Old News
Positives:
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How about action?........?
Local Planning
The Silver Beach Neighborhood Association (SBNA),
which has the shoreline of Lake Whatcom within the City, has revised their Neighborhood Plan.
Here is the latest document. (click - PDF DOC Nov 15,2007)
Open-Houses to present and vote on the plan were held in September and October. Regrettably, a few people "crashed the party", after not even participating in the preparation of the draft plan, and simply voted "No". We perceive that the orchestrated objection at the October meeting belies their claim at the meeting, that they were "not informed" that the process was going on. Sad.
You may download the FINAL SBNA Neighborhood Plan file (Nov 2007):
SBNAFinalPlan-2007-11-04.pdf
You may also download the DRAFT Plan (Sept 2007):
SBNA_Final_Draft_09-12-07.pdf
See also their website: The SB Neighborhood Association: SBNA
Stormwater Runoff Computer-Model
When rain falls on your houselot (or anywhere) where does that water "FIRST" go?
Some surfaces do not soak up water, so some of it evaporates and some runs off. The soil does grab some of the water - then it evaporates, gets used by plants, or soaks down into the subsoil.
And the rest runs off over the surface and in gullies and creeks. How much?
Download this (early-draft) Excel computer-model, and enter YOUR OWN numbers - see the results.
Or - download a more-detailed version of the model, you may better define sub-areas,
(Note: In development - your feedback requested.
How about your own property?
The City [is] was planning a small-grants program for stormwater treatment on individual properties.
Announced in early May at the Silver Beach Neighborhood Association meeting, the CoB wants to find a few properties which
are suitable for installation of small facilities which will hold runoff water in the soil within the properties.
Thus, the chemicals which are in the water will remain upland, and not reach the Lake.
We [will post] would have posted here the contact at the City, when the details are determined.
But, sadly, the program foundered.
No City of SV
The BRB (Boundary Review Board) ruled that the Sudden Valley private resort/residential development may not become a city - their application for that process was denied.
This is judged to be good news for the water quality, by this website. The story of the decision is available elsewhere.
New City Report - Surprising!
The good part of the bad news.
In this glossy April 2007 report, titled "Stewards of Lake Whatcom", the City has finally said out loud that the Lake is getting worse, faster than ever before.
...more...
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Old News
Trouble-Spots:
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Existing urbanization is still the major cause of the pollution
which is detrimental to the water quality of the Reservoir.
But, there are still watershed areas where additional development is being done or planned.
The trouble-spot of February '08 was another Sewage Spill in LWWSD System
Once again, the LWWSD Sewage System had a spill in February, which put pollution into the Reservoir.
Wastewater spilled out of the sewer system after a water reservoir overflowed into a sanitary sewer system at Strawberry Canyon Pump Station Feb. 27, said Jim Neher, general manager of the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District.
They have said that the problem was - that there was an equipment failure.
We say that really - the presence of sewage and the equipment to deal with it IS the problem.
Two letters to our Councils.
See the four groupings..."F", "CC", "D", "U".
But one answer I got back is pathetic pablum!
The trouble-spot of August was the Fire District at the south end:
(article in The Herald)
See location:
Parcel 370429536479.
More destruction [reported] on County land.
Mr. Michael McFarlane
Parks Dept Director,
Whatcom County
July 19 2007
Dear Mr. McFarlane,
Can you tell me what your department is doing to prevent more destruction of trees and bushes on Whatcom County Park Land on the lake side of Blue Canyon road as has been reported several times today by Rita Foley?
Questions:
1. Is it your policy to ignore this type of destruction?
2. Will you make the land owner responsible RESTORE the land and trees to its original state and pursue criminal prosecution?
You can contact resident Rita Foley at ___-____ for more information about this repeated incursion and destruction of County Park lands.
I look forward to your written reply.
Sincerely,
Tim Paxton
Clean Water Alliance
click to read the gracious and informative response by Mr McFarlane.
(We appreciate that the answer was emailed at 10:56PM !
We just hope that it was accurate.)
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Old News
Other:
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Reconveyance - Land Swap Deal
County Convenes Review Panel
Next Panel meeting now at
4:00PM, Monday, April 21st
2nd Floor Conference Room - 322 N Commercial St (Civic Center Building - old "Hizzoners Cafe" Bldg)
Shall the County assume management of thousands of acres as "Parklands", which the State has been managing for decades as harvesable forestry?
What are the good parts of that and how bad might the uncertain parts be?
Some answers are coming, but uncertainties remain! Feb=March 2008 - DRAFT Deal
Reconveyance Documents (March 13) - do they answer YOUR questions?
Click here for an abstract of these files
Click on each link to download the file:
* DNR & County Press Release
* MOA FINAL DRAFT
* Map "before"
* Map "after"
and a useful
* FAQ by CNW
A Park is looking better, as the best use of these Watershed lands.
The Lake Whatcom Reservoir Watershed lands will best preserve the water quality of the lake
if they are kept in perpetual, well-managed natural forest lands.
Period.
End of story.
Every rational, unbiased review will come to that conclusion.
There's going to be lots more discussion and action on this idea, we guarantee you.
County Stormwater Management Plan - (new DRAFT
Nov 13th 2007)
link to Plan Docs
Whatcom County Public Works presented its “Draft”
Comprehensive Lake Whatcom Stormwater Management Plan
at a public meeting Nov. 13, 2007
Comments on the plan were able to be given for another week after that --
To:
Chip Anderson
CAnderso@co.whatcom.wa.us
Sr. Planner
Whatcom County Public Works
2011 Young St. # 201
(360) 715-7450
(360) 715-7451 fax
Management Plan?
Update - February 2008: Little has been seen on this.
The City and the County are bringing forward a new proposal for jointly managing the Lake Whatcom Reservoir.
With two days' notice, there was a proposal brought to the City Council on Oct 8th 2007:
2007-AB17625 ;
which might be great and might be a bureaucratic nightmare. Which?
More logging on Northshore!
The DNR is considering an application to log ~37 acres of LWR watershed land,
just above the start-point of the Northshore trail at the terminus of the Northshore Road.
See the map and the proposal, called "White Chanterelle".
map -
proposal. -
Cover Letter.
Joint Councils
Session
Was Nov 1st
Here is the official agenda and materials for the Joint Lake Whatcom Meeting which sadly, only sorta' happened Thursday, Nov 1st.
Candidates' Forum
The Silver Beach Neighborhood sits on the shores of Lake
Whatcom. And the SBNA - the Association of and for that
Neighborhood, has a special role in the caring for the Lake.
The SBNA also has
a website.
There was a Candidates' Forum as the
topic of the monthly meeting July 12th.
It was attended by five of the Mayoral candidates, and all three of the Ward 4 candidates.
They were - (click for photo) for Mayor - Don Keenen, Bob Ryan, Dan Pike, Seth Fleetwood and Dan McShane.
For (click for photo) Council Ward 4 - Stan Snapp, Don Gischer, and Damon Gray.
Also, there are some statements by some candidates, at:
a page
for that purpose.
Squalicum Mountain - Violations?
Stop-Work orders were issued may have been issued by the agencies involved (Whatcom County Planning), and we are told that work may have paused.
Diligent citizen observation and reporting are still needed, for the several Vineyard-Squalicum areas Projects.
Big Development, right close to the Lake Shore
Rearing it's head again, the North Shore Estates Project is reported to be back into the chainsaw and bulldozer phase.
Maybe they got all their clearances and approvals, and we are seeking verification of the propriety of the lot platting process reportedly used.
But the simple existence of such an urbanization project so close to the Lake, shows why the rules need to be changed.
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