Resources
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Lake Whatcom Management Program Work Plans
Since 2000, the LWMP has created coordinated five-year work plans that serve as broad overview documents to guide our work to protect Lake Whatcom.
Lake Whatcom Management Program Progress Reports
The LWMP publishes annual progress reports that contain details of the work accomplished in the Lake Whatcom watershed each year.
Lake Whatcom Watershed Annual Build-Out Analysis Reports
Since 2005, the City of Bellingham Planning and Community Development Department has published a Lake Whatcom Water Build-Out Analysis of existing residential housing units and potential developable lands in the watershed. Starting in 2024, the analysis will be completed every five years instead of annually due to the amount of staff time it takes to conduct this analysis and the minimal changes seen each year.
Lake Whatcom Water Quality and Monitoring Reports
The City of Bellingham and Western Washington University's Institute for Watershed Studies have collaborated on a Lake Whatcom monitoring program since 1988 to provide long-term water quality data for the lake and its tributaries.
WWU Institute for Watershed Studies Lake Whatcom Monitoring Reports
Lake Whatcom Tributary Monitoring Program Phase 3 Report without appendices (48 pages) (2021)
Lake Whatcom Tributary Monitoring Program Phase 3 Report with appendices (556 pages) (2021)
Lake Whatcom On-Site Sewage System Impact Assessment Report (2020)
Lake Whatcom North Shore On-Site Sewage System Leachate Detection Project Report (2017)
Lake Whatcom Watershed Surveys Findings
The LWMP distributes a survey every five years to residents in the Lake Whatcom watershed to help evaluate the effectiveness of outreach efforts and inform future work plan priorities. The survey - first administered in 2018 - asks Lake Whatcom residents about their understanding of issues affecting the lake and their behaviors that impact water quality.
2024 Lake Whatcom Watershed Survey Findings (Interactive Dashboard)
2024 Lake Whatcom Watershed Survey Findings (PDF Version)
Banners and Cross Tabulations
Aquatic Invasive Species Program Reports and Documents
The Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) program has been inspecting boats entering Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish to prevent the spread of invasive species since 2012. The program publishes annual reports that summarize each year's boat inspection data.
AIS Program Annual Reports
Other Lake Whatcom Reports and Documents
Lake Whatcom Presentations
Annual Joint Councils and Commission Meeting Presentations
March 27, 2020 - meeting cancelled due to COVID-19
Lake Whatcom Policy Group Meetings
Past meeting agendas, minutes, and materials are available on the City of Bellingham’s website.
Watershed Regulations
Visit these links to learn more about regulations from local and state codes applicable in the Lake Whatcom watershed.