Lake Whatcom's proposed management program strives to decrease phosphorus loading in Lake Whatcom but may fall short as a restoration plan.
The team of city and county representatives responsible for fulfilling water-quality laws and cleaning up Lake Whatcom met Monday at Bellingham City Hall to hear the public’s comments about a five-year lake-management plan.
The plan was drafted in response to the 2007-8 TMDL study that was conducted by the Department of Ecology because Lake Whatcom has been on the 303(d) list—a polluted water body that requires a TMDL study—since 1998 for low dissolved-oxygen levels.
` The study was conducted in 2007 to determine the lake’s “Total Maximum Daily Load” for phosphorus and bacteria inflow—calculating how much of each pollutant the lake will naturally manage and supply enough dissolved oxygen to obey water-quality laws.
The study determined “phosphorus levels would meet dissolved oxygen standards if they were equivalent to 85.5% fewer acres of 2003 development, or 94.6% fewer acres than the total development under 2003 zoning.”
Small representation of public awareness
About 25 people attended the meeting— the majority of the audience included city and county staff members or public officials.
Three individuals asked questions about watershed soil water-holding capacities and where the highest concentrations of pollutants are being deposited in Lake Whatcom. Their questions were met with uncertain responses.
“There is a lot we still don’t know,” said Assistant Public Works Director John Hutchings. “Regardless of what we do today the effects [of Lake Whatcom’s phosphorus levels] have the potential to continue [because the phosphorus cycle is not entirely understood]. The best we can do is control what comes into the lake today.”
Hutchings said many research projects are in progress on the watershed soil, Lake Whatcom water itself and several of the tributaries that drain into the reservoir.
“We’re still gathering data and doing research to determine where the [pollution is] coming in [to the lake] at the greatest concentrations…we’re relying on the research to tell us where we’ll get the biggest bang for our buck,” Hutchings said, referring to a question about the draft-plan’s budget.
Council members are disappointed with the plan
Before the meeting adjourned, Hutchings asked council members Barry Buchanan, Stan Snapp, and Michael Lilliquist for their comments about the plan.
“I’m disappointed in the plan but not the people,” Lilliquist said. “I don’t think we will see the 90 percent reduction [in phosphorus] that we need to see to satisfy the TMDL with the plan the way it is now. We need a restoration plan and I don’t see it in this draft.”
Lilliquist expressed concern about the portion of money and resources that are being devoted to community outreach and lake stewardship in the current draft of the plan.
Lilliquist said that lake stewardship programs account for 20 percent of the current plan’s budget, contrasting against the $14 million budget for land acquisition and upkeep—60 percent of the draft-plan’s budget. Lilliquist’s apprehensions about the plan’s current budget were echoed by his colleagues.
“I’m concerned that there is very little in the plan about residential areas,” Snapp said. “We’re spending more on undeveloped properties which is a minor component when most is developed property.”
Environmental planner is optimistic about community outreach programs
Although council members think the plan’s budget falls short in community outreach, Environmental Educator Kym Fedale spoke optimistically about the lake stewardship projects being funded by the plan.
Fedale said several government-funded projects will be launched in the coming months to educate the watershed community and increase lake stewardship.
“The most exciting thing happening in the next couple of months is the Homeowners Incentive Program that awards up to $1,000 of reimbursement for materials and training,” Fedale said. “We do site visits and help homeowners do things like install porous pavers, rain barrels, rain gardens, plant natives, and remove grass lawns.”
Fedale said landowners are also helped through the permitting process under the program and that the permit process is very fast.
The Homeowners Incentive Program is being piloted by five households in the Silver Beach neighborhood by residents who expressed immediate interest in the program several months ago when the program was being conceptualized.
“[To immediately improve the health of Lake Whatcom,] people can do things like washing their cars away from their homes so the soapy water doesn’t turn into run-off water. Take care to properly dispose their pet waste in the garbage and their yard waste in appropriate containers. Reduce automobile transportation, plant natives and never use a fertilizer or other products with phosphorus in it,” Fedale said.
Concerned residents can access a database of information regarding the health of Lake Whatcom by visiting www.cob.org and looking under the “Top Issues” tab of the website.
Native Strawberry plants are an excellent low-laying ground cover.
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