Lake Whatcom Land Acquisition and Preservation Program

​​Preserving land in its natural forested condition is an important way that local government is protecting 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 September 2024, we have purchased more than 2,800 acres in the watershed and protected an additional 164 acres of land through conservation easements or restrictive covenants.

Selling property in the watershed

​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.

Protected lands in the watershed

Visit the interactive Lake Whatcom Watershed Protected Properties Map to view the land currently protected in the Lake Whatcom Watershed.

Aerial map of a lake with properties surrounding it highlighted in green and blue.
Click the image to open the most recent version of our interactive property map.

Some properties are highlighted in more detail below:

Additional Information

For more information, please contact the Property Acquisition Specialists at lwwacquisitions@cob.org or (360) 778-7985.