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Six recent Bellingham land purchases to expand trails and protect watershed

Stories by Bellingham Herald journalists, with AI summarization

This collection of stories highlights Bellingham’s recent land purchases focused on expanding trails and protecting the Lake Whatcom watershed.

The city bought nearly 100 acres around Lake Whatcom, removing development units and safeguarding drinking water for 100,000 people. Another major deal secured 116 acres to connect Greenways trails and extend the Bay to Baker Trail on the northeast side. A 66-acre purchase supports a planned trail linking Whatcom Falls Park and Lake Padden Park, while a 754-acre acquisition on Stewart Mountain marked the largest single buy for the watershed program. The city also added a half-acre from two parcels near the Lake Whatcom shoreline, as well as over 40 acres near Northshore Road and Park Road, increasing protected acreage and improving water quality.

Read the stories below.

A signpost identifies the Whatcom Creek Greenway, a trail that runs along Whatcom Creek in downtown, Bellingham, Wash. By Rachel Showalter

NO. 1: BELLINGHAM’S 116-ACRE LAND PURCHASE WILL HELP CONNECT EXISTING PATHS, EXTEND BAY TO BAKER TRAIL

Semi-wooded sites will boost city’s Greenways network. | Published June 17, 2024 | Read Full Story by Robert Mittendorf

NO. 2: BELLINGHAM ADDS ANOTHER 40 ACRES TO THE THOUSANDS PURCHASED TO PROTECT ITS DRINKING WATER

Forested land part of effort to reduce development around Lake Whatcom. | Published September 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by Robert Mittendorf

NO. 3: BELLINGHAM PAYS $1.26 MILLION FOR A HALF-ACRE ON LAKE WHATCOM TO PROTECT CITY’S WATERSHED

City Council buys two small sites in quest to protect the city’s drinking water. | Published December 1, 2024 | Read Full Story by Robert Mittendorf

A 2022 photo shows a clearing in the 754 acres of land above Lake Whatcom that the city bought from the Nielsen Brothers Inc. for $3.65 million. The forest has a mix of trees, including hemlock, Douglas fir and Western red cedar. By City of Bellingham

NO. 4: BELLINGHAM JUST MADE ITS LARGEST LAND PURCHASE YET IN MISSION TO PROTECT WATERSHED

Land above Lake Whatcom is near the Stewart Mountain Community Forest. | Published January 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Robert Mittendorf

A city of Bellingham map shows the approximate location of 66 acres of land the city is buying for $4 million to make a future trail connection between Lake Padden to the south and Whatcom Falls Park to the northeast. The deal was announced at a Bellingham, Wash., City Council meeting on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025. By City of Bellingham

NO. 5: BELLINGHAM’S LATEST 66-ACRE LAND BUY IS PART OF PLAN FOR TRAIL CONNECTING POPULAR PARKS

Samish Crest properties add to future trail corridor between Whatcom Falls and Lake Padden. | Published February 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Robert Mittendorf

A 37.55-acre forested site in the foothills south of Lake Whatcom was sold to the city of Bellingham on Monday, May 19, 2025, by Faunt Visser for $860,000. The site contains the headwaters of an unnamed stream that flows into Lake Whatcom, including a pond and other environmentally sensitive areas, the city said. By City of Bellingham

NO. 6: BELLINGHAM BUYING NEARLY 100 ACRES TO PRESERVE LAND AROUND LAKE WHATCOM

Bellingham and Whatcom County are working to create a Lake Whatcom Forest Management Plan. | Published May 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Robert Mittendorf

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.