Sampling and dredging work in I & J Waterway begins

Sampling and dredging work is about to begin this month on the I & J Waterway, a polluted inlet on Bellingham’s industrial waterfront.

According to Ecology, one portion of the site is already 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. 

The dredging operation will remove approximately 18,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment from the area adjacent to Bornstein Seafoods.

Ecology said that this work will require the removal and replacement of an existing dock as well as the installation of a new sheet pile bulkhead.

Sampling activities will last about a month and in-water construction activities are expected to conclude by mid-February.