Waterfront Wednesday News

May 7, 2025

MTCA funding cuts threaten waterfront clean up

The old GP Mill site, circa 2010. Areas of clean up fall under MTCA requirements.

Members of the Washington Conservation Action, Public Ports Association, and the Washington State Petroleum Association recently wrote an
op-ed in the Bellingham Herald about the efficacy and impact of the Model Toxics Control Act and why the State should preserve and not divert, the unused funds from the pool of money that was reserved for clean up operations.

Currently, some WA state legislators want to divert the fund of money to general coffers in an effort to help balance the state's budget. However, in doing so, it would potentially harm future clean up operations that will be needing that pool of money in the coming years. Diverting that money could set back economic development and waterfront clean up operations by many years.

Read more via the link below, and if you're concerned about MTCA funding being diverted from future projects, get in touch with your legislators and let them know you'd like MTCA funding to remain in place. 

Day of Learning for Boaters

America's Boating Club of Bellingham is hosting a free day of learning for local boating enthusiasts. Workshops in several topics will be offered throughout the day to help new and experienced boaters alike feel more comfortable and be safer on the water.

Check out registration for the workshops below:

Tide to Table '25 gives a strong Derby finish

This year, Tide to Table celebrated Coalition founders with the North Star Founder's Award. Photo: Oh Snap! Photography

Tide to Table '25 - the annual celebration of our waterfronts and connection to the Salish Sea, happened April 26th to theme of 'Kentucky Derby', with guests turning out to support our waterfronts, our Working Waterfront Coalition, and our Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship program.

Guests, clad in their Kentucky Derby attire, enjoyed Drayton Harbor Oyster Company grilled oysters, salmon and black cod, bluegrass tunes from Blue Collar Grass Band, a rousing "CrabTucky Derby", and more. The event raised funds for the Coalition and the programming it undertakes, plus additional funds for the Working Waterfront Foundation's programming, which now includes Buoyant Beginnings, a pre-apprenticeship program launching this summer.

The Coalition would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our guests, sponsors, auction-item donors, and the volunteers who dedicated their time to throw a fun and lively Tide to Table!  We look forward to next year's celebration and a productive 2025 that builds on the energy and enthusiasm that our community brought to the event.

Thank you to our Tide to Table Sponsors!

Weather and ocean forecasting plays a critical role in waterfront and maritime economies. Photo: Dan Tucker

The Ocean Conservancy has put out a call to maritime businesses nationwide to sign on in support of funding for the National Oceangraphic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). The federal administration is currently proposing drastic cuts and suspension of funding. The result could impact weather and storm forecasting and sea-level rise data. The loss of data and research on these fronts could potentially endanger the lives of mariners and the viability and vitality of waterfront economies.

Adam Mistler, the National Outreach Manager for Ocean Conservancy and the Our Ocean Network, shared the link for the letter recently, and you can find, and sign the letter, below:

M/V Sea Change, built in 2022 by All-American Marine, is the world's first hydrogen-fuel-cell powered passenger ferry.  Photo: All-American Marine

The maritime economy is well underway in the shift towards alternative fuels, and keeping up with the new technologies and fuels, as well as their best use-case scenarios is difficult. Fortunately, MarineLink has put together a quick guide to the current alternative fuels and where they fall in the ecosystem of marine propulsion and power.

Read about the various technologies and their uses via the link to the guide below: