Little Squalicum Estuary

Will the beach be inaccessible during construction?

The beach will be inaccessible at times, but not for the entire project duration. Beach accessibility will depend on current construction conditions.

The beach and lower Little Squalicum Park may be temporarily inaccessible during construction both in front of the park and north through the beach nourishment area (northwest of the pier) as we construct the estuary outlet and add nourishment to improve forage fish habitat. Some areas will remain open when practical, including the beach.

We must construct this project during the summer because permitting limits construction to specific “fish windows” to protect forage fish, salmon and other fish species as well as water quality. During the beach work, you can access Locust Beach as an alternative beach, which is approximately 1.4 miles away from the project site.

Will dogs still be allowed off-leash in the park?

The City-managed Little Squalicum Park (the area from the railroad trestle and north) is designated as an off-leash dog park. The beach is owned by the Port of Bellingham and is currently designated as an on-leash dog area. The project will not change either of these designations.

During construction, dogs and people can access the northern portion of the park (adjacent to BTC parking lot) and will have limited access to the southern portion of the park (water side of Marine Drive), depending on current construction conditions.

After construction is complete, dogs will continue to be allowed off-leash in areas of the park per City policy PAR 3.01.20 except within the sensitive estuary habitat, which will be protected by a low fence. Please help steward the new estuary by keeping people and dogs out of this fragile area.

How will this project change Little Squalicum Park?

After construction, the southern field and forest adjacent to the beach will become the estuary. A small field area will be provided for recreation and the field just to the north (near Bellingham Technical College) will remain unchanged. Some vegetation will be impacted during construction of the new estuary, but new plants will be added. All existing trails in the project area will be shifted west to accommodate the estuary footprint, and a new trail network and pedestrian bridge will be installed at the estuary mouth.

How will this project enhance habitat?

This project will restore tidal and sedimentary processes, improve fish passage, and return saltmarsh, mudflat and estuary habitats to an area where historical wetlands have been lost. Over the past 150 years, Bellingham Bay has lost an estimated 282 acres of aquatic land as the result of historical dredging, filling, and shoreline modification activities, drastically reducing rearing habitat available to local salmonid populations. Due to an increasingly urbanized shoreline with competing uses such as marinas, industry, and railways, the WRIA 1 Nearshore and Estuarine Assessment and Restoration Plan identified Little Squalicum as one of the last remaining locations available for estuary habitat expansion in WRIA 1. 

Features of the new 2.4-acre estuary include a vegetated saltmarsh as well as native vegetation around the estuary that will help cool and filter freshwater entering Bellingham Bay. The project will also include “beach nourishment,” which consists of installing new gravel along the shoreline to enhance tidal processes and provide habitat for spawning forage fish. Surf smelt – a type of forage fish – have been documented nearby, and this project aims to expand spawning gravels available for these and other forage fish species. Forage fish provide the foundation for local marine food webs and are an especially important food source for salmon (Nearshore Juvenile Chinook Study, Beamer et al, 2015).

Project elements include removing 50 linear feet of shoreline barrier, installing 1.2 acres of saltmarsh and riparian plantings, and enhancing 1.16 acres of forage fish spawning habitat. As part of the estuary excavation, the project includes removal of contaminated material.

What can I do to help care for the new estuary habitat?

• Help steward the sensitive new estuary and plantings by staying on designated trails and recreation areas, and guiding pets to do the same.
• Bag and dispose of pet waste in trash both at home and away.
• Restore native vegetation at planting parties organized by the City of Bellingham and local organizations. We will be hosting a volunteer work party in 2023 after the estuary is constructed. Sign up for our Habitat News email list to receive updates about this project, similar projects, and the planned volunteer work party.

Is the City removing the pier as part of the Little Squalicum Estuary project?

As a separate project, the City is working on opening a portion of the pier to public access in the future. The outer 600 feet of the pier will be removed. Approximately 1200 linear feet of the pier will be retained for public use.

What is the Port of Bellingham’s Little Squalicum Habitat Beach Project?

In the same vicinity of the Little Squalicum Estuary project was the Port’s Little Squalicum Habitat Beach Project, which began construction mid-summer 2022 and is now complete. This project improves fish habitat by removing industrial fill from historic tidelands. To learn more, visit the Port’s Capital Project Highlights Map and view the first project under the “Public Priorities” tab, or email Kurtb@portofbellingham.com.

Find answers to additional questions in the Project FAQ.