Cover Story

  August 2017

After 25 Years, EPA Cleaning Up Toxic Site Near Ferndale

Whatcom Watch

On a marshy piece of land sitting in the shadow of the British Petroleum Cherry Point Refinery, just west of Ferndale and south of Blaine, sits a rusting collection of large industrial tanks connected by a spider web of pipes. … Continue reading →

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  August 2017

Restoring Grizzlies to the North Cascades

by John Simmons

Grizzly bears. Icons of the Wild West and the fear of campers everywhere. Many people would like to see grizzlies return to their natural ranges for their cultural importance and ecological benefits; others oppose their return for economic, safety or … Continue reading →

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  July 2017

Noxious Fumes Hit Whatcom County

by Michael Riordan

The smelly plume of sulfurous gases that wafted over Bellingham Saturday evening, June 3, 2017,  was apparently not an unusual occurrence.[1] It was caused by an overpressure event on the Italian tanker Mare Siculum anchored east of Vendovi Island, awaiting … Continue reading →

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  July 2017

New County Council Districts Explained

by Richard May

Whatcom now has a five-district system to elect the council that governs our county. We will still have seven council members, but we will no longer elect all seven by a vote of the whole county. Each of the five … Continue reading →

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  June 2017

Eelgrass Meadows, Our Tidelands Nursery

by Ron Kleinknech

Part 1 If you have ever been to Whatcom County beaches during a minus tide you have likely seen eelgrass — the long green slender blades that drift in the tide. It turns out these marine grasses are pretty important … Continue reading →

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  June 2017

Our Environmental Future Depends on Viable Local Farms

by Fred Likkel and Brad Rader

In the April 2017 issue of Whatcom Watch, one of the leaders of RE Sources effectively presented the environmental group’s position on dairy farming. Simply put, their position is that most of our 90-some dairy farmers represent industrial agriculture, which … Continue reading →

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  May 2017

Clean Water: Lake Whatcom Water Quality Update

by April Markiewicz

Clean water. Each of us gets up every morning, turns on the water faucet and expects to have clean, fresh water at our disposal. We make coffee with it, prepare food, brush our teeth, take a shower, wash dishes, flush … Continue reading →

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  May 2017

Character The Content of Bellingham’s Neighborhoods Part II

by Dick Conoboy

This article was first posted on nwcitizen.com on April 11, 2017 Editor’s Note: From here forward, Whatcom Watch will allow authors to offer a rebuttal to an article critical of their article in the same issue. Correcting Misconceptions For the … Continue reading →

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  April 2017

Ecological Restoration at the Aiston Preserve

by Meredith Moench and Rebecca Rettmer

The silence is startling, broken only by rhythmic lapping of water on the shoreline. A heron takes flight across Smugglers Cove and lands in a tree on Abner Point, and three cormorants warily watch from their perch on the pier. … Continue reading →

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  April 2017

Pollution or Profit? The True Cost of Doing Business

by Lee First

When the pressure is on, we have to increase our resolve to work together to share the land, air, and water we depend on. Industry and environment can and must find a way to thrive simultaneously. One cannot flourish at … Continue reading →

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