Environmental Impact Assessment: Georgia-Pacific Wharf Renovation, Bellingham, WA

• Main Authors: French, Skye, Giebelhaus, Parker, Grandbouche, Joshua, Liebman, Alex, Webber, Kevin
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Western CEDAR 2017
• Subjects: Environmental Studies; Pacific; First Nations
• Online Access: https://cedar.wwu.edu/huxley_stupubs/77; https://cedar.wwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1076&context=huxley_stupubs

The Port’s proposal is to remove the existing wharf and replace it with a “seawalk” focused on community engagement, interaction with nature, visitor moorage, and local history. The seawalk will be an extension from the upcoming Waypoint Park and part of the larger Waterfront District subarea plan developed by the Port and City of Bellingham (2013). After replacing the insecure pilings and outdated wharf material, the new wharf would be available for recreational use, natural history interpretive education, shoreline habitat improvement, and community engagement such as art and First Nations’ collaboration. The estimated dimensions of the current wharf are 16 feet wide by 1,330 feet in length, leaving ample room for pedestrian access, tables and benches, and group events.