Fidalgo and Padilla bays are one set of seven Puget Sound water bodies chosen as priorities for substantial cleanup and restoration by 2020. These bays support a highly productive eelgrass nursery for herring, salmon, and other wildlife. We began environmental cleanup and restoration along the rim of the bays in 2007. We chose sites along the bays that we already identified as needing cleanup, but the cleanups were delayed.
Our cleanup work has sparked development of a vibrant area for the community to enjoy, brought in many new businesses, and restored the vitality of the marine zone. Cleanup has moved faster and more smoothly thanks to the participation, encouragement, and vision of the local tribes and community.
Six old industrial sites were cleaned up along the waterfront, returning properties to commercial, light industrial, and productive habitat use. Our work continues at an additional five sites around the bays and into Guemes Channel.
Historical and cleanup signage provided by Trail Tales on the Tommy Thompson trail reminds us of the local history, the effort and commitment needed to clean up the site, and the value of restoring habitat.
Seafarer’s Memorial Park is part of two former cleanup sites: Scott Paper Mill and Cap Sante Marine. These cleanups yielded a usable beach and eelgrass nursery, amphitheater, kayak launch, and restaurant.
The Custom Plywood beach restoration project plan includes replanting traditional native plants. Cleanup has created opportunities for boat ramp development for port and private shipping.
The Fidalgo Bay sediments investigation in 2007 provided valuable information to help us understand where to focus our cleanup efforts. Contact our baywide coordinator for the full report.
Quiet Cove site cleanup is underway to support the fishing industry and warehouse storage for the Port of Anacortes’ customers.
Fidalgo and Padilla bays are a priority
The Puget Sound Initiative launched a significant effort in 2007 to restore and protect Puget Sound. This directive included seed money to speed cleanup of seven priority bays by 2020. Padilla and Fidalgo bays were chosen because of the important habitat function in this area of Puget Sound. The area supports the second largest eelgrass bed on North America's Pacific Coast, acting as a nursery rearing ground for juvenile fish. A portion of Fidalgo Bay was also designated as a marine wildlife preserve to protect the rich ecosystem.
This effort is transforming the Anacortes area waterfront as cleanups are completed and re-opened with new public access and opportunities for economic redevelopment.
The map below shows nearshore cleanup sites under the Puget Sound Initiative for Fidalgo and Padilla bays in the Anacortes area. Look below the map for a description of each site along with links to individual cleanup site pages.
Click on a site dot for more information, or see the site list below.
Anacortes Port Log Yard: Part of the Port's Pier 2 used to be used for log exporting, which left wood debris in the tidal areas next to the pier. As it decomposed over time, the wood debris degraded marine habitat.
The Port completed their investigation and are in the process of determining the level of cleanup needed to protect human health and the environment.
The port completed cleanup in May 2008 as part of their redevelopment of Cap Sante Boat Haven. Cleanup crews removed about 10,000 cubic yards of soil that had been contaminated by leaking gasoline and diesel tanks. As part of the cleanup, shoreline restoration enhanced marine habitat and public access within the marina. The remediated area is currently home to Anthony's restaurant and summer concerts.
Cleanup is nearly done on the Custom Plywood Mill site in the central part of Fidalgo Bay. Upland cleanup began at the site in 2011. Workers removed a large portion of the most contaminated marine sediments in December 2013. Post-construction monitoring is underway in the uplands and sediment areas.
The Port's Dakota Creek Shipyard underwent a major redevelopment in 2008. Workers cleaned up contamination from past use of the site for bulk fuel storage, shipbuilding, and other industry. Removing contaminated sediments allowed for a deeper basin in the shipyard that allows for larger ship access.
In 2023, contaminated soil was removed from the upland area of the site. Confirmational monitoring is underway to determine effectiveness of the soil removal.
Seafarers Memorial Park and the land immediately south and west used to be the Scott Paper Mill, as well as other industrial operations. These uses contaminated soil, groundwater, and offshore sediment. Cleanup crews completed a massive cleanup, including removing tens of thousands of cubic yards of soil and sediment from the land and water. Shoreline habitat restoration and public access enhancements were integrated into the cleanup.
The March Point Landfill site, formerly known as Whitmarsh Landfill, is on the southern end of Padilla Bay, next to Swinomish tribal lands. Investigations showed low levels of contamination discharging into the bay which prompted a cleanup action plan to protect the bay.
The plan is designed to hinder water from entering or exiting the landfill, keeping the contamination contained. Cleanup is projected for 2024.
MJB cleaned up pockets of soil in an independent action. They completed their efforts in 2013 to allow for redevelopment of the property. The area is currently being developed.
MJB, the owners of the MJB South Hydrofill site, performed a targeted independent cleanup during redevelopment of a marine boat ramp in 2011. They did more targeted cleanup in 2013 on the southern portion of the site, which is currently used for marine-related storage.
Investigation and cleanup is underway at the Quiet Cove site. The Port did an interim action cleanup in 2020, demolishing the buildings and excavating and disposing of contaminated soils rom within the property boundary.
We are currently investigating areas where we don't have enough data, so we can determine the extent of soil and groundwater impacts before completing the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study.
The Shell Oil Tank Farm operated for many years near the historic shoreline of Fidalgo Bay. As a result, site soils and groundwater were impacted by petroleum-related contaminants.
Cleanup crews completed an interim cleanup action in winter 2007, and completed site cleanup in February 2015, removing over 8,400 tons of contaminated soil. The location is now a parking facility for local boat launching and other maritime needs.
The Port of Anacortes restored habitats, improved the neighboring boat ramp, and cleaned up dilapidated structures on land and in the water. Cleanup efforts removed over 400 tons of contaminated soil and created approximately 17,800 square feet of intertidal habitat and 8,500 square feet of riparian/salt marsh habitat between 2008 and 2014.
