BP Cherry Point Refinery

About the Program
The BP Cherry Point Refinery is an oil refinery located in Whatcom County in Blaine, Washington. This refinery is 18 miles northwest of Bellingham and only a few miles from the coast. BP Cherry Point Refinery hosts several conservation projects including a 2,560-acre shoreline monitoring project, a 25-acre salmon habitat enhancement project, a citizen science amphibian monitoring program and a 1,500-acre wildlife management area.

Practices and Impacts

• Beach walks are conducted annually during low tide to monitor vegetation and wildlife along a section of the Washington coast. A heat wave in 2021 damaged a lot of bull kelp beds, but they have since bounced back in 2022. 
• The salmon habitat enhancement project started back in 2003 in the riparian zone of Terrell Creek. This area continues to be monitored twice annually and enhanced with native plantings to maintain excellent salmon habitat.
• The public is engaged annually with trainings on the citizen science amphibian monitoring program. Community members are taught how to dip net and identify different amphibian species so they can submit amphibian sightings found within the wetland restoration area. 
• The farm conservation plan and wildlife area management project consists of 1,500 acres of open space for wildlife. Inspections are conducted with the help of the Whatcom County Planning Department.