Mud Bay at a Crossroads
Front page of the October/November 2025 issue of Whatcom Watch
WHATCOM WATCH ARTICLE
In their October/November 2025 issue, Whatcom Watch published an article about Protect Mud Bay Cliff’s (PMBC) mission to preserve the fragile Mud Bay ecosystem. The article can be viewed online at bit.ly/WW-MudBay. You can pick up the current issue of Whatcom Watch at various sites throughout the county. Those sites are listed at bit.ly/WhatcomWatch.
SEPA APPEAL HEARING UPDATE
Please visit PMBC’s 9/5/25 update (Hearing Dates Set) for detailed information about PMBC’s SEPA Appeal Hearing and the Permit Hearing for the Woods at Viewcrest subdivision. On 9/15/25, PMBC’s attorneys filed a Clarification of Issues, which provides additional details for each of the 13 SEPA issues PMBC has raised.
On 10/10/25, PMBC’s attorneys filed a Motion for Summary Judgment regarding the city’s failure to consider the potential adverse impacts of a city ordinance that will allow up to 228 residential units on the 38 proposed single family lots on Mud Bay Cliffs. The ordinance became effective on 6/3/25, well in advance of the city’s 7/25/25 SEPA Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance (MDNS). PMBC’s attorney has concluded that a new threshold determination that considers the impacts of 228 residences is required.
Also on 10/10/25, the developer’s attorney filed six motions requesting that 8 of the 13 SEPA issues PMBC raised be dismissed. PMBC’s attorneys are working diligently to respond to these motions before the 10/31/25 deadline. The Hearing Examiner will rule on all motions in mid-November.
GENTLE REMINDER TO STAND UP FOR MUD BAY - TESTIFY WITH US
PMBC has been working closely with our outstanding attorneys and experts to prepare for these hearings. We are asking our supporters to testify alongside our expert witnesses. Your voice matters—whether you bring professional expertise or personal experience.
Who We Need to Testify
Community Members with Relevant Training or Experience
We especially welcome testimony from individuals with knowledge or background in:
Marine Biology & Ecology: Impacts to Mud Bay’s benthic community, estuarine wetlands, or mudflats.
Geotechnical Hazards: Landslide, erosion, slope instability, or rockfall risks.
Hydrology & Hydrogeology: Stormwater, groundwater, and watershed impacts.
Transportation & Traffic: Road safety, congestion, and access concerns.
Your professional insight, field experience, or academic background can help strengthen the record and highlight issues that the City has overlooked.
Community Members with Personal Experiences or Observations
We also need neighbors, residents, and community members who can speak to:
Firsthand observations of Mud Bay, Chuckanut Creek, and the cliffs.
Concerns about public safety, flooding, recreation, or environmental harm.
Experiences walking, boating, fishing, or enjoying Mud Bay and the Chuckanut Village area.
The importance of protecting this place for future generations.
Personal testimony is powerful—it shows that real people, not just experts, will be impacted by this project.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Sign up to testify at the upcoming hearing. (We’ll provide details once the Hearing Notice is issued.)
Prepare a short statement (2–3 minutes) on your area of expertise or your personal connection to Mud Bay.
Contact us if you would like guidance. PMBC can help you draft or refine your testimony.
WHY THIS MATTERS
The City has downplayed the significant adverse impacts of The Woods at Viewcrest. By testifying, you help ensure the Hearing Examiner and decision-makers hear the truth: this project threatens public safety, fragile ecosystems, and the character of our community.
👉 If you are willing to testify, please contact us at Info@MudBayCliffs.org.
As always, thank you for helping to Protect Mud Bay and the Mud Bay Cliffs. Together, we can demonstrate why Mud Bay is too precious to risk.