About the Lake
The Lake Whatcom watershed is located in Whatcom County in the northwest corner of Washington State. The Watershed is a major source of drinking water for residents and also provides a place to live for a variety of animals, fish and humans alike. Lake Whatcom has also played an important role in the community's history of logging, mining, and lumber mills.
Watershed and Lake Facts
Lake Whatcom is about ten miles long and just over one mile wide at its widest point.
Water Supply and Treatment
Lake Whatcom is the source of water for approximately half of Whatcom County residents. The majority of these residents obtain water from the City of Bellingham.
Geology
The same tectonic forces that shaped the Cascade Range also tightly folded the layers of the Chuckanut Formation to create the Chuckanut Mountains including the hills around present day Lake Whatcom.
Water Quality
While our drinking water remains very clean and safe, the water quality in Lake Whatcom has been declining in recent decades due to ongoing changes and activities in the Lake Whatcom watershed.
Resources
Lake Whatcom History
Maps
Other resources
Self-guided tour of Lake Whatcom: a Water Week event posted each September on a Lake Whatcom watershed trail near you!