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Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole

WHA-CTW-2025-07-22 July 22, 2025 Committee of the Whole Whatcom County
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The Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole received three substantive presentations during their July 22 meeting, covering forest resilience planning, lake water quality management, and potential restructuring of the county's Board of Health. The Forest Resilience Task Force provided an update on their comprehensive planning effort, which is on track for September delivery and encompasses management strategies for various forest ownership types across the county. Health and Community Services presented findings from their multi-year study of harmful algae blooms at Wiser Lake, proposing both short-term chemical treatments and long-term watershed management strategies to address chronic water quality issues. The meeting concluded with a preview of options for restructuring the Board of Health to include tribal representatives and community health experts, a change that would align with recent state legislation and pandemic preparedness recommendations. All three agenda items were informational presentations without formal votes. The forest plan represents nearly two years of task force work and reflects evolving forest management practices due to climate change pressures. The Wiser Lake study represents a significant investment in understanding the sources of nutrient pollution that fuels toxic algae blooms, though questions arose about whether waterfowl contributions were adequately addressed. The health board restructuring discussion sets up a formal decision point at next week's health board meeting, where council will consider whether to move from their current seven-member structure to a larger board including cities and tribes.

No formal votes were taken during this committee meeting. All three agenda items were presented for information and discussion: - **AB2025-383 (Forest Resilience Plan):** PRESENTED - Task force update indicating September 30 delivery target remains on track - **A…

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**Forest Resilience Planning:** The task force has developed four primary goals through their consolidation process, with 17 members working across six subcommittees since July 2024. The plan will address different forest owners differently - being potentially prescriptive for county-owned lands while serving as guidance for state, federal, and private lands. Council Member Stremler sought clarification on scope, learning the plan addresses all forest types but with varying levels of authority. Integration with the comprehensive plan update was discussed, with staff noting potential timing challenges but opportunities for cross-referencing. **Water Quality Management:** The Wiser Lake study revealed that phosphorus sources include 25% internal loading from sediments, 33% from Cougar Creek, 33% from overland flow, and 13%…
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**Brandy Reed (Whatcom Conservation District):** Available for discussion as Forest Resilience Task Force member, representing agricultural interests in forest management planning. **Steve Harrell (Forest Resilience Task Force):** Emphasized that the plan addresses different forest ownerships appropriately, with county having direct authority over its own lands while providing guidance to other owners. Stressed importance of education and resources for small private forest owners who often lack information and financial resources for proper management. **Anna Mostovetsky (Health and Community Services):** …
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**Steve Harrell, on forest plan scope:** "Obviously, for us in a county, have a wide variety of ownerships and jurisdictions... this plan, I think, as it's coming together, is going to address the forests in different ownerships, in different ways." **Council Member Ben Elenbaas, on waterfowl impacts:** "I question the plan because of the inability to present data to us that's factual. Because as I read your memo, I read that there is a high level of nitrogen in the lake in the winter is most…
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**Forest Resilience Plan:** - Forest Advisory Committee review and discussion at August 5 meeting - Task force meeting August 14 to address FAC feedback - County staff review after August 14 - Task force final meeting early September for staff feedback - Final vote scheduled for September 15 - Delivery to council by September 30 deadline **Wiser Lake Management:** - Community must organize either as volunteer lake association or formal lake management district - Health department staff availabl…

