BELLINGHAM, WA – Bellingham Bay’s long-anticipated cleanup will see some more action later this fall.

The state Dept of Ecology says that cleanup construction won’t formally begin until 2026.

However, researchers will soon be conducting a pilot study to see how they can effectively treat contaminated groundwater before releasing it into the Bay.

The pilot study involves collecting water samples for twelve months during the treatment process.

Teams from the Dept of Ecology, Port of Bellingham, and City of Bellingham have all been gathering environmental data to prepare for the eventual cleanup.

More studies are expected to be released regarding the project’s impact on air quality, landfill gases, and soil conditions.