September Stream Tours during Whatcom Water Week

This September, the community is invited to three stream tours during Whatcom Water Week where you will learn about Bellingham’s vital freshwater creeks, including what the City of Bellingham is doing to protect our waters and how you can help. The tours will take place Sept. 17, 18, and 19 from 6-7 p.m. No cost, no RSVP necessary, all ages welcome. For more info about the tours or questions about ADA accessibility, please email habitat@cob.org or call (360) 778-7971.

Tours and dates:

• Padden Creek Tour: Tuesday, September 17 from 6-7 p.m. We will meet near the pavilion in Fairhaven Park (107 Chuckanut Drive North). The pavilion is the brown building on the left as you enter the park off Chuckanut Drive.
• Squalicum Creek Tour: Wednesday, September 18 from 6-7 p.m. This tour will include information about our upcoming Squalicum Creek Re-route Phases 3 & 4 restoration project. We will meet at the Sunset Pond parking lot (3430 James Street).
• Whatcom Creek Tour:  Thursday, September 19 from 6-7 p.m. To commemorate its 20^th anniversary, information about the 1999 Olympic Pipeline Explosion will be included in this tour. We will meet at the Geri Fields parking lot (off of Puget Street at the corner of Puget and Fraser).

Earn recognition as a steward of our local habitats

The Washington Native Plant Society and City of Bellingham are co-sponsoring a free course that seeks to enrich understanding of the roles that native plants play in our forests, rivers, shorelines, and other vital habitats. Participants will provide 30 hours of service to conservation and restoration projects. Participants who complete the training and service will earn recognition as a WNPS Native Plant Steward and City of Bellingham Park Steward.

The six-week course meets Thursday evenings from Sept. 19 through Oct. 24, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Bloedel Donovan Park. There will also be three Saturday field trips on Sept. 21, Oct. 5, and Oct. 19. Anyone can apply for the course, although participants must be members of the Washington Native Plant Society. Joining is easy and inexpensive. You can join online here.

To learn more about this stewardship course or request an application, please contact Jim Evans at (206) 678-8914 or jimevans@centurytel.net.

Thank you 2018-2019 WCC crews!

The 2018/2019 season for the City of Bellingham’s two Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) crews came to an end during the first week of September 2019. The City’s WCC crews have been working to protect and enhance local natural resources for people and wildlife since 1999. You have likely met a WCC crew member if you have attended our annual Make a Difference Day or Earth Day work parties.

This season, the crews’ work included installing more than 14,000 native plants, removing 29 acres of invasive species, and spending 180 hours collecting monitoring data. A summary of their work this season is outlined in the WCC crews’ final presentation to Bellingham City Council, which can be viewed here. Thank you, WCC crews, for your dedication to protecting and restoring local habitat. We look forward to welcoming our new crews in October!

Want to get involved in habitat restoration? 

Fall is a great time for restoration! The City’s Parks Volunteer Program provides a number of opportunities for the community to get involved in improving our local habitats, including participating in their many community work parties or becoming a Park Steward.

Save the date! Our annual Make a Difference Day work party is coming up on Saturday, Oct. 26 at Fairhaven Park. More info coming soon.