Community members are invited to attend the annual Lake Whatcom Joint Councils and Commission meeting on Wednesday March 23 in the Bellingham City Council Chambers, 210 Lottie St. Staff will be available at an information open house outside the Chambers from 6 to 6:30 p.m. The meeting of the joint Councils/Commission will start at 6:30 p.m. and will be aired on BTV10.
This meeting brings together members of the Lake Whatcom Management Team, which includes the Whatcom County Council, the Bellingham City Council, and the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District Commission, to discuss efforts to improve water quality in Lake Whatcom, the drinking water source for more than half of Whatcom County residents. The three jurisdictions have worked together since 1992 to coordinate work to improve the health of the lake. At this meeting, legislators will review the Lake Whatcom Management Program 2015 Progress Report, which outlines important work in a number of areas including land preservation, stormwater pollution control, utility improvements, and management of recreation activities.
Some specific achievements in 2015 include
- 95 additional acres of stormwater treated by new facilities, removing 57 pounds of phosphorus annually;
- 137 staff trained in spill prevention and response;
- 8,949 boats inspected for aquatic invasive species (AIS);
- 1,500 people completed an online AIS Awareness course; and
- 28 households received financial incentives for stormwater control projects on their properties.
At the meeting, legislators will also receive a briefing on recent program and funding proposals at the state level to enhance AIS prevention activities. The meeting will include an opportunity to provide public comment. For more information on the Lake Whatcom Management Program, please visit the City of Bellingham website.
