Northport Waterfront Transformed: $10.9M Cleanup Tackles Toxic Legacy

In a major environmental restoration effort, the Washington state Department of Ecology has recently concluded a $10.9 million project to clean up the Northport waterfront. The six-year undertaking focused on removing 28,500 tons of metals-contaminated sand, soil, and slag from an 11-acre area that includes a boat launch, access trail, and a seasonal beach known as Black Sand Beach.

The cleanup was primarily overseen by John Roland, a supervisor with the Department of Ecology's toxic cleanup program, who unfortunately passed away from brain cancer in 2021. To honor Roland's dedication to the Northport community, a local metal artist, David Fitzgerald, created a sturgeon sculpture out of stainless steel that was presented during Roland's memorial.

Erin Andersen, the site manager for the Department of Ecology, expressed pride in the successful cleanup, which addressed the area's legacy of mining and smelting activities dating back to the 1920s. The contamination had led to concerning levels of heavy metals like copper, lead, and zinc in the soil, raising health concerns among Northport residents.

In addition to the cleanup, the project also included the addition of a new trail, benches, and a pavilion area. However, the work is not yet complete, as the department is still addressing air quality issues and ensuring the safety of a planned community center that will be built on the site of the former LeRoi Smelter.