Cover Story
Top 10 Rules Playbook: A Blaine Case Study
Editor’s Note: This article was written without any guidance from Whatcom Watch. The newspaper is run by volunteers; it serves as a forum for people concerned about issues in Whatcom County. by Tina Erwin and Otto Pointer (i) Introduction In … Continue reading
Beaks and Bills
Beaks and Bills by Joe Meche I’ve launched my kayaks and canoes in a number of spots east and west of the Cascades, from lakes in the high Okanogan country to the small, hidden lakes in the Columbia National Wildlife … Continue reading
Watching Government
Compiled by Barry MacHale Action Taken at July 8, 2025 Meeting Shall the council: 163. Adopt the Justice Project Stakeholder Group Charters? This document provides a framework that will guide how each group contributes to and engages with the design … Continue reading
Watching Government
Action Taken at July 15, 2025 Meeting Shall the commission: 73. Place on the 2025 general election ballot, a proposition to increase the number of port commissioners from three to five? If the proposition is passed, the commission will increase … Continue reading
Watching Government
Action Taken at July 7, 2025 Meeting Shall the council: 135. Authorize outside counsel to sign an agreement to settle a worker’s compensation appeal? The Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals is settled for ,422. (Discussed in Executive Session.) Motion carried … Continue reading
Community Service Spotlight
Community Service Spotlight by Scott Pelton Housing is more than shelter — it’s the foundation of a healthy, connected community. It shapes how people build stability, access opportunities, and contribute to the places they call home. Yet across Whatcom County, … 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 Do … Continue reading
Salmon
See Salmon Journey Upriver to Spawn!
by Sarah Brown, Stewardship Program Manager Now is the time you can witness one of the most iconic events in the Pacific Northwest. Considering how important these fish are to local cultures, economies, and environments, salmon can be surprisingly elusive … Continue reading
Salmon Streams and Tributaries
Many Partners Join Efforts to Help This North Fork Nooksack Tributary by Eli DeWitt, Instream Project Manager We have an exciting collaboration coming up between NSEA, Whatcom Land Trust (WLT) , Whatcom County Public Works (WCPW), and Whatcom Conservation District … Continue reading
Salmon Streams and Tributaries
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) recently announced .6 million in grants for a suite of projects to protect and improve estuaries, shorelines and other near-shore habitat in Puget Sound. … Continue reading
Solar Power
Articles You Might Have Missed
Climate Good News As many of you are aware, President Trump has been canceling incentives for solar and wind projects. Just today (8/19/25), he signed an order to prohibit solar on farmlands, a source of income for many farmers. But, … Continue reading
Stormwater
Stormwater Bacteria Counts Stir Up Concerns
Editor’s Note: Whatcom Watch has entered a cooperative agreement with Salish Current. When possible, we will share each other’s content. Salish Current, an online-only news organization, covers the North Sound area and Whatcom Watch mainly covers Whatcom County issues. Visit … Continue reading
Twenty Years Ago
Twenty Years Ago Since January 2014, Whatcom Watch has been reprinting articles from issues printed 20 years ago. The below articles appeared in the September 2005 issue of Whatcom Watch. by Seth Cool Last February, a couple friends and I … Continue reading
