The Time Is Now To Protect Mud Bay Cliffs
Dear Neighbor,
The natural beauty and ecological richness of our beloved North Chuckanut Bay / Mud Bay estuary are under urgent and immediate threat. The Woods at Viewcrest subdivision proposal on the cliffs overlooking Mud Bay, north of the Chuckanut Bay railroad causeway, is rapidly moving forward.
If approved, the development would include 38 lots and as many as 228 residential units and would certainly cause irreparable harm to the wetlands, forested cliffs, and wildlife habitat we all cherish.
The proposal will also adversely impact neighboring properties and threaten the safety of children and adults who walk, run, cycle, and drive on Edgemoor’s precariously narrow, winding streets.
The cover story for the October/November 2025 issue of Whatcom Watch provides details about Mud Bay and these adverse impacts. The article, Mud Bay at a Crossroads: Protecting Cliffs, Wetland, and Community, can be viewed online at bit.ly/WW-MudBay.
Protect Mud Bay Cliffs (PMBC) has been working tirelessly to defend this fragile environment and the safety of our community. We’ve now reached a critical moment: the City of Bellingham refused to require a thorough environmental assessment and an essential Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed project.
On August 7, 2025, PMBC legally appealed the city’s decision. Our environmental attorneys and technical experts are working diligently to help PMBC prepare for the Appeal hearing scheduled for January 12-16, 2026. Beginning January 14, the official Public hearing on the proposed project and its permit applications will be held. The Appeal hearing will take place during the day, and the Public hearing will take place in the evenings.
PMBC’s attorneys have invested significant time responding to the extremely aggressive pre-hearing motions filed by the developer’s attorney. These responses can be viewed at bit.ly/PMBC-Motion-Responses.
Looking ahead, PMBC needs your help now more than ever, and additional funds must be raised to continue to retain our attorneys and expert witnesses.
Your generous support has helped us get this far. Thank you! Now we’re asking you to stand with us once again.
If you value the safety of your loved ones, the integrity of your home, and our unique and vital living system of mudflats, wetlands, and forested habitat that supports salmon, herons, eagles and other wildlife, please consider making a contribution today to support our legal challenge.
If you’ve thought about supporting PMBC — but have not yet done so — please consider supporting PMBC now.
How To Make a Tax-Deductible Donation: Visit MudBayCliffs.org/join-in or scan the QR code below and click on the yellow Donate button. Instructions to donate by mail are also available at the same link.
This isn’t just about protecting Mud Bay’s sensitive ecosystem. PMBC’s mission also involves ensuring public health and safety, protecting public and private properties, and preserving the character and environmental integrity of our community for generations to come. Let’s not let Mud Bay — and everything we treasure about our community — go down without a fight. Together, we can make a difference.
Please donate today and share this message with others who care about the future of Mud Bay, the forested cliffs above its shoreline, and the safety of our community. Your support will help us protect not just a landscape, but a legacy for future generations.
Time is of the essence. But with your help, we can be ready. Thank you for standing with us in this urgent moment. For additional information regarding the status of the proposed subdivision, please visit the Updates tab at MudBayCliffs.org/updates for the October Update.
With gratitude and determination,
Protect Mud Bay Cliffs (PMBC)