The Lake Whatcom Management Program invites the community to attend its annual Lake Whatcom Joint Councils and Commissioners meeting on Wednesday, April 2 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be in person with an online option available via Zoom. Local leaders from the Bellingham City Council, Whatcom County Council and the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District Board of Commissioners will gather to hear about the progress that has been made to protect and preserve Lake Whatcom and discuss future actions. This public meeting will also be aired live on cob.org/btv.  

Updated: March 17th, 2025

Get ready to hit the water! 2025 Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) permits went on sale for Whatcom County lakes early this year. Inspection stations will open on Saturday, April 26, but all boats are required to have a valid permit any time they launch or operate on Lake Whatcom or Lake Samish. As always, get $10 off your annual permit and learn more about ways to prevent the spread of invasive species by taking the AIS Awareness Course today. We look forward to seeing you on the water. 

Please note that permit fees increased on March 3, 2025, marking the first increase in fees since 2019. Due to growing visitation to our lakes and increased proximity of AIS detections to Whatcom County, additional efforts are needed to protect our drinking water, recreational access, and lake health. The fee increases will help fund crucial enhancements to inspection efforts and support continued access for boaters and recreators. Permit rates vary depending on where your boat is stored. Boats visiting Whatcom County lakes from further away pose a greater risk of introducing invasive species. This increased risk is reflected in the permit prices. Resident boats will need to have an annual permit to remain on the lake throughout the season. For additional questions or to schedule an inspection on-site, please call the hotline at (360) 778-7975. 

Find current permit fees and purchase your permit online. 

Updated: March 3, 2025

Check out the January Issue of the Lake Whatcom Lowdown, our quarterly e-newsletter with watershed updates and stewardship opportunities. This latest issue provides information on private property improvement programs, the 2024 boating season, our local native plant sale, how to report pollution and more.  Click here to subscribe! Links to past issues are available in our Lake Whatcom Lowdown Archive.

Updated: January 27, 2025

The following maps highlight some of the data collected by Whatcom boat inspectors in 2024. Learn about infested water bodies, where boats visit from, how many decontaminations our staff performed and more! Visit https://cob.org/whatcomboatinspections. 

Updated: January 23, 2025

The LWMP Policy Group is meeting December 20, 2024 at 8am and will review the Revised 2025-2029 Work Plan Draft (November 2024). Meeting details, agenda, and materials are available on the Lake Whatcom Policy Group Meeting Materials webpage. More information about the work plan can be found on our 2025-2029 Work Plan webpage.

Updated: December 11, 2024

Check out the October Issue of the Lake Whatcom Lowdown, our quarterly e-newsletter with watershed updates and stewardship opportunities. This latest issue provides information on:

• Lake Whatcom Management Program work plan

• Managing leaves

• Preparing outdoor spigots for winter

• Photo contest winners

• Free household hazardous waste disposal

• Watershed work window closure

• Completed projects at Bloedel Donovan Park, Silver Beach Creek, and Academy Road

Click here to subscribe! Links to past issues are available in our Lake Whatcom Lowdown Archive. 

Posted: November 1, 2024

Leaves and other yard debris can pollute our water and cause flooding when managed incorrectly. Instead of piling debris where it may leach excess nutrients or block drainage, try one of the following options:

• Use FoodPlus!

• Bring them to a local disposal service

• If composting at home, use a covered and contained compost system

If you can do so safely, please clear storm drains of leaves and debris or report blocked drains:

• Whatcom County: (360) 778-6400 or report online at whatcomcounty.us/contactpublicworks

• City of Bellingham: (360) 778-7979 or report online at cob.org/SeeClickFix

Posted: October 15, 2024

The Bloedel Donovan and Lake Samish AIS inspection stations closed for the season on Monday September 30th. Permits for the 2025 season go on sale January 2nd and the season starts April 26th 2025!

If boat owners do not plan on using their boat throughout the winter months, they are encouraged to have their boats wire sealed to ensure a speedy and efficient start to the 2025 boating season. If you happen to miss us at the boat launch, don’t worry! Our year-round staff are available (starting October 1st) Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM to meet you and seal your boat. Just be sure to call with advance notice.

To find out the most current hours of operation, to schedule an appointment, or to have your vessel wire sealed, please call the AIS Boat Inspection Hotline at: (360) 778-7975.

Thank you all and see you in 2025!

Posted: October 1, 2024