)

Head of Whatcom Waterway

The concept would be to modify elevations and substrates in the head of the waterway to establish estuarine riparian buffer, mudflat benches, and marsh.  Perhaps introduce rootwads or other structure to the head of the waterway.

This work would be done as part of the Whatcom Waterway site cleanup. (Score: 54)
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Georgia-Pacific Log Pond

Port Log Rafting Area

Remove wood/bark debris, and sunken logs.  Modify the shoreline edge and modify elevations to support intertidal and shallow subtidal habitat (sloped or terraced bench).  The site may provide an opportunity to provide substrates suitable for macroalgae attachment establish and/or an eelgrass bed.

This work would be done as part of the Whatcom Waterway site cleanup.  (Score: 43)
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Cornwall Avenue Landfill

Remove garbage from the in-water portion of the landfill.  Cut back bank along shoreline and remove garbage.  Re-grade upland to intercept an appropriate shallow water elevation.  Establish intertidal habitat, marine buffer fringe, possibly a saltmarsh, and potentially expand the sparse eelgrass patches (0.25 acre) just offshore of the seaward extent of the garbage.

Some of this habitat restoration work may be done as part of the Cornwall Avenue Landfill site cleanup.

(Score: 52)
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Boulevard Park

Two actions could occur along the shoreline and offshore from about 600 to 800 ft north of Boulevard Park to the south end of the Park.  The first action is shoreline substrate modification.  Substrates consist of riprap and large rock and concrete debris.   These substrates could possibly be removed and replaced with coarser grain sand and gravel to provide surf smelt and sand lance spawning areas.  Alternatively, finer grained substrates could be placed in the interstices to provide some epibenthic habitat.  The second action would occur offshore and consist of potentially restoring eelgrass or providing substrates to support kelp. (Score: 48)
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Taylor Street Dock

Remove the treated wooden structure and associated pilings and pier structures to remove creosote from the aquatic environment.  Either allow eelgrass to naturally recolonize or conduct eelgrass transplant. (Score: 39)

Update! The City of Bellingham is planning to remove the existing structure during summer 2003 and will build a new boardwalk that will link up with Boulevard Park. The new structure will use metal and concrete pilings instead of creosoted wood pilings.
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Padden Creek

• North Shoreline: Remove shoreline fill and create mudflat and/or saltmarsh.
  (Score: 57)
   

• North - In-Water: Remove treated wooden pier to remove creosote from the environment.  This may provide an opportunity for existing eelgrass beds to expand. Remove a small filled area that protrudes waterward of the OHW line at the landward end of the pier structure. (Score: 46)
   

• East Shore:  Remove fill, asphalt and rock along the east shore and modify elevations to provide estuarine riparian buffer, mudflat benches and marsh. (Score: 50)
   

• Upland: Remove fill and establish connection to Padden Creek.  Excavate fill to create tidally influenced brackish marsh.  Provide habitat buffer. (Score: 57)
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• Upland: Excavate upland next to a small open water embayment containing eelgrass.  Grade excavated area to provide saltmarsh and mudflat bench. (Score: 57)
   

• Shoreline: Modify existing structure under railroad crossing to open it up and replace existing concrete debris that has been used to armor the shoreline with rock. 
  (Score: 39)
   

• South: Modify existing structure under railroad crossing to open it up. (Score: 38)
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Page last modified Friday April 27, 2007