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**Forest Planning:** The task force has narrowed from numerous subcommittee goals to four consolidated goals through their review process. Two new subcommittees (consolidation and review) have been formed to advance plan completion. **Water Quality Understanding:** The county now has comprehensive data on nutrient sources at Wiser Lake, though questions remain about waterfowl quantifi…
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# Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole — Forest Plans, Algae Issues, and Health Board Reform On a warm Tuesday afternoon in July, the Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole convened for an ambitious agenda that would span environmental stewardship, water quality challenges, and potential governance restructuring. Chair Kaylee Galloway called the hybrid meeting to order at 1:34 p.m., with all seven council members present for what would become an intensive 82-minute session covering three substantial topics that reveal the complex challenges facing local government in the Pacific Northwest. ## Meeting Overview The July 22, 2025 committee meeting brought together county officials, consultants, and task force members to address pressing environmental and governance issues. With perfect attendance from council members Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, Ben Elenbaas, Kaylee Galloway, Jon Scanlon, and Mark Stremler, the session showcased the intersection of science, policy, and community engagement that defines modern county governance. The agenda tackled three major items: a comprehensive forest resilience plan two years in the making, a scientific study of toxic algae blooms in Wiser Lake, and a potential restructuring of the county's public health governance. Each topic represented months or years of preparation, community engagement, and technical analysis. ## Forest Resilience Plan Nears Completion The meeting opened with an update from Melanie del Rosario of Triangle Associates, the consulting firm facilitating the Forest Resilience Task Force. Joined by task force members Steve Harrell, Ellen Murphy, and Brandy Reed from the Whatcom Conservation District, the presentation revealed a massive collaborative effort spanning 13 months, 17 task force members, and six specialized subcommittees. "We have 17 task force members currently serving on the task force. We've had 13 meetings since July of 2024," del Rosario reported, emphasizing that the group remains on track to deliver the plan to council by September 30. The forest plan represents an ambitious attempt to address climate change impacts, wildfire risks, and sustainable forest management across Whatcom County's diverse landscape. What makes this particularly complex is the patchwork of ownership and jurisdiction: National Park Service lands, U.S. Forest Service territory, Department of Natural Resources holdings, county property, city of Bellingham fores…
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### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole met on July 22, 2025, for three agenda items: a presentation from the Forest Resilience Task Force on their upcoming plan, a report on harmful algae bloom management for Wiser Lake, and a discussion on potentially restructuring the county's Board of Health. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Forest Resilience Task Force:** A temporary county body with 17 members working since 2024 to develop a comprehensive plan for managing forest lands county-wide. The task force is scheduled to sunset at the end of 2025. **Lake Cyanobacteria Management Plan (LCMP):** A detailed scientific study of Wiser Lake's harmful algae bloom problem, including nutrient sources and treatment recommendations, funded through state grants. **Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs):** Naturally occurring blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) that can produce toxins harmful to humans and animals. They thrive in warm, stagnant water with excess nutrients. **Board of Health Structure:** Under state law, counties can either keep their current council-as-health-board structure or create expanded boards that include tribal representatives, city officials, and community members with health expertise. **Lake Management District:** A special governmental entity that can be formed by community petition to fund and coordinate lake restoration efforts, with county involvement and taxing authority. **Internal Loading:** Phosphorus stored in lake sediment that continues to feed algae blooms even when external nutrient sources are controlled. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Kaylee Galloway | Council Chair, presiding | | Melanie del Rosario | Triangle Associates, Forest Task Force facilitator | | Brandy Reed | Whatcom Conservation District, Task Force member | | Anna Mostovetsky | Environmental Health Specialist, Health Department | | Josh Leinbach | Environmental Health Supervisor, Health Department | | Jon Scanlon | Council Member, Health Board workgroup co-chair | | Todd Donovan | Council Member, Health Board workgroup co-chair | | Ben Elenbaas | Council Member, representing agricultural perspective | ### Background Context The Forest Resilience Task Force represents a major county effort to address climate change impacts on local forests through coordinated management across dif…
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Environmental Government Operations Public Safety AB 2025 383 AB 2025 504 AB 2025 529 Department Ecology Forest Advisory Committee Forest Resilience Task Force Health Community Services Lummi Nation Nooksack Tribe Triangle Associates Whatcom Conservation District Aly Pennucci Anna Mostovetsky Ben Elenbaas Brandy Reed Jon Scanlon Josh Leinbach Kaylee Galloway Mark Stremler Melanie Del Rosario Steve Harrell Todd Donovan Agricultural Runoff Forest Management Forest Planning Forest Resilience Governance Reform Harmful Algae Blooms Health Board Structure Lake Management Nutrient Pollution Public Health Tribal Representation Water Quality Waterfowl Impacts Watershed Protection