Preserving land in its natural forested condition is an important part of what local government is doing to protect Lake Whatcom. Forested land soaks up and naturally filters rainwater, reducing impacts to the lake from high flows and pollution. Our duty to provide clean water for over 100,000 residents begins with careful land management.
In 2001, the City began a program to purchase available land in the Lake Whatcom Watershed, funded by watershed fees. As of March 2024, we have purchased more than 2,700 acres in the watershed and protected an additional 164 acres of land through conservation easements or restrictive covenants.
Interested in selling your property in the Lake Whatcom Watershed? Learn how you can sell your property and leave a legacy of protection in the Lake Whatcom Watershed.
Lands protected by the Land Acquisition and Preservation Program
Visit the Lake Whatcom Watershed Protected Properties Map to view current protected lands. Some properties are highlighted in more detail below:
- Agate Bay Preserve
- Agate Creek Preserve
- Agate Pond Preserve
- Anderson Creek Preserve
- Blue Canyon Preserve
- Crabtree Preserve
- Dutch Harbor Preserve
- Koblitz Preserve
- Lake Geneva Preserve
- LaPlant Preserve
- Lookout Mountain Preserve
- McAtee-Wells Preserve
- Olsen Creek Preserve
- Oriental Creek Preserve
- Scudder’s Pond
- Silver Beach Preserve
- Strode Preserve
- Three Creeks Preserve
- Three Rivers Preserve
- Watts Family Preserve
- Zarnowitz Preserve
Additional Information
For more information, please contact the Property Acquisition Specialist at lwwacquisitions@cob.org or (360) 778-7985.