Whatcom County Council Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee

Whatcom County Public Works Director Paula Harris delivered a comprehensive presentation reviewing 25 years of flood mitigation projects completed since the 1999 Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan (CFHMP). The presentation showcased eight major projects totaling over $30 million in flood protection investments, demonstrating the county's systematic approach to reducing flood risks across the Nooksack River watershed. Harris highlighted successful collaborations with federal agencies, tribes, and local landowners that leveraged outside funding to complete projects including setback levees, fish passage improvements, and innovative self-regulating tide gates. The presentation emphasized how projects evolved from the original 1999 plan while addressing new challenges like aging infrastructure and changing regulatory requirements for fish habitat protection. Council members raised concerns about ongoing drainage district challenges and the need to integrate flood mitigation planning with comprehensive plan updates and future growth patterns. The discussion revealed tension between agricultural drainage needs and fish habitat protection requirements that continue to impact local farming operations. #