Habitat Restoration Projects

The City has a long history of designing, building, and maintaining restoration projects to improve water quality, habitat, and floodplain functions. Once constructed, these project sites are maintained long-term by City field operations staff (formerly maintained by Washington Conservation Crops crews). Please visit the project pages below for detailed information on each project.

Bellingham Habitat Restoration Map (PDF)

Planned or In Progress

An old culvert consisting of two metal pipes where a creek crosses under a road.

Padden Creek at 30th Street Fish Passage Project

This project removes a high-priority fish passage barrier where 30th Street crosses Padden Creek.

A small dam on a creek with a concrete culvert in the background where the creek goes under a road.

Squalicum at Baker Creek Fish Passage Improvement Project

This project removes a high-priority fish passage barrier where Squalicum and Baker Creeks meet.

Newly planted trees in foreground next to a creek with trees in background

Padden Creek 24th to 30th Streets

This multi-phase project improves water quality and aquatic functions in Padden Creek. One of three phases remains.

Cement culvert with an approximately 2-foot drop off into the creek

Squalicum Creek at West Street Fish Passage Project

This project replaces two partial fish passage barriers in Squalicum Creek.

Squalicum Creek Estuary Restoration Design

This project addresses three fish passage barriers near the mouth of Squalicum Creek.

Completed

Large arch culvert with a creek flowing underneath it and new mulch on the streambanks

Padden Creek at 12th and 14th Streets Fish Passage Project

This project removes two high-priority fish passage barriers where the Interurban Trail crosses Padden Creek.

An estuary that connects to the bay is located next to a walking trail with a sunset in the background

Little Squalicum Estuary

This project restores lost estuarine habitat and fish access critical for juvenile salmon.

Middle Fork Nooksack River Fish Passage Project

This project restores access to pristine habitat for ESA listed fish species.

West Cemetery Creek at Whatcom Creek

This project improves water quality by slowing stream flows, reducing erosion, and facilitating stormwater dispersion.

Squalicum Creek Re-route

This project eliminates fish passage barriers, improves water quality, and reconnects the stream to its floodplain.

Padden Creek Daylighting

This project eliminates a fish passage barrier, enhances habitat, improves water quality, and reduces flood risk.

Red Tail Reach at Whatcom Creek

This project expands fish and wildlife habitat diversity within Whatcom Creek.

Anderson Creek at Lake Whatcom

This project improves bank stability and floodplain function to enhance kokanee salmon habitat and water quality.

Padden Creek Estuary

This project restores saltmarsh and riparian habitat.

Post Point Lagoon

This project enhances and expands the shoreline riparian corridor, upper intertidal salt marsh, and intertidal mud flat.

Willow Spring at Squalicum Creek Park

This project creates off-channel fish habitat for a variety of fish and wildlife species.

Chuckanut Village Marsh

This project improves fish access and intertidal exchange between the bay and a coastal marsh and increases habitat protection.

Cemetery Creek and Salmon Park at Whatcom Creek

These projects create additional fish habitat and improve habitat diversity in an important wildlife corridor.

Lower Squalicum Creek

This project improves fish passage and stabilizes stream banks.

Baker Creek

This project removes a fish passage barrier and reconfigures the stream to improve fish habitat.