Lake Whatcom is not only a nearby environmental and recreational treasure but it is also the source of drinking water for 100,000 Whatcom County residents. While the Lake is still relatively clean, and drinking water quality is high, human activities in and around the Lake have fed worrisome trends. Currently, the Lake is listed by the State Department of Ecology as an impaired water body for excessive phosphorus, and some of the streams entering the lake have been contaminated with fecal coliform bacteria. Excessive phosphorus supports growth of algae, depletes oxygen, and can have an impact on water quality.
Lake Whatcom Management Program
Extensive residential development in parts of the watershed, coupled with the Lake’s popularity for recreation, create unique challenges. The Lake Whatcom Management Program, involving the City of Bellingham, Whatcom County, and the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District, supports a wide range of programs to improve the Lake and manage its watershed, including stormwater treatment, land use regulation, property acquisition, and aquatic invasive species prevention. City Council members approve five-year work programs for the lake, and Council representatives participate in a multijurisdictional Lake Whatcom Policy Group to review or identify watershed-wide solutions.
- Lake Whatcom Management Program
- City of Bellingham Lake Whatcom Program
- Lake Whatcom Annual Monitoring Reports
- Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program
- Homeowner Incentive Program (HIP)
- 2020-24 Work Plan
- Stewards of the Lake (guide to living in the watershed)
Annual Meetings
The City and County Councils and the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District Board meet annually to hear about Lake Whatcom program activities.
- March 29, 2023: Lake Whatcom Joint Councils and Commission Annual Meeting
- March 23, 2022: Lake Whatcom Joint Councils and Commission Annual Meeting
- March 31, 2021: Lake Whatcom Joint Councils and Commission Annual Meeting
- March 27, 2019: Lake Whatcom Joint Councils and Commission Annual Meeting
- March 28, 2018: Lake Whatcom Joint Councils and Commission Annual Meeting
- March 29, 2017: Lake Whatcom Joint Councils and Commission Annual Meeting
Lake Whatcom Policy Group
Representatives from the Bellingham City Council, Whatcom County Council, the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District Board, and the Sudden Valley Community Association Board meet periodically to discuss policy issues affecting the lake. Summaries and recordings of the meetings are available online.
