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Whatcom Watch
Water
January 2020
Nooksack River Too Little Water, and It’s Getting Worse
There is less water during the summer in the Nooksack River today than five decades ago. These lower flows are one of many factors adversely affecting salmon and the orcas that feed on salmon. (1) This paper documents the … Continue reading
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January 2020
Watershed Management Board
This local organization is responsible for addressing water supply and quality issues within the Nooksack River basin and for salmon recovery. Its members include Whatcom County, City of Bellingham, Public Utility District #1, Lummi Nation, Nooksack Indian Tribe, and the … Continue reading
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September 2019
A Meeting About Protecting Lake Whatcom
Interested in protecting, preserving, and restoring Lake Whatcom, our community’s primary source of drinking water? Please join us at the downtown Community Food Co-op Connections Building (405 E. Holly St.) classroom on Wednesday, September 4, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. … Continue reading
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May 2019
About Lake Whatcom
Lake Whatcom is the primary drinking water source for about 100,000 residents of Whatcom County. The lake is comprised of three sub-basins from which samples are collected in October through December, in February and April through September each year. The … Continue reading
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May 2019
How We Can Keep Lake Whatcom Safe and Clean
Our drinking water is at a tipping point. The drinking water source for over 100,000 Whatcom County residents, Lake Whatcom, faces an onslaught of threats — from logging and development to pesticides and invasive mussels hitching rides on uninspected boats. … Continue reading
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August 2017
Improve Water-Use Efficiency: Focus on the Outliers
Whatcom County enjoys ample water supplies when averaged over the year, but summer conditions are quite different. Winter rains recharge groundwater and fill our streams, but summer’s hot, dry weather increases demand, especially for irrigation, and cuts stream flows. The … Continue reading
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May 2017
Clean Water: Lake Whatcom Water Quality Update
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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Oct/Nov 2016
Eric Hirst Letter to Whatcom County Council
Dear Whatcom County Council Members, Last week’s council meeting included several rural residents, builders, and realtors opposed to the recent Supreme Court decision on the future of rural permit-exempt wells. I hope attendance at next week’s hearing will be more … Continue reading
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Oct/Nov 2016
October-November 2015
Pros and Cons of Metering Local Ag Water Use
During the critical summer months of July, August, and September, when stream flows are low and water temperatures high, agriculture (especially irrigation) accounts for almost two thirds of Whatcom County’s water use.1 Almost all residential,2 commercial, and industrial water use … Continue reading
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Looking for Answers: Whatcom County vs Hirst, Futurewise, et al.
November 28, 2016 Researching and learning about the water rights issue in our County and State over the past several weeks has confused me more than it has clarified the options the County Council has to exercise. It is more … Continue reading →