Whatcom County is accepting sealed bids for the purchase and removal of three surplus structures acquired through flood mitigation work: two residential homes and one barn located in the Deming and Everson areas. The bid deadline is 2:30 p.m. on Monday, August 25, 2026.
What Is Being Sold and Why
The properties were originally purchased by the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District as part of ongoing flood-related planning and management efforts in the Nooksack River corridor. The Deming and Everson areas sit within one of the county's most flood-prone stretches, where the North Fork and South Fork of the Nooksack converge and regularly threaten low-lying structures during high-water events.
After evaluating current county needs, long-term site use, and financial considerations, officials determined that selling and removing the structures through a public bidding process represents the most appropriate use of public funds. Critically, the county will retain ownership of the underlying land. The bid covers only the purchase and physical removal of the house or barn structure itself, not the parcel it sits on.
That arrangement is common in flood buyout programs: the government acquires the property, relocates or compensates residents, then removes structures so the land can serve as a natural floodplain buffer. Keeping the land open reduces future flood damage costs and can improve habitat along river corridors.
Background on Flood Buyouts in Whatcom County
The Nooksack River basin has a long history of flooding. Communities in the Everson, Nooksack, and Deming areas have faced repeated inundation during wet winters, and the county has pursued a range of mitigation strategies over the years, from levee improvements to voluntary property buyouts. The Flood Control Zone District, a special purpose district administered through the county, funds these efforts partly through property tax assessments on land within the flood zone.
Buyout programs like the one that led to these three properties are often co-funded through federal grants, including FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Once structures are removed and the land is cleared, it typically reverts to open space or is managed for agricultural or habitat purposes, reducing long-term risk to neighboring properties and public infrastructure.
Selling the structures rather than demolishing them outright can recover some program costs while also keeping usable materials, and sometimes entire buildings, in circulation. Buyers who win the bid are responsible for moving or dismantling the structure within a defined time period after purchase.
How to Submit a Bid
The full solicitation package is available at no charge through the Whatcom County Purchasing Bid Postings webpage. That page lists all active county bids and includes instructions for downloading solicitation documents.
Prospective bidders with questions can contact the Whatcom County Purchasing Office directly by email at FN_Purchasing@co.whatcom.wa.us or by phone at (360) 778-5330. County staff can clarify site access arrangements, removal timelines, and any conditions attached to the winning bid.
Sealed bids must be submitted by 2:30 p.m. on August 25, 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted. The county has not publicly disclosed an estimated value for the structures, so interested parties are encouraged to review the full solicitation documents for appraisal information and terms.
What Happens After the Auction
Once bids are received, the Purchasing Office will review submissions and notify the winning bidder. The buyer will then coordinate with county staff on a removal schedule. Because the county retains the land, access and timeline requirements are likely stricter than a typical private property sale.
The cleared parcels in Deming and Everson will remain part of the Flood Control Zone District's inventory, likely managed as undeveloped floodplain open space going forward. That outcome aligns with broader county goals of reducing the number of occupied structures in the highest-risk flood zones along the Nooksack system.
Residents with interest in submitting a bid or learning more about the county's flood mitigation land program can visit the county bid postings page or read background on recent Whatcom County property transactions for context on how the county manages public land acquisitions.
