Project Overview: EN055
Functional floodplains, off-channel habitats, and riparian buffers are important aspects of functional watersheds. Unfortunately, many of these features are often missing or reduced along urban streams. This is the case for Padden Creek, where these features have been impacted by urban development and stream channelization, exacerbating the water quality problems in Padden Creek. Padden Creek is on Washington State’s 303(d) list of water quality-impaired waters for dissolved oxygen, temperature, and fecal coliform, and has a TMDL for temperature.
Padden Creek 24th-30th Street Restoration Project is a multi-phased restoration project to address impaired conditions. The goals of this project are to improve water quality and aquatic functions in Padden Creek through enhancing floodplain, instream, and riparian functions between 24th and 30th Streets.
The project is divided into three phases. Phase 1 was constructed in 2022 and is located in the center of the reach, roughly between Padden Creek’s confluence with Connelly Creek upstream to the Happy Valley Park footbridge (see map below). Phase 1 includes floodplain enhancement and the enhancement of instream, off-channel, and riparian buffer structure and function. Phases 2 and 3 include stream relocation and buffer restoration.
Status – January 2023
Construction of Phase 1 is complete as of mid-September 2022. Native plant installation wrapped up in January 2023.
Project Details – Phase 1
- Contract awarded – May 23, 2022
- Contract amount – $254,858.02
- Contractor – Matia Contractors, Inc.
- Vicinity Map
Funding
This project is funded by the City of Bellingham, Washington State Department of Ecology, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.




More Information
Resources
- Padden Creek Daylighting Project
- Padden Creek Estuary Habitat Enhancement Project
- City Restoration Sites Map
- Water Quality
- Fish Studies
- Habitat Restoration Technical Assessment (HRTA)
Contact
Craig Mueller, P.E.
Project Engineer
Public Works Department, Engineering
(360) 778-7922, camueller@cob.org
Analiese Burns
Habitat and Restoration Manager
Public Works Department, Natural Resources
(360) 778-7968, acburns@cob.org