Cover Story
by Liam Walsh In 2024, nine authors and six organizations put together a study/paper arguing for the restoration of Sumas Lake near Abbotsford, British Columbia. (https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/conservation-science/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2024.1380083/full) The lake was drained in 1924, and researchers argue its restoration would bring a … Continue reading
Cover Story
Local Fish Barrier Improvement Project Delayed
by Hope Rasa The City of Bellingham (COB) has delayed until 2028 and possibly later a construction project that will benefit salmon and trout. The Squalicum Creek at Baker Creek Fish Passage Improvement Project (EN059) will remove two pieces of … Continue reading
Beaks and Bills
Beaks and Bills by Joe Meche Don’t look now, but we are very close to the first day of spring and I can feel it in the air. Perhaps it’s all part of the seasonal drudgery we often feel from … Continue reading
Being Frank
State of Our Watersheds: Habitat Remains Key to Salmon Recovery
Being Frank by Ed Johnstone The treaty tribes’ commitment to habitat protection and salmon recovery is reflected in the newly published State of Our Watersheds Report. The comprehensive watershed-by-watershed analysis of habitat conditions tells the story of where we’ve come … Continue reading
Watching Government
Action Taken at January 6, 2026 Meeting Shall the commission: 1. Authorize the sale of four vessels for the nonpayment of moorage fees? Sealed bids closed on 1/18/2026. An auction was held at Squalicum Harbor for a 40-foot sailboat with … Continue reading
Watching Government
Action Taken at January 5, 2026 Meeting Shall the council: 1. Authorize the mayor to spend .8 million to purchase 5.02 acres of property from Loren Demuth and Theresa Green and a 1.36-acre conservation easement located on a separate parcel … Continue reading
Watching Government
Compiled by Barry MacHale Action Taken at January 13, 2026 Meeting Shall the council: 1. Authorize the executive to sign a 4,823 a contract (amendment #1) for reimbursement to the City of Bellingham for three lateral paramedic positions? At the … Continue reading
Climate
Report: Data Centers’ Climate Impacts in the Northwest
A new report from nonpartisan regional research group, Sightline Institute, complicates a growing narrative of data center demand for power undermining the region’s climate goals. Sightline’s analysis finds that data centers’ climate impact in Washington has been modest to date, … Continue reading
Climate
Articles You Might Have Missed
Climate Good News Around the world people are taking the initiative to mitigate climate change. Here are some good news briefs compiled by the Climate Issue group of the LWV of Bellingham/Whatcom. All articles summarized by Jayne Freudenberger, chair, LWVBWC … Continue reading
Community Service Spotlight
Mount Baker Foundation Supports Kidney Health
Community Service Spotlight by Dr. Zeenia Junkeer Mount Baker Foundation (MBF) began its journey as a private foundation in 2017 when the Mount Baker Kidney Center was acquired by Davita, a for-profit dialysis center, after almost 40 years of providing … Continue reading
Conservation
Whatcom Environmental Council Appeals Provisions of the Bellingham Comprehensive Plan
The Whatcom Environmental Council (WEC) announced in February that it has filed an appeal under the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA). The appeal highlights critical failures to ensure affordable, transit-oriented development and watershed protection in the City of Bellingham’s … Continue reading
Lands preservation
1,616 Acres Protected on Stewart Mountain
On January 9, the Stewart Mountain Community Forest (SMCF) — a collaborative planning partnership between Evergreen Land Trust, Nooksack Indian Tribe, Whatcom County, and Whatcom Land Trust — protected an additional 1,616 acres of forestland above the South Fork Nooksack … Continue reading
Native Plant Neighbors
Native Plant Neighbors by Eric Worden Our winter weather in Whatcom county is generally dismal: featureless dark gray skies, weeks of monotonous drizzle, chilling winds, sunshine forgotten. It affects me and many other people physically: by early February, I sometimes … Continue reading
Natural Biology
Balds: An Incredibly Diverse Habitat So Easily Missed
by Theodore Hoss Stepping into the forests of Whatcom County usually means entering a world of green. Douglas-fir and western red cedar cast verdant shadows on a forest floor covered by mosses, western sword fern, twin flower, salal, Oregon grape, … Continue reading
poetrywatch
“When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man’s concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.” — John F. Kennedy Boris … Continue reading
Talk to Us
Talk to Us [In my February letter to Whatcom Watch, “Cautionary Tale for Nuclear Power” (https://whatcomwatch.org/index.php/article/cautionary-tale-for-nuclearpower/), I note that Microsoft is promoting nuclear power for its data centers. This article dives deeper into the public health threat posed by Bill … Continue reading
Transportation
An Inventory of Sidewalks and Curbs in the Roosevelt Neighborhood
by Barry MacHale and Sunny Beaver We have lived in Bellingham’s Roosevelt neighborhood for 10 years. During that time, we’ve traveled the streets there by foot, bicycle, and automobile (in order of frequency). In December 2025/January 2026, we completed a … Continue reading
Twenty Years Ago
Terence Wahl Is “For the Birds”
Twenty Years Ago Since January 2014, Whatcom Watch has been reprinting articles from issues printed 20 years ago. The below article appeared in the March 2006 issue of Whatcom Watch. Editor’s Note: Terence Wahl passed away in 2022 at the … Continue reading
Water
Antiquated Water Law Is a Barrier to Whatcom Water Solutions
by Eric Hirst and Fred Likkel Introduction In wet, rainy Whatcom County, a lack of water should be the least of our worries. Yes, we are blessed with lots of rain, and both surface and groundwater in most months, but … Continue reading
