Whatcom County Public Works crews will begin installing additional protective fencing along the Birch Bay berm during the week of May 18, the county announced this week. Work is scheduled Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., running from the Beach Cat area northward to just past Harborview Road, with possible additional fencing near Cottonwood Drive if time and materials allow.
The Birch Bay berm, formally known as the Birch Bay Drive and Pedestrian Facility Project, is a coastal flood protection and habitat restoration structure along Birch Bay Drive in the Birch Bay community, about 20 miles north of Bellingham. It was designed to reduce coastal flooding impacts, improve pedestrian safety, and restore beach and marine habitat along one of Whatcom County's most popular shorelines.
The fencing work is aimed at protecting the vegetation that holds the berm together. Native plants on the berm's surface and slopes play a critical role in preventing erosion and maintaining the structure's integrity. When people walk on the berm crest, drive vehicles across it, or disturb the plantings, they accelerate erosion and undermine the very flood protection the berm was built to provide.
The fencing also helps Whatcom County meet environmental permit requirements tied to the project. Permits for coastal construction projects like this often include conditions requiring the agency to maintain vegetation cover and minimize disturbance to the shoreline habitat. Installing fencing around revegetation areas is one of the most direct tools available for ensuring those permit requirements are met over time.
Joining Public Works crews on the project will be members of the Washington Conservation Corps and the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office work crew. The Washington Conservation Corps is a state-sponsored program that puts young adults to work on conservation and environmental restoration projects across Washington, partnering with county and state agencies on exactly this type of infrastructure maintenance work.
Visitors to Birch Bay during the work week can expect intermittent noise from installation activities and possibly reduced parking availability in nearby areas. The county is asking for the public's help in protecting the berm long-term by following a few specific guidelines: stay off fenced areas and the berm crest, dispose of trash properly, keep vehicles off the berm, avoid fires and fireworks near the structure, avoid disturbing vegetation, and leave fencing and signs in place.
The berm and its associated beach are heavily used by Birch Bay residents and visitors throughout the summer months. Birch Bay State Park sits nearby, and the shoreline draws families, campers, kite fliers, and beach walkers from across Whatcom County and beyond. Keeping the berm structurally sound is important not just for flood protection but for maintaining the recreational access the area depends on.
Residents and visitors who want to learn more about the berm project and its ongoing maintenance can find project information on the Whatcom County Public Works website. Questions about the fencing work or berm access during construction week can be directed to Whatcom County Public Works at whatcomcounty.us.
