 | | Building the new marina... • Adds over 28 acres of new salmon habitat to Bellingham Bay
• Creates over 4 acres of shallow habitat benches used by young salmon to hide from predators
• Improves salmon passage corridors into the Whatcom Creek estuary
• Will include salmon passage tunnels through the marina breakwater
• Removes vertical bulkheads from the Whatcom Waterway
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"The marina development gives us the economic resources we need to build extensive new salmon habitat features throughout the central waterfront"
Mike Stoner--Port of Bellingham Environmental Director
Salmon habitat in Bellingham Bay has been devastated by over a century of heavy industrial activity on our waterfront. Declining salmon runs have raised awareness about the importance of salmon habitat and science has taught us which parts of the shoreline are critical to salmon survival. However, restoring salmon habitat is complicated by high costs and impacts to property owners along the waterfront.
The new downtown marina offers an incredible opportunity to restore salmon habitat on our waterfront. Over 28 acres of new habitat will be created next to the salmon spawning grounds of the Whatcom Creek estuary. The marina breakwater will be re-shaped to more closely resemble the natural shoreline with shallow habitat benches for young salmon to hide from predators. The breakwater will also include underwater tunnels so salmon can better connect with the Whatcom Creek estuary. Boat docks inside the marina will be set back from the breakwater to reduce the negative effects of shading on habitat. As part of the overall marina development, vertical bulkheads will be removed from the Whatcom Waterway and much the natural shoreline will be improved.
Building the new downtown marina offers the economic driver we need to restore critical habitat throughout much our central waterfront. The marina development will transform underutilized and contaminated industrial waterfront property into salmon friendly waters along the shoreline.
