Reply #68: Two meetings in Bellingham on Lake Whatcom water quality 5/9 & 5/10

[eridani]

Lake Whatcom Water Quality
Protection is Threatened
Another reason our County Council matters to the citizens of Bellingham

"In October 2008, the Whatcom County Council narrowly approved a deal setting in motion the potential transfer of more than 8,000 acres in the Lake Whatcom watershed from state to county control..."

"Now, the County Council may not have the four votes necessary to do the transfer, with some council members skeptical the county should assume the costs now."

In 1998 the Washington Department of Ecology listed Lake Whatcom as an impaired body of water under the section of 303 (d) of the Clean Water Act for unacceptable levels of phosphorus, mercury and low levels of dissolved oxygen. The degradation of Lake Whatcom will in the long run necessitate a costly clean up of the lake to all taxpayers of the County. This is our drinking water for the City of Bellingham and residents outside the city limits.

Two facts are evident, the source of pollution is mankind’s footprint in the watershed. Second, the lowest cost to meet the twin goals of preventing pollution of the lake and providing clean drinking water is to limit that footprint.

Whatcom County Council has a historical opportunity, long in the works, to affect a reconveyance of a large portion of the land around Lake Whatcom into a conservancy protecting the lake for generations in perpetuity.

This is not a park as some council members have called it, this is our future, our children’s future and legacy for all. It is a clean environment, it is safe drinking water and it is unconscionable to oppose.

PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR PROTECTING OUR DRINKING WATER SOURCE

Monday, May 9, 6-9 pm – DNR Hearing on Lake Whatcom
County Courthouse, 311 Grand Ave, Bellingham
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources will hold a public hearing on the "reconveyance" of state land to Whatcom county for protection. DETAILS http://www.dnr.wa.gov/BusinessPermits/Topics/OtherLandTransactions/Pages/amp_lakewhatcom_reconveyance.aspx

THEN TELL OUR COUNTY COUNCIL WE CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO PROTECT DRINKING WATER
TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2:00 P.M., COUNCIL CHAMBERS – SPECIAL COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

Discussion regarding reconveyance issues FULL AGENDA http://www.whatcomcounty.us/council/meetings/council/packet/agenda.pdf
or
Tuesday, May 10, 7 pm – County Council regular meeting
Speak at the public comment period at the beginning of the meeting