Cars drive along West Marine View Drive past a derelict barge visible off the shoreline on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Cars drive along West Marine View Drive past a derelict barge visible off the shoreline on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Port of Everett to remove derelict barge early next year

State funding will support the port’s progress on environmental restoration at Bay Wood.

EVERETT — Just north of the Bay Wood nature trails, out on the Snohomish River mudflats, a 60-foot-long derelict barge breaks the horizon line.

But on Wednesday, the Port of Everett signed off on a plan to remove the barge this winter.

“The bay has been a focal point of environmental cleanup” for the port, said Chief of Planning & Development Erik Gerking. “The barge has been identified for many years as being a habitat improvement project, and we were lucky to obtain Department of Natural Resource derelict vessel removal grant funding this year to have that removed.”

Derelict vessels can leak pollutants, and as they degrade, migrating pieces can become hazards for wildlife, recreationalists and nearby boaters.

Abandoned boats of all sizes are a somewhat common issue along county waterways. Since 2018, county Surface Water Management and the Snohomish Marine Resources Committee have worked with DNR to remove derelict boats from the Snohomish River estuary and Everett shoreline.

The state agency will cover 80% of the $439,600 cost of the barge project, leaving the port with an $87,920 bill.

Deconstructing and removing the barge is estimated to take two weeks, and is slated to happen before Feb. 25, according to port documents.

The removal is part of the port’s environmental restoration work at Bay Wood as it tries to improve the area’s waterfront for more public access.

Completed in the spring of 2021 with support from the state Department of Ecology, the port removed an estimated 3,500 cubic yards of contaminated soil, created 1,300 feet of new shoreline habitat and added another 2,200 feet of upland buffer habitat to support salmon habitat.

The port also created a half-mile nature trail, providing public access from the former waterfront mill site.

The project earned an environmental stewardship award from the Washington Public Ports Association in 2022.

Eliza Aronson: 425-339-3434; eliza.aronson@heraldnet.com; X: @ElizaAronson. Eliza’s stories are supported by the Herald’s Environmental and Climate Reporting Fund.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.