Waterfront Wednesday News

July 3, 2024

Whatcom County Council to Consider Re-Zoning Industrial UGA

Google Maps image of the areas containing High-Impact Industrial Zoning. Photo: Google Maps

The Whatcom County Council is set to consider zoning changes to currently-zoned industrial lands at its next Committee Meeting of the Whole, on July 9th. This could lead to decisions/discussions being had during the regular County Council meeting that evening, at 6:00pm.

The Council is considering changes to the zoning, which would entail down-zoning areas currently designated as High-Impact Industrial, to Low-Impact Industrial land or Residential. The zoning considerations are in reaction to pressure from neighborhood associations who were opposed to a metal-recycling operation that was set to locate near the LeHigh Concrete plant off of Marine Drive. The recycling operation has since withdrawn its permit, and will no longer locate in the county. 

The Council could potentially move to consider during the County Council regular meeting, the intent to either move the discussion into the official comprehensive plan review, or to state intention of re-zoning the land regardless of the official zoning review process that has been established to uphold a fair and equitable process under which those considerations are made.

The Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition would like to encourage any businesses or individuals that would be impacted by this or future zoning discussions to tune in to the Committee Meeting of the Whole, and/or attend the regular County Council meeting on July 9th and voice their concerns to the Council, and encourage them to make use of the existing fair and due process of the Comprehensive Plan review to hold these conversations, and not to supersede the methods that the community carefully crafted with input from across the county in doing so.

The Committee Meeting of the Whole will occur earlier in the day, at 2:00pm. See the link below for the agenda. The outcome of that meeting may change the regular Council Meeting agenda at 6:00pm to include discussion on this item, or a decision.

Whatcom County Council Meeting
July 9th, 6:00pm
County Courthouse, 311 Grande Avenue, Suite 105

The meetings will also be hybrid. To view the meeting details and agenda, follow the link below:

Sampling & Dredging of I&J Waterway to Begin

I&J Waterway, May 2019. Photo: Dept. of Ecology

Dept of Ecology - Starting in July, you may see workers, vehicles, sampling equipment, dredging machinery, construction materials, cranes, boats and barges along the shoreline and in the water at the I & J Waterway contaminated sediment site on the Bellingham waterfront. One portion of the site is entering the cleanup phase, with construction crews dredging contaminated sediment. Another portion is in an earlier engineering design phase, with scientists sampling sediment as they assess the type and extent of contamination. 

Read more about the project via the link below:

Historic Plover Receives Final Inspection Before Launch

Shipwright Steve Jones looks at the newly primed port side of Plover's hull, in preparation for Painter Jeremy Wardle to apply black topcoat. Photo: Richard Sturgill

The historic ferry Plover was built in 1944 and is the oldest operating ferry in Washington state, recently ferrying passengers between Semiahmoo spit and Blaine. She has been out of service for the last two years, undergoing renovations and extensive repairs since 2022, in which a Coast Guard report cited numerous issues needing to be resolved before the ferry could return to service. Challenges along the way delayed the repairs, including difficulty in sourcing old-growth douglas fir sufficient to re-plank portions of the hull.

After finally sourcing the material and other repairs nearing completion, Richard Sturgill, the project manager for the Plover Repair Project, announced the Coast Guard would be performing their final inspections on the vessel in preparation for issuing a new Certificate of Inspection and allowing the vessel to return to service.

The public will be able to glimpse the newly restored vessel will be during tomorrow's Blaine's 4th of July Boat Parade.

Congratulations to Drayton Harbor Maritime Association and the team who worked to restore this historical vessel. To read more about the project and the Plover, follow the link below:

Mentorship Program Trains 'Greenhorns' at Sea

The Alaska Longline Fisherman's Association, or ALFA, based in Sitka, operates a mentorship program for sea-going newbies to learn the ropes and long-lines of commercial fishing in Alaska. Sea-going programs are working in tandem with shore-based maritime apprenticeship programs to help train the next generation of the maritime workforce.

In a recent article from The Tyee (www.thetyee.ca), journalist Brendan Jones explores the Crew Training Program (CTP) run by ALFA, which has   helped match over 20 captains with apprentice crew members. The story and the series it is a part of, is funded by the Salmon Nation and Magic Canoe.

Read about the journey of their first apprentice, Lea Legarduer, and impact the program is having via the link below:

Young Mariner Training Association hosts Annual Golf Tourny

From Puget Sound Maritime:
Event: Join the fun with the Council of American Master Mariners (CAMM) Seattle/PNW Chapter for their annual golf fundraiser to support PSM's YMTA Scholarship program. This year's tournament will be held at the Auburn Golf Course on Thursday, August 29th.

Proceeds from the event go to scholarships and operating costs for the YMTA Scholarship program, which awarded $27,000 this year to students pursuing maritime career training. 

For more event information and to register for the golf tournament, visit CAMM’s 2024 Golf Tournament page. Sign up as an individual or rope in your friends and sign up as a team.

