A Sedimentary Core Analysis of Late Pleistocene to Recent Sediments in a Portion of Bellingham Bay, Washington

Sub-bottom profiles and core sampling indicate that a trough-like depression below the bay near South Bellingham is a Pleistocene erosional paleotopographic surface sloping bayward from the uplandds to the east. A series of Late Pleistocene glacial till and glaciomarine deposits overlie the erosional surface and fill the depression. The glacial deposits are overlain by Recent sand and mud deposits which are rich in wood fragments and shell materials. Bellingham Bay is basin-shaped with a deep narrow trough to the west. The Pleistocene basement is generally structureless and conforms to the bay bottom. Several trough shaped depressions which are overlain by Pleistocene and Recent sediments are located near the perimeter of the bay.