### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee met on December 9, 2025, to discuss three major environmental and conservation initiatives. The committee received a presentation on a comprehensive 30-year forest management plan for the Lake Whatcom watershed, approved a rapid response plan for invasive freshwater mussels, and authorized acquisition of an agricultural conservation easement in the Lynden area. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Ecological Forest Management:** A forestry approach that manages for multiple objectives rather than just timber production, using techniques that mimic natural processes while maintaining full ecosystem function. **Variable Density Thinning:** A forest management technique that creates spatial diversity by applying different thinning rates to different parts of the forest, helping accelerate stand development toward old-growth characteristics. **Conservation Easement:** A legal agreement between a landowner and a government entity that permanently limits development rights on property to protect its conservation values while allowing the land to remain in private ownership. **Zebra and Quagga Mussels:** Invasive freshwater species that can devastate aquatic ecosystems and water infrastructure. Washington and Oregon are the only two states in the lower 48 without established infestations. **Conservation Futures:** A dedicated county funding source for conservation projects, generated through property taxes and used to acquire conservation easements and preserve critical lands. **Reconveyance:** The process by which state forest lands (previously managed by the Department of Natural Resources) were transferred back to county ownership for conservation and recreation purposes. **Riparian Buffer:** A protected area of forest along streams and waterways that helps maintain water quality and provides wildlife habitat. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Kaylee Galloway | Committee Chair | | Todd Donovan | Committee Member | | Mark Stremler | Committee Member | | Ben Elenbaas | Council Member (non-committee) | | Matthew Schmidt | Forester, Northwest Natural Resource Group | | Bennett Knox | Parks and Recreation Department Director | | Gary Stoyka | Natural Resources Manager, Public Works | | Alex Harris | Planning and Development Services | | Paul Schissler | Conservation Easement Program Oversight Committee Chair | | Karen Steensma | Property Owner/Farmer | ### Background Context Lake Whatcom serves as the primary drinking water source for approximately 50% of Whatcom County residents, making its protection critical for public health and regional sustainability. The watershed has a complex logging history dating back to the 1850s, with most original old-growth forest harvested by the 1950s. County and city governments now manage over one-third of the watershed, creating an opportunity for coordinated conservation management. The invasive species threat has intensified with recent discoveries of zebra and quagga mussels in the Snake River in Idaho (2023) and golden mussels in San Francisco Bay (2024). These species can completely transform aquatic ecosystems and damage water infrastructure, making prevention critical. The conservation easement program helps preserve agricultural land from development pressure while allowing farmers to continue operations. With dairy farms facing economic challenges and development pressure increasing land values, conservation easements provide a tool for farmland succession and long-term agricultural viability. ### What Happened — The Short Version The committee received a comprehensive presentation on a new 30-year forest management plan covering 12,200 acres across 19 city and county properties in the Lake Whatcom watershed. The plan, developed through extensive community engagement, aims to transition previously logged lands toward old-growth characteristics while protecting water quality. The committee unanimously approved a rapid response plan for invasive freshwater mussels, recognizing the growing threat as these species move closer to Washington waters. The county's role would be primarily supportive, with state wildlife officials leading any response efforts. The committee also approved acquisition of an 89-acre agricultural conservation easement on productive dairy farmland near Lynden. The easement will help a multi-generational farming family continue operations while protecting the land from development. The project demonstrates creative use of multiple funding sources, with 78% of costs covered by state and federal grants. ### What to Watch Next - Forest management plan adoption by full County Council via resolution in early 2026 - Development of operational work plans to implement the first phase of forest management activities - Closure of five previously approved conservation easements totaling 1,200 acres in 2026 - Conservation Easement Program Oversight Committee report on additional funding sources due in January 2026 - Recruitment for vacant positions on the Conservation Easement Program Oversight Committee ---