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Council adopts Lake Whatcom Management Program five-year work plan, cites $71.2 million in shared investments
Summary
Bellingham and its watershed partners adopted a joint five-year work plan (2025–2029) that lists roughly $71.19 million in shared investments; the city included its portion in the 2025 budget and will review the plan with county and sewer-district partners at a joint meeting.
The Bellingham City Council approved a resolution adopting the Lake Whatcom Management Program five-year work plan covering Feb. 2025 through Feb. 2029. The plan is a joint effort of the City of Bellingham, Whatcom County and the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District to coordinate projects and programs that protect Lake Whatcom, the primary drinking-water source for more than 100,000 people.
Renee LaCroix, assistant director of public works for natural resources, and interim public works director Joel Funt joined council in committee to present the plan. Staff said the plan includes 12 program areas, and that two subject areas were added this cycle: climate action and forest management. The jurisdictions estimated $71,187,565 in investments to be shared across the three jurisdictions over the next five years; the city's portion was adopted as part of the 2025 budget.
Council member Anna Stone's committee moved the resolution forward after staff reported that jurisdictions had taken extra time to respond to public comments and had made substantive revisions to the draft plan. The joint jurisdictions will bring the plan to a tentative joint meeting April 2, 2025, that will include the city council, county council and the sewer-district commissioners. Council approved the resolution by voice vote, 7-0.
Council discussion in the committee emphasized public engagement and the plan's role in coordinating capital investments and watershed protection measures. Staff recommended the joint adoption to ensure consistent actions across city, county and sewer district boundaries.
