• September 1999. Emergency restoration activities completed.
• March 7, 2002. Draft plan becomes available and public comment period begins.
• March 20, 2002. Public meeting held on draft plan.
• April 9, 2002. Public comment period ends.
• September 2002. Final restoration plan released. Available in four files: File 1, File 2, File 3, File 4. Figures and photos in color (PDF). Note: 9.3MB file.
• November 2004. Bankruptcy Settlement finalized.

The trustees had originally agreed that Olympic Pipe Line Company (OPLC) could implement restoration actions with trustee oversight and monitoring. OPLC performed initial emergency restoration actions shortly after the release occurred as part of the final restoration plan.

Highlights of Emergency restoration included –

• Planting of almost 40,000 trees.
• Stabilization of soils and invasive-plant control.
• Reconfiguration of the channel bed and introduction of large woody debris to improve fish habitat in Whatcom Creek.
• Reconstruction of Hanna Creek following removal of contaminated soils and gravel
• Several recreational projects including the construction of two foot bridges and several trails to improve public access to the park were also constructed during the emergency restoration phase.

In 2003 the company filed for bankruptcy, resulting in a delay in completing the remaining restoration actions. The funds that have been used to implement the restoration actions are being supplied from OPLC's insurer. The insurer paid the Trustee’s estimated costs for implementation, monitoring, and adaptive management for the project. The settlement amount is $3,544,000. The 9.5 acre Jansen property and a 4-acre parcel by Cemetery Creek were also transferred to the City of Bellingham by Olympic Pipeline Company as part of the settlement.

The long-term restoration activities are being implemented by the City of Bellingham. A small portion of the acquired property will have recreation enhancements, the rest will be protected from development to allow preservation that will benefit fish species utilizing the creek. Recreational improvements (e.g., small parking lot, restroom facility) to the 9.5 acre Jansen parcel have been completed. Planning for the remaining recreational improvement actions is underway, but will be combined with other work and is now scheduled for construction in 2014.

Three salmon habitat restoration projects have also been completed.

• Salmon Park Restoration: Completed in 2006, this project removed a berm to create a 0.08 acre backwater to serve as a high-water refuge for fish. The project also included creating 0.05 miles of new channel.
• Cemetery Creek Restoration: Completed in 2006, this project created 0.4 acres of pond habitat and 0.15 acres of freshwater marsh.
• Red Tail Reach Restoration: Completed in 2008, this project created 0.46 acres of freshwater emergent vegetation and 0.38 acres of backwater habitat and increased the complexity of 0.23 acres of Whatcom Creek by addition of pools and large woody debris.

The City of Bellingham was able to complete the Salmon Park and Cemetery Creek salmon habitat restoration projects that were in the restoration plan under-budget, which allowed the third habitat project in the Red Tail Reach of Whatcom Creek. The three habitat projects include creation of off-channel salmonid habitat, pools, and meanders in straightened stretches of the creek and installation of large woody debris to add complexity. Specific objectives of these projects include: increasing salmonid rearing habitat for juveniles and holding habitat for adults; providing additional salmonid winter rearing habitat available during winter high flow periods; improving habitat complexity for all stages of salmonids and other fishes; and removing human-placed fill on the floodplain. Monitoring of the restoration projects will continue for ten years. Funds have also been identified for a Washington Conservation Crew (WCC) to maintain the restoration sites by removing non-native invasive plants and planting native species.

On Earth Day (April 22) 2007, the Lummi Nation held a Healing Ceremony near the Red Tail Reach project where a Memorial Pole and two carved cedar benches had been installed. The ceremony was held to honor the three boys killed during the incident as well as the restoration of the creek itself. NRDA settlement funds were used to pay for the carving of the pole and benches and are considered part of the effort to address impacts of the incident on the community.

On June 10, 2009 the City of Bellingham observed the 10th anniversary of the incident. City representatives along with NOAA and other Trustees participated in a guided tour of the creek. The tour recounted the details of the incident and highlighted the restoration efforts undertaken by the Trustees with the settlement funds.