Cover Story
Team Studies San Juan Eelgrass
by Meghan Fenwick This summer, The Friends of the San Juans, the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Cornell, and the University of Washington’s Friday Harbor Labs teamed up to study the declining eelgrass population in the San Juan … Continue reading
Cover Story
A Silent Green Threat to Thousands of Local Trees
by Michael Feerer English Ivy and other tree-climbing invasives threaten to prematurely kill thousands of trees within Whatcom County. This is slowly and silently degrading our local parks, forests, and neighborhoods. It’s reducing our region’s climate resilience and biodiversity while … Continue reading
Beaks and Bills
by Joe Meche Our resiliency was put to the test in mid-September when the unexpected forced us to change our proposed travel itinerary. Our initial plan involved a two-week, grand tour of three of our finest national parks — Glacier, … Continue reading
Being Frank
Crabbers Must Be Accountable for Their Share of the Harvest
by Ed Johnstone Our shared natural resources are our shared responsibility. Following federal Judge Edward Rafeedie’s 1994 ruling in U.S. v. Washington, state and tribal co-managers have a legal obligation to share equally in the harvest of Dungeness crab. We … Continue reading
Watching Government
Action Taken at September 25, 2023 Meeting Shall the council: 181. Spend ,000 to purchase 0.12 acres with one potential development unit in the Lake Whatcom Watershed property from property owner Judy Walston? (Discussed in Executive Session.) Motion carried 7-0 … Continue reading
Watching Government
Compiled by Bill McCallum Action Taken at September 19, 2023 Meeting Shall the commission: 73. Authorize the executive director to sign a ,928 contract (amendment #2) with DH Environmental of Seattle to continue the management of the Environmental Compliance Assessment … Continue reading
Watching Government
Compiled by Barry MacHale Action Taken at September 26, 2023 Meeting Shall the council: 246. Allocate unspent federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to meet various council requests? Whatcom County received ,528,542 under the ARPA legislation, all of which needs … Continue reading
Climate
Articles You Might Have Missed
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. A Welcome Breakthrough on Microplastics One of the scariest things … Continue reading
Conservation
Whatcom Conservation District Seeking Candidates
Conservation District supervisors are public officials who serve without compensation. Their role is to set policy and direction for the district. An individual interested in becoming a candidate must be a registered voter in Whatcom County who is an operator … Continue reading
Talk to Us
Bill McCallum (right) and Barry MacHale review copies of the September issue of Whatcom Watch as they come off the presses of The Lynden Tribune. Press Operator Donny Parks makes sure the paper is properly inked and in registration. McCallum … Continue reading
Water
by Eric Hirst Streamflow Trends in the Nooksack River Basin The Nooksack watershed provides water for salmon, other fish and wildlife. Its waters also support about 45,000 acres of irrigated farmland and 235,000 people and their homes, businesses, and … Continue reading
