Environment Archives

McKenzie Street – Contaminated Site Cleanup Project

Image of the cleared McKenzie cleanup site in fall 2025

Background The site at 210 McKenzie Street, next to the Post Point Wastewater Treatment Plant, is reserved for the facility’s long-term future expansion. Existing buildings on the site currently support maintenance and operations for the treatment plant. This property has a long history of soil and groundwater contamination. Since purchasing the site in 2006, the City has ... Read more

Post Point Emission Control Upgrades

Project Overview The Emission Control Upgrades Project (EU199) aims to enhance air quality controls for the incinerators at the Post Point Wastewater Treatment Plant. This facility provides wastewater treatment services for the City of Bellingham through a series of advanced processes. Here, we treat and disinfect the liquid effluent before discharging it into Bellingham Bay. ... Read more

Squalicum Creek at West Street Fish Passage Improvements Project

Old culvert with stream running through it and overgrown vegetation around it

The Squalicum Creek at West Street Fish Passage Improvement Project is part of a coordinated, strategic approach to fish barrier removal in Bellingham, and one of many projects completed or in the works in the Squalicum Creek watershed. This project will replace two partial fish passage barriers in the main channel of Squalicum Creek adjacent ... Read more

Lower Padden Creek Water Quality Improvements

Traffic signal at intersection with trees lining the road

Project Overview The City has received a design grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology to help improve water quality in the lower Padden Creek watershed. This project will redirect stormwater runoff from a 1,000-foot section of Bill McDonald Parkway, which currently flows untreated into Padden Creek. Instead, the runoff will be routed to ... Read more

Post Point Resource Recovery Plant Emergency Generator Replacement

This project will replace the existing emergency power generator units at the Post Point Treatment Plant to provide backup power to the facility during power outages or other electricity service disruptions. This project ensures that this important facility can reliably continue to function in treating wastewater and protecting the environment without interruption.

Little Squalicum Creek Water Quality Improvements Phase 2

Large structure being lowered underground

Proposed Project Overview This proposed project is part of a multi-phased approach to improve water quality in Little Squalicum Creek and the new Little Squalicum Estuary by reducing pollution in rainwater runoff – or stormwater – from the Birchwood neighborhood. This second phase is expected to add underground stormwater treatment vaults at the following intersections: ... Read more