### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council held a special meeting on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, as part of the Lake Whatcom Cooperative Management Program's joint councils and commissioners meeting. The meeting brought together representatives from Whatcom County, City of Bellingham, and Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District to discuss the five-year Lake Whatcom Management Plan and coordinate land use regulations across jurisdictions to protect the region's drinking water supply. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Lake Whatcom Management Program:** A cooperative effort between Whatcom County, City of Bellingham, and Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District to protect water quality in Lake Whatcom, which serves as the primary drinking water source for the region. **TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load):** An EPA-required calculation of the maximum amount of pollutants, particularly phosphorus, that Lake Whatcom can receive while maintaining water quality standards. **Phosphorus Loading Limitations:** Development regulations that limit how much phosphorus runoff can come from new development, with the city requiring 0.15 pounds per acre per year (forested condition) and the county allowing 0.1875 pounds per acre per year. **Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS):** Non-native species like zebra mussels and quagga mussels that could devastate Lake Whatcom's ecosystem and clog water intake pipes, requiring inspection programs for boats entering the lake. **R5A Zoning:** Rural zoning that allows one dwelling unit per five acres, implemented by Whatcom County in 2002 as a downzoning effort to reduce development density in the Lake Whatcom watershed. **Homeowner Incentive Program (HIP):** Voluntary programs that provide funding to property owners to remove lawns and replace them with native vegetation and stormwater management systems. **Forest Practice Applications:** State-regulated logging permits that apply to commercial forestry in the watershed, with limited local government oversight despite potential water quality impacts. **Seasonal Clearing Restrictions:** Prohibition on land disturbance from October 1 to May 31 to protect water quality during the rainy season. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Kaylee Galloway | Whatcom County Council Member, Meeting Chair | | Lisa Anderson | Bellingham City Council Member | | Todd Donovan | Whatcom County Council Member | | Tyler Scanland | Whatcom County Council Member | | Kathy Kraver | Whatcom County Public Works, Lead Presenter | | Mike Perkins | City of Bellingham Natural Resources Field Manager | | Morgan Ruff | City of Bellingham Special Projects Manager | | Ben Knox | Available online | | Gary Smith | Whatcom County Planning Development Services | ### Background Context Lake Whatcom serves as the primary drinking water source for over 85,000 residents in Whatcom County. The lake faces ongoing challenges from phosphorus pollution, which can cause harmful algae blooms and degrade water quality. Since the early 2000s, local governments have implemented increasingly strict development regulations, downzoned rural areas, and created voluntary incentive programs to protect the watershed. However, jurisdictional differences in regulations, gaps in oversight of commercial forestry, and emerging threats like invasive species continue to challenge collaborative management efforts. Climate change adds urgency with increased wildfire risks and more intense storm events that could dramatically impact the watershed. ### What Happened — The Short Version Council members from multiple jurisdictions discussed challenges and successes in implementing the 2025-2029 Lake Whatcom Management Plan. Key topics included differences between city and county development regulations (particularly phosphorus loading limits), concerns about inadequate oversight of commercial logging in the watershed, and the need for better coordination on wildfire preparedness. Staff presented updates on rapid response planning for invasive species detection and forest management planning across 13,000 acres of publicly owned land. The group debated whether their policy group should take a more active role in developing coordinated policies rather than just receiving updates. ### What to Watch Next - Whatcom County's mid-biennium budget review will include resource allocation for analyzing and potentially aligning land use codes with city standards - The comprehensive plan update process for both jurisdictions in Q3-Q4 2025, which may include Lake Whatcom considerations - Development of the rapid response plan for invasive species detection, which will require significant resource commitments from all three jurisdictions ---