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Lake Whatcom Joint Councils and Commissioners Meeting

WHA-CON-JNT-2026-04-01 April 01, 2026 Whatcom County Council Regular Whatcom County
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The 18th Annual Lake Whatcom Joint Councils and Commissioners Meeting brought together officials from Whatcom County, Bellingham, and Lake Whatcom Water & Sewer District to review 2025 progress and discuss 2026 priorities for protecting the region's primary drinking water source. This year's meeting took a different format, condensing staff presentations to allow for 40 minutes of policy discussion among elected officials—a significant departure from previous years where public frustration emerged over limited time for such conversations. The meeting highlighted both progress and persistent challenges in the 50-year effort to restore Lake Whatcom under federal Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements. Staff reported continued success in Basin 1 stormwater treatment, completion of the first-ever joint forest management plan between city and county, and enhanced aquatic invasive species prevention measures including new gates at Bloedell Donovan Park. However, monitoring data presented by Dr. Angela Strecker revealed concerning long-term trends: dissolved oxygen continues declining after 36 years, with late summer levels regularly below critical thresholds for aquatic life. Internal phosphorus loading from sediments remains problematic in deeper waters, while nitrogen depletion may be encouraging toxic algae species. The policy discussion period revealed tensions over development pressures, the adequacy of current response measures, and jurisdictional coordination challenges. Several council members expressed frustration with the pace of progress, with Councilmember Anderson stating "breaking even is not winning the game" and calling for putting the work plan "on steroids." The meeting concluded with substantive public comment emphasizing regulatory gaps and the need for stronger enforcement mechanisms.

No formal votes were taken at this joint meeting, which served as an informational and policy discussion session rather than a decision-making body. The meeting focused on reviewing completed work and discussing future priorities across three jurisdictions. Key commitments and directions emerging from the discussion included: - Agreement to explore updating the outdated Lake Whatcom Landscape Plan in coordination with DNR, with budget implications for upcoming cycles - Reco…

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**Forest Management and DNR Coordination:** Councilmember Anderson raised significant concerns about proposed DNR timber sales in the watershed, including a 754-acre clear-cut at Parasol that would expand roads within half a mile of the lakeshore. She emphasized that the current landscape plan dates to 2004 and lacks current climate science, arguing for immediate action to update it despite competing priorities. Chair Galloway supported this direction, noting the need for enhanced compliance monitoring, expanded interjurisdictional committee representation, and stronger oversight of private forest practices. **Development Pressure and Regulatory Alignment:** Discussion revealed growing tension between development pressures and water quality protection goals. The county has docketed code amendments to strengthen its phosphorus neutral development standards and align with city regulations. Councilmember Scanlon raised the possibility of development moratoriums in unincorporated…
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**Executive Satpal Sidhu** emphasized the importance of forest fire prevention, calling it his "biggest fear" given potential to "negate all efforts and investments" made in watershed protection. He praised completion of the joint forest management plan as addressing this critical risk. **Mayor Kim Lund** highlighted Basin 1 success as a model for extending effective strategies to Basins 2 and 3, emphasizing the need for "intentional alignment around what matters most" given constrained fiscal resources and community affordability concerns. **Justin Clary (Lake Whatcom Water & Sewer District)** reinforced the district's commitment to the partnership despite being the smallest of three agencies, emphas…
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**Councilmember Anderson, on the urgency of action:** "I feel like maybe we're starting to kind of just break even a little bit, but breaking even is not winning the game, because we are so far behind." **Councilmember Anderson, on accelerating efforts:** "I think we need to juice up that 5 years, and we need to put it on steroids, whatever is legal at this point that is not going to pollute the lake." **Chair Galloway, on forest management:** "This has been, I think, a topic of discussion f…
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**Immediate Actions (2026):** - SEPA review and council adoption of joint forest management plan - Launch of 18-month climate vulnerability assessment via consultant - Development of wildfire response capability study - County code amendments for phosphorus neutral development standards - Aquatic invasive species code amendments addressing private boat launches **Ongoing Policy Work:** - Lake Whatcom Policy Group meetings: June 3, August 5 (field tour), October 7, December 2 - Forest practice regulations review to assess lake water quality protections - Private stormwater inspection program assessme…

