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We are managing the cleanup of 12 sites in the Bellingham Bay area. All are on or near the waterfront. Two sites have been completely cleaned up, and we are monitoring them to make sure they continue to meet cleanup goals. Most of the other 10 have had some clean up and are on their way to completion. The Port of Bellingham, the City of Bellingham, and others are doing the cleanup work under legal agreements with us.
The Georgia-Pacific West pulp and paper mill in 1973. Image courtesy DOCUMERICA.
The cleanup sites along Bellingham Bay are the legacy of municipal and industrial practices that preceded modern environmental laws. Soil, marine sediment, and groundwater were contaminated by operations at the former Georgia-Pacific pulp and paper mill, municipal landfills, wood treatment plants, shipyards, and a coal gasification plant.
Environmental restoration
Cleaning up contaminated sediment and controlling sources of contamination will provide clean rearing habitat for forage fish and Chinook salmon, an important food source for Puget Sound's resident orcas.
Cleaning up contaminated sediment is challenging. It’s complicated due to the number of Tribal, federal, state, and local jurisdictions with authority, and the fact that the contamination can come from many sources. Site-specific sources include contaminated soil runoff and contaminated groundwater flowing to the sediment. Bay-wide sources include stormwater outfalls and particulates like dust and smoke settling from the air.
To help address these challenges, the organizations with jurisdiction in Bellingham Bay came together and developed the Bellingham Bay Comprehensive Strategy. This document informs and guides in-water projects that will help restore the environmental health of the bay.
Ecology's main role in the restoration is overseeing the cleanup of contaminated sites.
A number of important cleanup documents and pre-engineering design investigations were completed to prepare for construction:
One legal agreement amended
Two cleanup action plans completed
Three pre-remedial design investigations conducted
2019
A number of important cleanup documents were completed to prepare for construction:
Four legal agreements amended or created
One remedial investigation/feasibility study report completed
Two cleanup action plans completed
Two engineering design documents completed
2017 and 2018
Significant cleanup construction work was completed, including the removal of:
14,500 cubic yards of sediment
3,200 cubic yards of contaminated soil
36,900 square feet of over-water structures
905 creosote-treated pilings
2016
Substantial cleanup construction work was completed in Phase 1 areas of the Whatcom Waterway site.
Removed:
Over 111,400 cubic yards of contaminated sediment
Nearly 10,000 tons of soil
Over 260 tons of creosote-treated timber
Over 5,100 tons of concrete and asphalt rubble (over 98% was reused or recycled)
Isolated contaminated sediment with nearly 103,000 cubic yards of clean material
Installed 36,600 square feet of sheet pile walls on the north side of the waterway to support the upland and prevent contaminated groundwater from entering the waterway
Cleanup sites
The 12 Bellingham Bay cleanup sites are in various stages of the cleanup process shown below. Sites are listed from north to south.
This site has contaminated sediment associated with past boatyard practices. For more information, visit the Marine Services NW webpage.
Current step
Assess the site
No activities planned for 2024.
I & J Waterway
This site has contaminated sediment associated with former industrial practices. For more information, visit the I & J Waterway webpage or read the 2023 Fact Sheet.
The Bellingham Bay cleanup effort began as the Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot Project in 1996, co-managed by us and the Port of Bellingham. This bay-wide effort included 12 agencies from federal, Tribal, state, and local governments, and Georgia-Pacific West. The goal of the project was to coordinate the cleanup sediments, control sources of pollution impacting sediments, and restore habitat, while considering land and water uses. In 2000, the Bellingham Bay Comprehensive Strategy was finalized.
Today, this group is called the Bellingham Bay Action Team. It has a slightly different composition and is mainly led by us. The team continues to coordinate in-water projects with the guidance of the Bellingham Bay Comprehensive Strategy.
Si le gustaría recibir documentos en español, por favor llame a 425-324-5901 y espere a que un intérprete se una a la llamada o envíe un correo electrónico a preguntas@ecy.wa.gov.
Traducciones de documentos para los sitios de limpieza de la Bahía de Bellingham se preparan bajo solicitud.
We offer free language services about our programs and services for people whose primary language is not English. We can provide written information in your preferred language and interpreters in person or over the telephone.
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