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Whatcom Watch
Water
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 →