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**Programmatic Advances:** For the first time, the three jurisdictions have a unified forest management plan covering all 13,000+ acres of public forest lands in the watershed. The aquatic invasive species program added off-season inspection capabilities through automated gates and updated fee structures generating an additional $65,000 annually. **Land Protection Expansion:** 2025 marked the biggest year ever for land acquisition, with the city purchasing 1,056 acres including the largest single tract (754 acres) ever acquired. Total protected acreage now exceeds 3,872 acres with over 100,000 restoration plants installed. **Monitoring Enhancement:** Monthly environmental …
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# Lake Whatcom Management — Turning the Tide on the Region's Most Precious Resource **April 1, 2026 — City Council Chambers, Bellingham** The cavernous chambers of Bellingham City Hall played host to an extraordinary gathering on this early spring evening — the 18th annual joint meeting of the three governing bodies responsible for managing Lake Whatcom, the drinking water source for more than 100,000 residents of Whatcom County. As the clock struck 6:31 PM, Council Chair Hannah Stone called the meeting to order, marking another chapter in what has become one of the region's most critical collaborative efforts. This was no ordinary council meeting. Representatives from three jurisdictions — Bellingham City Council, Whatcom County Council, and the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District — had convened alongside their respective executives to assess progress on one of the most complex environmental management challenges in the Pacific Northwest. The hybrid format allowed both in-person attendance in chambers and virtual participation, drawing stakeholders from across the watershed and beyond. ## The Sobering Reality of Lake Management The evening began with opening remarks from the three chief executives, each striking a tone that balanced measured optimism with the stark reality of the task ahead. Whatcom County Executive Satpal Siddhu opened by acknowledging the collaborative nature of the challenge, noting that 2025 marked the first year of their ambitious 2025-2029 five-year work plan. His remarks carried particular weight when he spoke about his "biggest fear" — the threat of wildfire that could "negate all the efforts and investments we have made." Mayor Kim Lund of Bellingham followed with a presentation that demonstrated both the technical progress being made and the constraints all three jurisdictions face. "We're also starting to see the results of that work," she said, highlighting success in Basin 1 where sustained investments in stormwater treatment are meeting current targets. But her message was clear about the challenge ahead: "It is not necessarily just about doing more. It's about being intentional and aligned around what matters most right now." Justin Clary, General Manager of the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District, kept his remarks brief but emphasized the district's commitment despite being "one of the smaller of the three agencies." His words underscored a theme that would run throughout the evening — the recognition that prote…
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### Meeting Overview The annual joint councils and commissioners meeting convened Wednesday, April 1, 2026, bringing together the City of Bellingham Council, Whatcom County Council, and Lake Whatcom Water & Sewer District commissioners to review the Lake Whatcom Management Program's 2025 progress and discuss 2026 priorities. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL):** A legally enforceable limit on how much phosphorus can be discharged into Lake Whatcom, established by EPA in 2016 with a 50-year timeline to restore dissolved oxygen levels. **Phosphorus Reduction:** The primary measurement of success in protecting Lake Whatcom, measured in pounds per year removed from entering the lake through stormwater management and land preservation. **Lake Whatcom Policy Group:** A five-member body with representatives from City Council, County Council, and the Water & Sewer District that provides ongoing policy guidance for the management program. **Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS):** Non-native freshwater mussels and other organisms that threaten Lake Whatcom's ecosystem, monitored through boat inspections and environmental DNA testing. **Forest Management Plan:** A joint plan between city and county for managing 13,000+ acres of publicly-owned forest land in the watershed to enhance forest health and reduce water quality impacts. **Basin 1, 2, and 3:** Geographic divisions of Lake Whatcom, with Basin 1 showing the most improvement in water quality through sustained stormwater treatment investments. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Hannah Stone | Bellingham City Council President | | Kaylee Galloway | Whatcom County Council Chair | | Todd Citron | Lake Whatcom Water & Sewer District President | | Satpal Sidhu | Whatcom County Executive | | Kim Lund | Bellingham Mayor | | Justin Clary | Lake Whatcom Water & Sewer District General Manager | | Jason Porter | City of Bellingham Surface & Stormwater Manager | | Gary Stoica | Whatcom County Natural Resources Manager | | Dr. Angela Strecker | Director, Institute for Watershed Studies, Western Washington University | ### Background Context Lake Whatcom serves as the primary drinking water source for over 100,000 people across Bellingham, Whatcom County, and the Water & Sewer District. Since 2016, a federal Total Maximum Daily Load has required significant phosphorus reductions to restore dissolved oxygen levels …
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Environmental Government Operations City Of Bellingham Department Of Ecology Dnr Epa Institute Watershed Studies Lake Whatcom Water Sewer District People For Lake Whatcom Whatcom County Whatcom Million Trees Project Angela Strecker Gary Stoica Hannah Stone Jason Porter Justin Clary Kaylee Galloway Kim Lund Lisa Anderson Mark Stremler Satpal Sidhu Todd Citron Todd Scanlon Aquatic Invasive Species Budget Finance Climate Action Forest Management Lake Whatcom Watershed Land Use Policy Phosphorus Reduction Recreation Management Septic Systems Stormwater Management Tmdl Compliance