Wednesday August 13, 2025
The Columbian —
A contractor hired to help migrating salmon and other fish in Padden Creek spilled diesel fuel into the water for a second time last week, killing fish and forcing most work to stop as cleanup efforts continued, Bellingham officials said last week.
An estimated 332 gallons of diesel leaked from a faulty pump Thursday near the Interurban Trail crossing at 12th Street, the city said in a statement Friday. An Aug.3 leak from the same pump spilled an estimated 344 gallons, for a total of nearly 700 gallons.
The city, its contractor Faber Construction, and the state Department of Ecology are working on a cleanup. A trail closure already in effect was extended to the section between 10th Street/Donovan Avenue and Sixth Street.
“To prevent any further incidents, the contractor is enhancing secondary safety measures at all pump locations and replacing the generator. The spill was contained before it could reach Bellingham Bay. A section of the Interurban Trail/Lower Padden Creek Trail is temporarily closed to ensure public safety and allow cleanup crews access to the site,” the city said.