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Troubles in the Reservoir:
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Existing urbanization is the major cause of the
pollution which is detrimental to the water quality of the Reservoir.
The best protection of the water is well-managed forests covering the watershed.
But, there are still watershed areas where additional development is being done or planned, and that will make the lake even more polluted.
Phosphorus
in the water is the main culprit - phosphorus consumes oxygen, and oxygen-starved water promotes blue-green algae.
That phosphorus comes from many different urban activities, including the big one - fertilizer.
Phosphorus and other toxic chemicals travel from the constructed surfaces and the soil into the creeks with rainwater runoff, then down the creeks into the lake.
A discussion is ongoing on the YahooGroup about Goose-poop.
Is Goose-poop detrimental? Can the geese be shooed-away? Should they be captured - then what?
One member contributed a paper done by Rutgers Univ Extension Service ("Rutgers goose euthanization study") which only addresses the last question.
download it here - (PDF 2 pages)
A reader recently took a photo of a concrete boat-launch ramp in the Geneva area.
He asks, as should we all, how was this construction authorized?
click for larger image
Information from another reader says that this ramp is NOT new.
But the newness is a small factor - the important thing is the impact on the water of everything constructed within the watershed. An impervious concrete surface running into the water, likely used by powered vehicles, is a prime channel for contaminants entering the reservoir.
Perhaps this site would be an excellent volunteer demo installation, by the owner, for runoff-capture and treatment.
(comments updated late Monday May 5th)
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Trouble-Spots Links:
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(listed in north-south order
- see map)
Vineyard-Squalicum
Agate Bay
Northshore
North Shore Estates
Birch Street - Silver Beach
Sudden Valley
Southwest Sewerline & South Bay
Blue Canyon
........as of September 2007
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Positives:
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NEW LIMITS on Phosphorus
The State has issued new restrictions on detergents containing Phosphorus.
This is great, since Phosphorus is a big culprit in the degradation of the water quality in the Reservoir.
Also, see the Saturday CleanUp Event below! Bring your fertilizer or detergents containing Phosphorus.
Guest Editorial by Susan Kane-Ronning
The Bellingham Herald today (May 30 2008) ran a Guest Editorial by local activist Susan Kane-Ronning.
Susan closes with: "...Preserving Lake Whatcom isn’t a partisan issue, it’s a financial issue. In the current culture of economical stress, taxpayers should be concerned that the rising stormwater retrofit costs could have been minimized had our elected officials taken proactive steps earlier. Effective governance takes hindsight, insight, and foresight. Instead, our governing bodies can beg forgiveness and issue rhetorical excuses while we pay the price...."
We believe that she is right, and we will add that the sooner and the better that real "wet-water" fixes are done, the cheaper and better it will be for 95,000 water-drinkers and all the affected taxpayers.
Read Editorial
The City Acts!
At the City Council meeting of May 19, 2008, the Council passed an Emergency Moratorium,
establishing tight restrictions on building activities within the City's portion of the Watershed.
This means that within the watershed portion of the City (most of the Silver Beach Neighborhood), no permits will be granted
unless the applications:
- Were complete prior to the effective date of this ordinance;
- Are for building permits for remodels or repairs of existing structures where no new or additional impervious surfaces are proposed; or
- Are for a property whose stormwater does not drain into Lake Whatcom.
Click for Full Text of the Ordinance, in RTF format
Also, review the discussion by some leading citizens, in the blog at NW Citizen:
nwcitizen.us/entry/saving-the-lake
Eleven Tons Removed!
City and County Removed Eleven Tons of Household Hazardous Waste from Lake Whatcom Watershed, Saturday, May 10.
See the Press Release by the County
May 22, 2008
(WORD DOC - 2,337 KB)
and
County Info-Flyer on Toxics Disposal -
2-page PDF
Well, looking for positives:....
What score would you give Whatcom and Bellingham -- on this goal?...:
....
To develop and incorporate
mechanisms which provide opportunity
for public participation
in developing the management program
and policies for the lake; and utilize
enforcement actions as opportunities
for education and learning. (1)
0........50........100 ?