Don't Miss Day on the Bay

A local fisherman mends nets at the Fisherman's Pavilion Net Mending Shed. There will be live demos on net mending at Day on the Bay. Photo: Dan Tucker

Eat Local Month will recognize Seafood Week from September 23-30. This year, Sustainable Connections, Bellingham SeaFeast, and the Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition are partnering to launch an all-new event, Day on the Bay.

During Day on the Bay, on September 28, folks will learn about Bellingham’s rich maritime culture, fishing industry, and business community on Bellingham Bay. This self-guided event allows folks to stop at more than 12 locations along the Bay to meet fishermen and tour their boat, visit the touch tanks, learn to crab, see historical pictures, check out the Hannah Project and so much more! 

America's Commitment to Maritime Secures its Future

A recent essay published in The Maritime Executive, written by Jennifer Carpenter, highlights a strong case for our continued investment in the maritime sector in the face of globalization and dangers of losing our American-based shipping and crews. As we celebrate our independence on this July 4th, it is worth considering how we also work to ensure our interests in global supply chains and work to keep vital infrastructure independent of another government or nation's economy. 

Read the full essay via the link below:

Canadian Federal Fisheries Ban Salmon Net Pen Operations

A commercial net-pen in Rich Passage. Photo: WA Dept. of Ecology

In an unprecedented step, the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans recently announced that it is banning all net pen culture of salmon in British Columbia waters. While this is good news for dwindling wild salmon runs, it will close an important industry to coastal BC communities that has operated since the 1980’s, is BC’s highest-valued agriculture and fisheries export product, and contributes hundreds of millions of dollars to its economy.

See official DFO announcement here:

Save the Date - Water Week 2024

The Whatcom Watersheds Information Network (WWIN) is excited to announce that Water Week will run from Saturday, September 14 - Sunday, September 22 in 2024. We are looking forward to promoting your great events and to helping to elevate all of your efforts to foster greater appreciation for and stewardship of our streams, lakes, marine waters, and watersheds in Whatcom County.

If you haven’t already, now is a great time to start planning an event. Now is also a good time to select a photo or other image that you’d like us to include on the Water Week website. Engaging images and photos really help to create interest in your event. For inspiration, you can check out last year’s events on the Water Week website.

If you already know what you’d like to offer, you can register your event here: https://www.whatcomwin.org/hostapplication 

Please let us know if you have any questions. We are looking forward to celebrating Whatcom waters and watersheds with you. We'll "Sea You in September".

NW Maritime Apprenticeship Partners

with Head Start to Construction Pre-Apprenticeship

Head Start to the Construction Trades class constructing Adirondack chairs. Photo: Kelly Clemenson

The Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship is excited to partner with Head Start to the Construction Trades (HCT) Pre-Apprenticeship to promote trades training and maritime career opportunities. HCT, which launched in Spokane in 2015, recently started their first cohort of pre-apprentices in Bellingham, WA on June 10th. Their mission is to connect with community members who could benefit from a hand up, whether they face employment challenges or seek a career change. HCT aims to help provide a pathway to employment and financial independence for individuals dealing with homelessness, probation, work release, or those simply in need of new skills. The program also supports recent high school graduates seeking a stepping stone toward their desired careers.

During this six-week course, pre-apprentices earn certifications in OSHA-10 safety, CPR/First Aid, flagging, and forklift operation. They gain practical experience with basic hand and power tools while actively working on their first project: constructing Adirondack chairs (as seen in the photo). Additional topics covered include an introduction to construction math, material handling, resume writing, and time and money management.

These 16 students will be touring the Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship facility and learning more about careers in maritime on Monday, July 8th. Program Director Mike Ankney emphasizes HCT’s commitment to presenting pre-apprentices with many different employment opportunities and helping them discover areas of interest that align with available jobs. “The Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship introduces a unique opportunity within our community to get involved with maritime work, a significant industry in Whatcom County.”

HCT will be celebrating the inaugural Bellingham class with a graduation ceremony on Friday, July 19 th at 12pm. The address is 1000 F. St Bellingham, WA 98225 in the Technology Development Center. All are welcome to join as the pre-apprentices are recognized for their accomplishments and celebrate a significant milestone.

To learn more about each program, follow the links below:

Squalicum Harbor Updates Registration Requirements

The Port of Bellingham, in an effort to keep the slips at Squalicum Harbor active, and to help some of the issues around derelict or dormant vessels, the Port and its Marina Advisory Committee, is updating the policy they have on vessel registrations.

Previously, proof of registration was only required upon initial moorage sign up. Going forward, to maintain the moorage, the vessel will need to show current registration each year. If no current registration is available, the vessel could be asked to relinquish moorage after appropriate notification was given to the owner, with the goal of compliance within a reasonable amount of time.

The new focus aligns the administrative processes of collecting registrations with current state law. Coast Guard-documented vessels require registration with the state no later than 60 days after use in Washington. The Port will no longer accept Coast Guard documentation in lieu of state registration without valid proof of exemption.

If you moor a vessel in Squalicum Harbor and do not have a current registration on file, you are requested to submit those documents no later than July 31, 2024. They can be received via email, physical mail, or in person at the Harbormaster's Office.

Please reach out to Squalicum@PortofBellingham.com for questions or concerns.

Upcoming Waterfront & Coalition Events