Photo of Lake Whatcom by Caden Seyler

Lake Whatcom Vault Retrofits

Project Overview: Phase 1

This two-phased project aims to improve water quality in Lake Whatcom by reducing pollution impacts from existing infrastructure and development. The project will retrofit existing stormwater vaults with more effective treatment technology to increase phosphorus removal from stormwater runoff while reducing long-term maintenance costs. In phase 1, four vaults will be retrofitted at three sites (Academy Street, Connecticut Street, and Poplar Drive along Northshore Drive) located in City right-of-way. An additional three vaults will be retrofitted in a second phase of the project.

The first phase of this project is expected to treat polluted runoff (stormwater) from 60 acres of residential development, removing approximately 17 pounds of phosphorus from the watershed on average each year. This project continues the City’s work to address excess phosphorus pollution in Lake Whatcom in accordance with the Lake Whatcom Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Plan.

Map showing where five stormwater facilities will be retrofitted along Lake Whatcom - on Lakeside Lane, Alabama/Electric, Connecticut Street, Poplar Drive, Academy Street
Phase 1 treatment facilities are located along Northshore on Connecticut Street, Poplar Drive, and Academy Street. The Phase 2 locations are located at Alabama Street/Electric Avenue and Lakeside Lane.

Project Status – Summer 2026

Construction kicked off the week of July 27 at the Poplar Drive vault. Work will continue for up to a couple weeks before moving onto the Academy Street vault. Both the Poplar Drive and Academy Street vaults are receiving minor upgrades that won’t require structural changes.

The Connecticut Street facility will be upgraded last and will take the longest to construct. The existing vault is very shallow, so we will be raising the walls of the vault up and putting a new lid on it to make it easier for maintenance staff to access it. The vault lid must be custom ordered and has a long delivery time, which is why this facility is being upgraded last. The construction timeline will likely depend on when the lid is delivered. Construction could continue into October 2026.

Limited construction impacts are expected for this project since the vault facilities are located off of roadways. Residents can expect increased vehicle traffic, noise, and minimal traffic impacts.

Phase 2 design has been initiated, and we are working to complete the alternative analysis and site assessments.

More Information

This project is one of many City efforts to address water quality concerns in the drinking water source for more than 100,000 Whatcom County residents. Lake Whatcom has been listed as a polluted body of water by the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) since 1998 because it does not meet water quality standards for dissolved oxygen due to high amounts of phosphorus entering the lake.

Excess phosphorus levels can lead to large algal blooms that cloud water and block out sunlight for other plants. When algae die, bacteria feed on the decomposing algae and consume the oxygen in the water, depleting dissolved oxygen that is necessary for plants, fish and other aquatic creatures to survive.

The City and Whatcom County are working to reduce phosphorus levels in response to federal Clean Water Act requirements and the state Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) process. The Environmental Protection Agency approved a mandatory water quality improvement plan (Lake Whatcom TMDL) in 2016. The plan sets the phosphorus reduction target needed to meet water quality standards. This project is an important part of meeting the target.

This project retrofits stormwater treatment facilities that were built approximately 20 years ago with newer technology that is more effective at removing phosphorus and reducing pollution entering Lake Whatcom. Between the two phases of this project, these upgraded facilities will treat stormwater runoff from 75 acres of development and roadways, removing an average of about 20 pounds of phosphorus each year.

Learn more:

Two more treatment facilities along Lake Whatcom will be assessed and retrofits will be designed with the same goals as Phase 1. The two locations are also shown in the vicinity map, located at Lakeside Lane/Lakeside Avenue and Alabama Street/Electric Avenue. The City has received another Department of Ecology grant to support project design.

  • July 2024 – Phase 1 project design begins. The engineering design contract was awarded to Herrera.
  • August 2024 – Phase 1 site assessments and Alternatives Analysis.
  • December 2024 – Phase 1 45% Design Package completed.
  • Summer 2025 – Phase 1 90% Design Package completed
  • Fall 2025 – Phase 2 Site Assessments and Alternatives Analysis.
  • Spring 2026 – Phase 1 construction contract expected to be awarded.
  • Summer 2026 – Construction expected to begin for Phase 1. Phase 2 90% Design Package. Construction grant funds for Phase 2 to be pursued.

The construction contract was awarded by Bellingham City Council to TRICO Companies, LLC in the amount of $527,276.00 on May 11, 2026.

The City received a grant from the Department of Ecology Water Quality Combined Financial Assistance Program for $736,446.67 that required a 25% City match. Between design and construction, the project will fully utilize this grant. The City’s Storm and Surface Water Utility will fund the City match.

The City also received a Department of Ecology grant to support project design of Phase 2.

Contact

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

Project Engineer
Jessica J. Bennett, PE
Phone: (360) 778-7923
Email: jjbennett@cob.org

Participating Departments

Affected Neighborhoods

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