After a significant beach improvement project, Little Squalicum Beach Park has been reopened, the Port of Bellingham announced Oct. 27.
The work encompassed removing from the shoreline about 7,000 tons of industrial fill, wood waste and concrete and planting more than 400 native plants and trees.
The beach park at 2929 Roeder Ave. is part of “a high-priority habitat restoration area” identified by the Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot, which brings together 14 federal, state, local and tribal agencies on efforts “to restore habitat, clean-up historic contamination, control pollution sources and revitalize under-utilized waterfront properties.”
One effort involves re-establishing lost habitat throughout Bellingham Bay, including the Little Squalicum Estuary project currently underway by the city of Bellingham.
The port was able to finish upgrades to the shoreline, thanks to a $1.5 million grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology.
“This is a terrific example of a project which improves public access to water while enhancing nearshore habitat for Endangered Chinook salmon and other wildlife,” Port Executive Director Rob Fix said.
