BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Rainy weather is top of mind as local officials work to clean up a diesel spill in Bellingham.

The Washington Department of Ecology has released a short update about the ongoing cleanup at Padden Creek following successive diesel spills in the last couple of weeks.

They say crews are preparing the site for the rain event expected to start on Thursday. They are concerned that the remaining diesel at the spill site may wash away downstream.

Preparations include temporary coffer dams installed at the site, which will collect rainwater in order to be pumped out to tanks if needed.

They are also putting in erosion control measures, and staff will be at the site overnight to change out sorbents and respond to water levels.

Ecology also notes that during cleanup, crews found that a tree’s roots were heavily impacted by the spill, and the tree will need to be removed before the rain begins for both excavation purposes and safety.