Did you know…
Because of impervious surfaces like pavement and rooftops, a typical city block generates more than 5 times more runoff than a forested area of the same size?
You can help!
Use Permeable Pavers and Porous Concretes
Great for patios, driveways, and pathways, permeable pavers and porous concretes are two ways you can reduce the amount of stormwater runoff entering our lakes and streams. Placing stone/mortar pavers closely together across a large area can provide the structural support needed for vehicle or pedestrian use while the gaps between the pavers allows for the stormwater to be infiltrated into the soil (More information).
Porous concretes and asphalts are able to support traffic loads while also containing voids that allow water to drain through the section and be infiltrated into the soil below (More information).
Install a Green Roof
A green roof replaces conventional roofing with a living, breathing roof system. Green roofs consists of a layer of vegetation over a growing medium on top of a synthetic, waterproof membrane. These roofs can significantly decrease stormwater runoff, save energy, reduce pollution and erosion, and provide habitat for birds and insects. Green roofs can be designed with deep or shallow soil profiles, and can be planted with ground cover plants or a combination of ground cover, shrubs, and trees (More information).
Get a Rain Barrel
Rainwater catchment systems (e.g. rain barrels) collect and store rainwater from your roof that would otherwise be lost to runoff that is diverted to storm drains, streams, and lakes. Through the City’s Residential Stormwater Retrofit Program, the average participating Lake Whatcom home was able to capture 42% of roof runoff into and through rain barrels. Using rainwater collected in your rain barrel to water your lawn and garden saves you money on your metered water bill, conserve drinking water, and reduces stormwater runoff. Please view the City’s Water Conservation page for more information on how to purchase and install a rain barrel.
Highlighted Programs and Projects in our Community
Whatcom Museum Lightcatcher Building
The Art of Stormwater Management grant, awarded by Washington State Department of Ecology, funded the installation of a green roof, pervious pavement and bioretention in the Whatcom Museum’s Lightcatcher Building. The project provides a unique stormwater educational experience for visitors to the museum in addition to funding a 2-year monitoring program to determine the effectiveness of the low impact development (LID) elements. The Whatcom Museum’s Lightcatcher Building is a prominent, high-profile and prestigious attraction located in the heart of Downtown Bellingham’s Art District. The project reduced the site’s impervious surfaces by 38% by adding the following LID elements to the building:
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2,700 square feet of extensive, ADA compliant, publicly accessible green roof
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Over 3,400 square feet of porous concrete in the courtyard and alley
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Enhanced treatment and pollutant removal through approximately 1,300 square feet of vegetated bioretention cells in the courtyard
These improvements will help ease peak flow rates by reducing stormwater runoff by 64% based on a 2-year storm event. Most importantly, the grant will fund the creation of a robust and diverse public education campaign including:
- Two permanent museum installations highlighting the form and function of LID
- Public participation through site tours for architects, builders, engineers, elected officials, government staff, school groups and developers
- Public education and outreach through articles, brochures and video documentation
Homeowner Incentive Program
Need assistance making your buildings and surfaces more lake-friendly? Lake Whatcom Watershed residents, living in the Silver Beach Creek watershed or within city limits, can participate in the Homeowner Incentive Program (HIP), a cooperative program sponsored by the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County. Program participants receive assistance and reimbursement for materials and professional services when they complete projects on their property that reduce runoff and pollution entering the lake.
Through a Department of Ecology Water Quality Financial Assistance Grant, City and County staff provide on-site consultations, project design, permitting assistance, and materials and services reimbursement. HIP empowers watershed neighbors to work together to successfully complete projects.
The focus of the Homeowner Incentive Program is to provide support for homeowners to install projects that increase water infiltration on their properties. Project examples include riparian plantings, impervious surface removal, lawn removal and replacement, phosphorus limiting rain gardens, infiltration trenches and porous paving materials. See our Homeowner Incentive Program page for more information on how you can get involved.
