Enter the Essence of Bellingham Photo Competition
In the 20th annual Essence of Bellingham Photo Competition, photographers of all ages and skill levels can submit photos that capture the life of our fabulous city. You can enter photos, free of charge, now through Oct. 1, 2025. Winning entries are added to the Whatcom Museum’s photo archives and may also appear on BTV, in City publications, on the City’s website, or in City social media posts. Find competition details and an archive of previous winners at the Essence of Bellingham webpage.
Work continues on the Padden Creek diesel spill
We continue to work with the Washington State Department of Ecology, Lummi Nation, Nooksack Indian Tribe, and Faber Construction to respond to the diesel spills that occurred in lower Padden Creek last week. The most recent cleanup activities were focused on preparing for the rain through this weekend to prevent diesel from traveling downstream. The Lower Padden Creek Trail remains temporarily closed to protect public safety and allow cleanup crews access to the site. We will continue to share updates on our project webpage. You can also sign up to receive email updates by contacting liasion@ecy.wa.gov.
Improving public spaces
On Aug. 19-20, crews will be paving Roeder Avenue between Coho Way and Squalicum Way as part of the Roeder Lift Station project. Travelers can expect daytime delays beginning at 5 a.m. while the road is reduced to one lane.
Work also continues on Northshore Drive with the Donald Avenue Water Quality Retrofit Project, watermain upgrades, and street repaving in the area. Travelers can continue to expect one-lane closures and flaggers during construction.
Want to get more involved? Join a City advisory group!
We have openings on several City advisory groups, including the Whatcom Museum Foundation Board, Historic Preservation Commission, and the Civil Service Commission. Volunteer advisory group members play a vital role advising the Mayor and City Council, as well as supporting City functions. Most positions require you to live within city limits, but some welcome Whatcom County residents. Applications are accepted year-round. Learn how to apply.
Record number of hatchery Chinook returning
Starting soon, you may notice Chinook salmon making a splash in lower Whatcom Creek! More than 7,000 hatchery Chinook salmon — the largest forecasted return on record — are expected to return to Whatcom Creek in downtown Bellingham this season, thanks to an ongoing collaboration between Bellingham Technical College, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, and the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe. Following regulations, harvesting these Chinook is both ethical and legal. Please be respectful of fishers. Learn more about the return of hatchery Chinook in the WDFW news release and check them out at Maritime Heritage Park.
