Culvert work leads to diesel leak in Bellingham creek; city says it’s contained
Staff from the city of Bellingham contained a diesel fuel spill this week at Padden Creek before it reached the Bellingham Bay, according to the city.
Approximately 344 gallons of fuel leaked Aug. 3 after a break in the fuel line of a generator being used in the Padden Creek Fish Passage Improvement Project, according to Stefanie Cilinceon, Communication and Outreach Coordinator with the city of Bellingham Public Works Department. The goal of the project is to make the creek passable for fish.
While the spill was contained Aug. 4, the city is working with the project contractor, Faber Construction, and the Washington State Department of Ecology on cleanup efforts, Cilinceon said told The Herald.
A floating piece of plastic called a hard boom, which acts as a barrier to contain spills, has been placed near the mouth of Padden Creek to prevent the diesel from reaching Bellingham Bay. Booms and absorbent pads are being used to removed the fuel from the creek, according to Cilinceon.
Faber Construction was not on site when the spill occurred, but they received an alert from their equipment and soon began to repair the broken fuel line.
The fuel spread about 0.3 miles downstream from the project starting point where the Interurban Trail intersects with 12th Street, according to the city.
Wildlife response organization Focus Wildlife has been hired to monitor for injured wildlife and keep other wildlife out of the area.
The city will continue to assess the situation and cleanup efforts going forward.
The Interurban Trail between 18th and 10th streets has been closed since the beginning of July for the project, which involves removing two city-owned fish passage barriers where Padden Creek intersects with the trail. The recent spill has closed the trail between 10th and Sixth streets.
This story was originally published August 6, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
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