Key Commitments
Convene climate impact advisory committee by 2017; net zero man-made carbon emissions by 2050; update WRIA 1 Watershed Management Plan by February 1, 2019; implement Lake Whatcom stormwater funding mechanisms by 2018
Goals
(14 total)
- Goal 10A: Protect natural resources and systems, life, and property from potential hazards.
- Goal 10B: Simplify and harmonize regulations relating to the identification, delineation, and protection of environmental features.
- Goal 10C: In implementing environmental policies, provide for protection of private property rights, economic opportunities, and plan appropriately for growth.
- Goal 10D: Strengthen the sustainability of Whatcom County's economy, natural environment, and built communities by responding and adapting to the impacts of climate change.
- Goal 10E: Minimize potential loss of life, damage to property, the expenditure of public funds, and degradation of ecosystems resulting from development in hazardous areas.
- Goal 10F: Protect and enhance water quantity and quality and promote sustainable and efficient use of water resources.
- Goal 10G: Protect and enhance Whatcom County's surface water and groundwater quality and quantity for current and future generations.
- Goal 10H: Protect water resources and natural drainage systems by controlling the quality and quantity of stormwater runoff.
- Goal 10-I: Support water conservation, reclamation, reuse measures, and education as a means to ensure sufficient water supplies in the future.
- Goal 10-J: Prioritize the Lake Whatcom watershed as an area in which to minimize development, repair existing stormwater problems, and ensure forestry practices do not negatively impact water quality.
- Goal 10K: Protect and enhance ecosystems, which provide economic, ecological, aesthetic, and cultural benefit.
- Goal 10L: Protect and enhance ecosystems that support native fish and wildlife populations and habitat.
- Goal 10M: Conserve and enhance regulated wetlands.
- Goal 10N / 10P: Protect and enhance marine ecosystems, resources, and shellfish habitat in Whatcom County.
Stronger Policy Language (68 policies)
- Policy 10A-3: Continue to identify, designate, and protect Critical Areas and other important environmental features.
- Policy 10E-5: Prohibit the siting of critical public facilities in known natural hazard areas unless the siting of the facility can be shown to have a public benefit that outweighs the risk...
- Policy 10F-11: Whatcom County will work through the Planning Unit and WRIA 1 Watershed Management Board to update the WRIA 1 Watershed Management Plan for approval by the Whatcom County Council by February 1, 2019.
- Policy 10G-7: Oppose the use of hydraulic fracturing in oil and gas wells (also known as "fracking") to avoid the potential degradation of water quality in aquifers and other groundwater.
- Policy 10J-6: Do not allow density bonuses within the Lake Whatcom Watershed.
- Policy 10J-14: Existing Urban Growth Areas shall not be designated or expanded nor new Urban Growth Areas designated within the Lake Whatcom Watershed, and rezones that allow greater residential densities will not be allowed.
- Policy 10H-10: Develop and administer regulations and incentives such that there is no net loss of ecological functions and values of regulated wetlands and fish and wildlife habitats.
- Policy 10L-9: Use Best Available Science to inform the creation of regulations to mitigate adverse impacts of development adjacent to rivers, streams, and marine shorelines.
Aspirational / Monitoring Language (66 policies)
- Policy 10A-7: Using Best Available Science, support efforts to educate and inform the public as to the benefits of a healthy and viable environment, ecologically fragile areas...
- Policy 10B-3: Support education as an important tool in developing public appreciation for the value of ecosystems and provide the public with informational materials and presentations...
- Policy 10C-3: Emphasize an approach to environmental protection by encouraging the use of conservation easements, open space taxation, land acquisition, the density credit program...
- Policy 10D-2: Develop strategies that encourage a diversified and sustainable economy that is resilient to the impacts of climate change.
- Policy 10D-4: Pursue strategies to reduce the vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in the county by encouraging expanded availability and use of public transportation, carpooling...
- Policy 10E-9: Discourage new development in the floodplain.
- Policy 10H-8: Strongly incentivize the use of low impact development strategies. Minimize the amount of impervious surface whenever practicable by using natural engineering design methods...
- Policy 10K-7: Promote voluntary fish and wildlife habitat enhancement projects through educational and incentive programs, such as purchase of development rights or habitat conservation easements.