Water Resources Advisory Board

**Land Management Guidelines Revision** The core policy discussion centered on replacing the 2005 resolution that adopted the comprehensive watershed management recommendations. Staff argued the original document had become unwieldy for day-to-day property management, with much of its content now incorporated into other Lake Whatcom Management Program documents. Michael Parelskin emphasized that the new guidelines focus specifically on land management rather than the broader watershed protection strategy, noting that "what the program needs is a document that guides the management of the properties that we have currently." The guidelines establish "net gain of zero new trail miles" requirements and specific prohibitions on activities l…

**Christina McGinnis, former Watershed Advisory Board member:** Argued the new guidelines inappropriately narrow the scope from comprehensive watershed protection to only land management of purchased properties. She emphasized the 2004 management recommendations provided essential historical foundation and "why" for the program that shouldn't be replaced but supplemented. **Michael Parelskin, Natural Resources Superintendent:** Defended the r…

**Christina McGinnis, on document scope:** "The new proposed ordinance for consideration and discussion is just that. It is a new ordinance. It is not a replacement, as it only addresses one topic from the original management recommendations." **Michael Parelskin, on program evolution:** "The landscape is so different than what it was like at the time that Christina and the rest of the Watershed Advisory Board wrote that original resolution." **Rick Eggerth, on legal clarity:** "All I'm sayi…

- Resolution 2005-09 will be formally repealed upon City Council adoption of new guidelines - LWLAPP properties now have explicit "net gain of zero new trail miles" policy requiring 1:1 trail decommissioning for any new trails - Board gained clear enforcement language distinguishing permissible activiti…

### Meeting Overview The Water Resources Advisory Board met on October 28, 2025, to review updated land management guidelines for the Lake Whatcom Land Acquisition and Preservation Program, replacing a 20-year-old resolution with more concise policies. The board unanimously approved the city's proposed guidelines after discussion about balancing water quality protection with public access. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Lake Whatcom Land Acquisition and Preservation Program (LWLAPP):** City program funded by water utility rates to purchase watershed properties for permanent protection from development to reduce phosphorus runoff into Lake Whatcom. **Resolution 2005-09:** Original 2005 watershed management recommendations that included extensive background research and history, being replaced by more focused land management guidelines. **Net Gain of Zero New Trail Miles:** Policy requiring any new trail construction to be offset by removing an equivalent length of existing illegal or inappropriate trails. **TMDL:** Total Maximum Daily Load - federal water quality standard established by the Department of Ecology for Lake Whatcom due to low dissolved oxygen levels. **Post Point Emissions Control Upgrade:** Major wastewater treatment plant maintenance project requiring alternative delivery method approval from the state. **I&I (Inflow and Infiltration):** Groundwater that enters sewer lines through deteriorating side service connections, typically in older clay pipes without gaskets. **Alternative Delivery Method:** Construction approach allowing contractor involvement during design phase rather than traditional design-bid-build process. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Brett Beaupain | Board Chair | | Mike Parelskin | Natural Resources Superintendent, City of Bellingham | | Mike Olinger | Deputy Director, Public Works | | Christina McGinnis | Former Watershed Advisory Board member, public commenter | | Rush Duncan | City of Bellingham staff | | Rick Eggerth | Board member and attorney | ### Background Context Lake Whatcom serves as the primary drinking water source for over 120,000 residents in Bellingham and Whatcom County. Since 2000, the city has spent over $50 million to protect more than 3,600 acres in the watershed through the land acquisition program, funded by water utility fees. The 2005 management recommendations were comprehensive but included extensive background material that has since been incorporated into other plann…