Whatcom County Receives Grant Funding for Stormwater Project Pre-Design Work

Whatcom County Public Works was recently awarded a grant in the amount of $94,000 for the Birch Bay Priority Stormwater Retrofit Pre-Design project. This grant will fund work for the Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resources Management (BBWARM) District capital program. The grant is from the Washington State Department of Ecology through the National Estuary Program (NEP) Watershed Protection and Restoration Grant Program. This program is supported by federal funds from the Environmental Protection Agency. Grant funds will provide engineering pre-design analysis for four priority stormwater retrofit areas included in BBWARM’s 6-year capital plan and capital improvement project list. These areas are located at Beachway Drive, Cottonwood Drive, Wooldridge Avenue, and near the North Bay Trailer Park. They are all in in older residential neighborhoods with aging, undersized stormwater infrastructure. Stormwater runoff from existing development in these areas carries pollutants into Birch Bay, threatening critical marine habitat, public health, and popular shellfish harvest areas.

The proposed pre-design analyses will capitalize on extensive planning, outreach, and survey efforts completed in the Birch Bay watershed to date and will identify opportunities to incorporate water quality treatment facilities in areas identified for stormwater improvements. Construction of these projects will result in reduced risk of flooding, improved water quality, and reduced bacteria levels in stormwater entering Birch Bay. Work developing these pre-design reports will take place over the next year. BBWARM will host a public meeting later this fall to provide Birch Bay residents with an overview of the project’s purpose and solicit additional information about the project areas. Please contact Kraig Olason with Whatcom County Public Works Stormwater at (360) 715-7450 x50782 or kolason@co.whatcom.wa.us with questions about this pre-design project.

Click here for a map of the northern project areas

Click here for a map of the southern project area