Sehome Hill Arboretum Board of Governors

The Sehome Hill Arboretum Board of Governors addressed several significant operational and partnership items in their April meeting, with technology access, fire prevention innovation, and administrative sustainability taking center stage. The board reviewed a Western Washington University website project four years in development, designed to showcase student and faculty research in the arboretum while maintaining clear distinction from the official city arboretum website. The evening's most forward-looking discussion centered on a wildfire detection sensor project proposed by the Whatcom Million Trees Project in partnership with Western's electrical engineering capstone program. The innovative project would develop low-cost fire detection sensors for deployment in the arboretum, creating both a research opportunity for students and a practical fire prevention tool that could be replicated throughout Whatcom County. Administrative challenges dominated the board's internal discussions, with both the city and university facing staff shortages that threaten the board's ability to maintain monthly meetings. The loss of Kate, their previous administrative coordinator who moved to the mayor's office, has left a gap in meeting support that highlights broader resource constraints affecting both institutions. The meeting also addressed cultural sensitivity and partnership issues, including a request from Lummi tribal member Timothy Ballou Sr. for permission to harvest traditional ironwood (ocean spray) near the Longhouse site for ceremonial salmon cooking implements. This request demonstrated the ongoing integration of indigenous practices into arboretum management and the board's commitment to honoring their land acknowledgement with concrete actions.