NEWS

(BELLINGHAM)- Newer residents might think of Bellingham’s central waterfront only as a beloved gathering space, with popular parks at the heart of a growing commercial and residential neighborhood. But not too long ago, Bellingham’s central waterfront was primarily a heavy industrial zone dotted with operations that contaminated a huge swath of the bay and its shoreline, according to a news release from the Washington Department of Ecology. How did the transformation happen? Thirty years ago, Ecology helped to form a multi-agency partnership to guide the cleanup of Bellingham Bay under the state’s environmental cleanup law, the     (read more)

(OLYMPIA)— Washington has more than 300 wastewater treatment facilities, and they all serve an important role in protecting water quality and public health. Every wastewater facility needs certified operators to keep these facilities running smoothly. The Washington Department of Ecology is recognizing 125 wastewater facilities and their operators with the annual Outstanding Performance Awards for their work in 2025, according to a news release from Ecology. The wastewater operators at each of these facilities achieved compliance with their routine water quality monitoring, reporting requirements, and in meeting water quality permit limits. These awards recognize the day-to-day hard work that wastewater operators perform. Wastewater     (read more)

(OLYMPIA)– The state Commercial Aviation Work Group, which evaluates Washington’s future needs for commercial aviation and transportation, will host a hybrid public meeting at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the Capitol Event Center in Tumwater. The group submitted its 2025 report to the Legislature in November 2025, according to a news release from the Washington State Department of Transportation. Work group members will research alternatives for more aviation capacity and expanding the use of existing airports as well as opportunities with other forms of transportation. The work group is not tasked with selecting locations for or building a new airport. Those     (read more)

(LAKE MCMURRAY)– Both directions of State Route 9 will close for 10 days beginning Monday, Sept. 21, to repair a bridge over Lake Creek north of Lake McMurray. The Washington State Department of Transportation will make repairs to the bridge during the 10-day closure, and SR 9 will reopen Wednesday, Sept. 30, in its usual two-lane configuration. The bridge has been reduced to a single lane with a temporary traffic signal alternating northbound and southbound traffic since March 24 due to deteriorating deck conditions, according to a news release from WSDOT. Beginning at 6 a.m. Monday, Sept. 21, SR 9 will close to all traffic over the bridge     (read more)

(OLYMPIA)– The Washington Department of Ecology fined Port Townsend Paper Corporation $734,000 for improperly operating its onsite wastewater treatment system since the fall of 2025 and violating other water quality requirements, resulting in increased pollution going into Port Townsend Bay. Since 2021, Ecology has issued five water quality penalties to Port Townsend Paper for releasing tens of thousands of gallons of improper or inadequately treated wastewater into Port Townsend Bay, according to a news release from Ecology. “Unfortunately, Port Townsend Paper has struggled to meet the requirements of its water quality permit and properly operate its wastewater treatment system,” said Peter Lyon, who     (read more)