The Cottonwood Neighborhood Drainage Improvements project was identified as a priority capital improvement project from the Birch Bay Comprehensive Stormwater Plan (CT 06).  The creek from Halverson Park enters a buried stormwater pipe at Cedar Avenue that runs southwest to a drainage depression along the community beach access foot path.  This depression collects water from three stormwater drainage pipes and has two out-going pipes to the beach.  During high stormwater flows this drainage confluence can become unsafe.  Of the two pipes that carry stormwater flows to the beach, the pipe that outlets at the black "T" is in poor condition and frequently backs up during winter storms causing damage to Birch Bay Drive and adjacent properties.  There are also many areas in the neighborhood that experience localized flooding due to topography or lack of adequate drainage facilities. 

Bacteria levels in the Cottonwood neighborhood creek have been measured monthly since 2006 and are about six times the level of the next highest creek flowing into Birch Bay.  This amount of bacteria represents a public health risk and makes improving water quality in the Cottonwood neighborhood a high priority.  BBWARM is working with Whatcom County Public Works and the Whatcom County Marine Resources Committee to try to identify possible sources of bacteria. In addition, a water treatment project is planned for construction in 2013.  We need the community's help to identify and remove possible sources of bacteria in the Cottonwood neighborhood creek. See the water quality fact sheet for more information on what you can do to help.    

2010--BBWARM built a temporary safety fence around the drainage confluence and completed a preliminary engineering analysis and design for this project.  Supplemental water quality sampling began to try to identify where bacteria are entering the stream.  

2011--BBWARM completed a detailed survey of the stormwater drainage system in the Cottonwood area and a hydrologic analysis as part of a subwatershed master plan.  

2012--Reichhardt & Ebe Engineering is working on the final design for a new stormwater drainage system from Halverson Park to the beach along Cedar Avenue.  Click here to see the proposed design. This new system will re-route flows to a new outlet to Birch Bay. The outfall will be designed in a manner that is sensitive to the public recreational use, meets permit requirements, and is cost effective.  As a part of this project, a stormwater treatment facility will be installed to remove pollutants and alternatives will be explored to combine storm water flows from Seaview Drive, Hazel Lane and Fern Street into storm systems to alleviating flooding of the downstream parcels.