Cordata Trail to Elementary School

Constrained by an easement and nearby wetlands, a proposed multi-use trail required sensitive design, local and state permits, and mitigation for impacts in wetland buffers. Herrera led the design, permitting, and construction observation for the trail, which includes a 30-foot pre-fabricated pedestrian bridge and connects an elementary school to Cordata Park in Bellingham. We designed the trail to meet WSDOT Shared-Use Path Standards, ADA guidelines, and city standards. Where the trail is within an easement, rockeries were installed to meet required grades. Outside the easement most of the trail is within a wetland buffer, requiring mitigation. Herrera biologists assessed critical areas in the project area, including wetland delineations and ratings. We prepared reports, plans, and applications for all necessary permits: stormwater permits, building permit for the bridge, critical area permit for wetland buffer impacts and mitigation, forest practices permit, SEPA compliance, and hydraulic project approval from WDFW. Through creative selection of the trail route, full stormwater dispersion in wetland buffers was viable and was used for most of the project’s stormwater management.