Lower Padden Creek Water Quality Improvements

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 a new treatment facility designed to remove harmful pollutants, such as metals and tire wear particles, that can negatively impact salmon and other aquatic life.

Map showing project area located on Bill McDonald Parkway between 25th Street and Ferry Avenue

Project Status – 2025

RH2 Engineering has been contracted to conduct an alternatives analysis to help determine the best course of action for the future of the project. This project is currently funded through 90% Design. The timeline for final design and construction are yet to be determined.

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More Information

The Lower Padden Creek subbasin covers about 1,200 acres and includes a mix of land uses—multi-family housing near I-5 and Western Washington University (WWU), and single-family homes in the Happy Valley neighborhood.

Currently, stormwater from this area flows through City-owned outfalls into Padden Creek, which eventually drains into Bellingham Bay. One of the largest drainage areas in the subbasin is nearly 500 acres and discharges to a single outfall.

Most of the stormwater runoff from roads, rooftops, and other hard surfaces in this area is not treated before entering the creek. This runoff contains pollutants like metals and tire wear particles, which are harmful to fish species such as salmon and steelhead.

Padden Creek is listed on Washington State’s 303(d) list of impaired waters due to issues with fecal coliform bacteria, low dissolved oxygen, and high temperatures. It also has a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirement for temperature, meaning steps must be taken to reduce heat pollution in the water.

This project is currently only funded through 90% Design. For the 90% Design phase, the total funding available is $223,989 between an Ecology grant ($190,391) and a 15% City match from the stormwater fund. The contract for RH2 Engineering is $141,628.

Contact

General project questions: AskPW@cob.org
Media inquiries: pwmedia@cob.org

Project Engineer
Keenan Thomas
Phone: (360) 296-5133
Email: kwthomas@cob.org

Participating Departments

Affected Neighborhoods

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