Little Squalicum Beach Park, located northwest of 2929 Roeder Ave., reopened Friday following a beach enhancement project. Instead of a small, hard-to-access waterfront, the beach has been transformed into a home for native plants and lots of space to watch the waves.
The project included removal of approximately 7,000 tons of industrial fill, wood waste and concrete. More than 400 native plants and trees replaced the blackberry bushes that used to line the shore.
“Little Squalicum Beach Park has never looked better,” Port of Bellingham Executive Director Rob Fix said in a news release.
The Port received a $1.5 million grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology for the enhancement. RAW Land Construction of Bellingham was hired to complete the project, and construction began in late July.
A before photo of Little Squalicum Beach. Located northeast of Roeder Avenue, the beach received major improvements before reopening Oct. 28. (Photo courtesy of Port of Bellingham)
“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,” Fix said.
Mike Hogan, the Port’s public affairs administrator, said the Port is planning to look for grant funding for upland improvement at the beach, which could be used to enhance the parking offered at the beach.
Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot, a partnership of 14 federal, state, tribal and local agencies, identified the beach park as a high-priority habitat restoration area. The partnership is working to restore habitats, clean up historic contamination, control pollution sources and enhance under-utilized waterfront properties.
The Port and its partners hope to restore more historically lost habitats throughout Bellingham Bay. The Little Squalicum Estuary project is now under construction as part of these efforts.
Hogan said the next big restoration project will be the Cornwall Avenue Landfill. The port has been working with Bellingham Parks and Recreation to help clean up the area.