If you hear of something positive, please.....
e-mail to: webmaster .)
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Hope:
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foto: Lynne Findley,
who likes to see a clean lake!
A new hope is the three new members of the City Council - Buchanan, Snapp and Weiss - who took office in January 2008, and Mayor Dan Pike, who started in November 2007.
See it from space!
Clearcut_on_Northshore.kml - Google-Earth "Place-file"
(requires program)
Read about these at:
Where on Earth is it?
Discussion of Google-Earth "kml & kmz-files".
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Current News:
click for old news
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Many Things are happening - this is becoming a very busy time!!
Moratorium News !!
The Bellingham City Council held a Public Hearing on Monday July 14, 2008, 7:00PM to take public comment on the following:
INTERIM EMERGENCY ORDINANCES ESTABLISHING A MORATORIUM ON THE FILING, ACCEPTANCE, AND PROCESSING OF APPLICATION OF DIVISIONS OF LAND, NEW BUILDING PERMITS, AND LAND DISTURBANCE ACTIVITIES IN THE PORTION OF THE LAKE WHATCOM WATERSHED LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF BELLINGHAM.
Anyone wishing to comment on this topic was invited to attend. Written comments received before 10:00 AM, July 9 would be included in the agenda packet.
Written comments received after that time will be distributed to Council but not included in the published meeting materials.
Send comments to the Council Office, 210 Lottie St, or email to
citycouncil@cob.org, or FAX to 778-8101.
More information on the Moratorium can be found at:
http://www.cob.org/issues/lw-moratorium.aspx
or
contact Kurt Nabbefeld at 778-8351 or at knabbefeld@cob.org..
Click for copy of Ordinance establishing the moratorium (PDF)
Talk About Doing Good (then Do It!)
A Guest Editorial in the B'ham Herald, June 10th, 2008, is by County Staff, citing the work they have done.
A comment by LakeWhatcom.org notes that's nice, but what's actually needed is removal of P.
Click for "Whatcom View"
Click for our Response
Very good posts on NW Citizen
Post by g.h.; Comments by Weimer, Watts, Pratum, Mayberry, Karlberg, Hayes and others
Click for "Saving the Lake" Link
The City and the LWWSD - Do What?
At a meeting today (April 30th) the LWWSD agreed to hold off on building a large new facility for themselves, to study some kind of merger with the City.
Click for the Herald's article for May 1st
"...district commissioners rejected construction bids this morning for their new facilities...."
Whatcom County Water Resources Management
A Plan -- and a Meeting
PROJECT BRIEF
Integrated Water Resources Management
Download Document (MS-Word)
Community Conversation about Whatcom County's Water Resource Management
May 7, 2008 7:PM
Whatcom County Council Chambers
Very Big News - the TMDL Report
The State Dept of Ecology has finally issued the long-awaited TMDL Report.
Read the Abstract
The is the thousand ton hammer. (See Goal #1 to the left on this page.) It is time for some heavy lifting now, folks, on all four corners of the bedsheet the Lake's been sleeping on.
Bellingham Herald Headline Story
Click for Ecology's general info page on TMDL's (Lake Whatcom's item is not yet listed - since it is still in bureaucratic process.)
Appeal of Waterline Extension
The Squalicum Community Association has appealed the decision of Whatcom County's Hearing Examiner, which
allowed Lake Whatcom Water & Sewer District to continue to expand water service.
The Association states concern that this project would allow future urban level service within the watershed.
Click for Press Release
New County Stormwater Plan
Final Lake Whatcom Comprehensive Stormwater Plan now available...
Click for Plan at County - in 14 pieces
Chip Anderson
Sr. Planner
Whatcom County Public Works
2011 Young St. Ste. 201
(360) 715-7450
(360) 715-7451 fax
Our copy of Exec Summary- PDF - 2.4MB
We hope to have a review here soon.
State Rules on Stormwater Manuals
The WA DoE (Ecology) has just issued new info-webpages for cities and counties who have customized Stormwater Manuals.
Click for website
Reconveyance - Land Swap Deal - is in review by an appointed citizen Panel
See comments at NWCitizen
(original link moved to Old News)
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