Celebrate Make a Difference Day and Arbor Day at a volunteer work party with the City of Bellingham, Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) and several other community organizations from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22. The event will take place in Whatcom Falls Park at 1700 Silver Beach Road. Volunteers will plant native trees and shrubs and remove invasive species near Derby Pond to reduce erosion and improve habitat for fish and wildlife.
All ages, abilities and experience levels are welcome. Tools, gloves, instructions and light refreshments, including coffee donated by Tony’s Coffee, are provided. The work party will conclude with free pizza donated by Papa John’s and closing remarks.
Registration is required for this event as space is limited. Unaccompanied youth under the age of 18 must provide a City & NSEA Youth Liability Release Form signed by their legal guardian to participate. Participants under age 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. All registered participants will receive email reminders with more information.
Volunteers are encouraged to carpool, bus, bike or walk to the event. There is limited parking available in Whatcom Falls Park. Whatcom Transportation Authority has several bus stops along Electric Avenue and Lakeway Drive. Let’s Bike Bellingham will provide a free bike valet service at the event.
To register, find an event map, access the Youth Liability Release Form and learn more, please visit cob.org/madd2022. For additional questions, please email pkvolunteers@cob.org or call (360) 778-7105.
Habitat Restoration Work
The City of Bellingham and NSEA work to improve local habitats and the community’s connection to them through restoration work and volunteer opportunities. The City has conducted habitat restoration within Whatcom Falls Park and completed a number of habitat restoration projects just downstream, including the Red Tail Reach, Cemetery Creek and Salmon Park projects, which provide important habitat for local fish and wildlife.
NSEA, a non-profit organization that strives to recover salmon by engaging the community in restoration, education and stewardship, implements habitat restoration throughout Whatcom County and works both independently of and collaboratively with the City of Bellingham to rally thousands of volunteers to local habitat restoration sites each year at their community work parties. The City offers additional volunteer opportunities to the community through the Bellingham Parks Volunteer Program, including work parties, a Park Steward program and school stewardship.
Additional partners for the Make a Difference Day and Arbor Day work party include the Washington Conservation Corps (WCC), Whatcom Million Trees Project, Western Washington University’s LEAD Program, Washington Trails Association, Washington Native Plant Society and others who support environmental stewardship efforts in the community.
