Whatcom County Council Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee

## MODULE S1: STUDY GUIDE **Meeting ID:** WHA-CON-CNR-2026-01-13 ### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee met on January 13, 2026, to reorganize leadership for the new year and receive an annual report from the Water Resources Program of Washington State University Extension. The meeting focused on appointing new committee leadership and learning about water protection and sustainable landscaping education programs serving the county. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Committee Chair:** The council member who leads committee meetings, sets agendas, and guides discussion. In this case, Councilmember Kaylee Galloway was appointed to chair the Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee. **Vice Chair:** Up to two council members who assist the chair and can lead meetings when the chair is absent. Councilmembers Jessica Rienstra and Jon Scanlon were appointed as vice chairs. **WSU Extension:** Washington State University's community education program that brings research-based knowledge directly to communities through local educators and programs. **Sustainable Landscaping:** Gardening and landscaping practices that minimize environmental impact by reducing pesticide use, conserving water, preventing soil erosion, and protecting water quality. **Whatcom Watersheds Information Network (WIN):** A coalition of organizations, agencies, and citizens working together to protect and restore local waters and watersheds through education and collaboration. **Water Adjudication:** A legal process where property owners must file claims to establish their water rights. Council Member Scanlon noted that 16,000 people have filed out of 15-20,000 expected to file by the deadline. **Nooksack Basin:** The watershed area drained by the Nooksack River, which was the focus of the 2025 Salmon Summit Conference on habitat restoration and salmon recovery. **Nutrient Pollution:** Contamination of water bodies by excess nitrogen and phosphorus, often from fertilizers and other landscaping chemicals that run off into streams and lakes. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Kaylee Galloway | Whatcom County Council Member, newly appointed Committee Chair | | Jessica Rienstra | Whatcom County Council Member, appointed Vice Chair | | Jon Scanlon | Whatcom County Council Member, appointed Vice Chair | | Elizabeth Boyle | Whatcom County Council Member | | Barry Buchanan | Whatcom County Council Member | | Ben Elenbaas | Whatcom County Council Member | | Mark Stremler | Whatcom County Council Member | | Cheryl Lovato-Niles | Water Resources Educator, WSU Whatcom County Extension | ### Background Context This meeting represents the annual reorganization of the Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee, which focuses on environmental issues affecting Whatcom County. The committee oversees policies related to water quality, habitat protection, climate change adaptation, and natural resource management. Leadership appointments are significant because the chair and vice chairs will guide the committee's priorities and agenda for the coming year. The presentation from WSU Extension highlighted ongoing efforts to protect water quality through education programs. This work is particularly important given Whatcom County's environmental challenges, including salmon habitat restoration, shellfish protection, and managing water resources amid growing population and climate change pressures. The water adjudication process mentioned in the discussion relates to a state requirement for property owners to document their water rights, which affects thousands of county residents. The educational programs described serve critical watersheds including areas around Sudden Valley and Birch Bay, where development pressure and residential landscaping practices can impact water quality. These programs help residents adopt practices that protect local waterways while maintaining attractive landscapes. ### What Happened — The Short Version The meeting started with council members selecting new leadership. They unanimously chose Kaylee Galloway as the committee chair. After some initial confusion about who wanted to serve as vice chair, they appointed Jessica Rienstra and Jon Scanlon to those positions. Next, Cheryl Lovato-Niles from WSU Extension gave a presentation about her water education programs. She runs classes that teach people how to landscape their properties without harming local waters. Her "Garden Green" courses teach 8 hours of practical skills like healthy soil practices and reducing chemical use. Last year, 25 people completed these courses. She also coordinates the Whatcom Watersheds Information Network, which hosts educational events and a speaker series. Their biggest event is Water Week, which had 40 events and over 2,400 participants in 2025. She helped organize a Salmon Summit conference that drew 226 attendees to learn about habitat restoration. Council members asked about whether her programs focus on specific watersheds (yes, especially Sudden Valley and Birch Bay) and whether she helps with water rights filing (no, but she could if the county wanted). The meeting ran short on time, so she didn't present her final slides about the invasive crab monitoring program. ### What to Watch Next • The committee will begin setting its 2026 agenda under new Chair Galloway's leadership • WSU Extension will offer more sustainable landscaping courses in 2026, including sessions at Birch Bay Village and Sudden Valley Recreation Center • Council may consider whether to involve WSU Extension in helping property owners file water rights claims before the adjudication deadline ---