Join t Re solu t ion
What com Count y Council No. 92- 73 Bellingham Cit y Council No. 92- 68
Wat er Dist r ict 10 No. 560
A JOI NT RESOLUTI ON OF THE CI TY OF BELLI NGHAM, WHATCOM COUNTY, AND WATER DI STRI CT 10 ADOPTI NG GOALS FOR THE LAKE WHATCOM WATERSHED.
WHEREAS, Lak e What com and it s associat ed w at er sheds, is cur r ent ly t he sour ce of dr inking w at er for appr oxim at ely half t he resident s in t he Count y; and
WHEREAS, w at er qualit y and quant it y concer ns t hr oughout t he count y now and in t he fut ur e w ill significant ly im pact t he av ailabilit y of safe, adequat e supplies of w at er for t he fut ur e; and
WHEREAS, m any pot ent ial and act ual docum ent ed sour ces of cont am inat ion ex ist w it hin t he Lake What com w at er shed w it h par t icular concer ns associat ed w it h developm ent and
ur banizat ion w it hin t he w at er shed; and
WHEREAS, num erous st udies ex ist across t he Unit ed St at es w hich docum ent t he cor r elat ion bet w een urbanizat ion and w at er qualit y degr adat ion, and as dev elopm ent incr eases w it hin t he w at er shed, t he pr obabilit y of adver se w at er qualit y im pact s incr eases; and
WHEREAS, t he St or m w at er Runoff Pr oj ect conduct ed by West er n Washingt on Univ er sit y in 1990- 1991 pr ovided local docum ent at ion illust r at ing t he occur r ence of w at er qualit y degr adat ion associat ed w it h ur banized v s. non- ur banized ar eas; and
WHEREAS, pr ot ect ion of t he r esource is in t he long r un gener ally less t han t he cost of t r eat m ent or r eplacem ent of t he supply should it becom e cont am inat ed; and
WHEREAS, t he pot ent ial for adver se shor t and long- t er m public healt h im pact s is subst ant ially less if pr ot ect ion effort s ar e given pr ior it y over t r eat m ent ; and
WHEREAS, t he adopt ion of com m on goals w ill aid t he Cit y, Count y and Wat er Dist rict 10 in carry ing out act iv it ies t hat w ill pr ot ect , pr eserve and enhance w at er resour ces in t he Lak e What com Wat er shed.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE I T RESOLVED BY THE CI TY OF BELLI NGHAM, WHATCOM COUNTY AND WATER DI STRI CT 10 t hat t he follow ing gener al goal st at em ent s ar e her eby adopt ed, as w ell as t he specific goal st at em ent s w hich ar e at t ached her et o:
Ge n e r a l Goa l St a t e m e n t s:
To r ecognize Lake What com and it s w at er shed as t he m aj or dr inking- w at er r eser voir for t he Count y and develop public and pr iv at e m anagem ent pr inciples for t he lak e and w at er shed consist ent w it h a dr inking w at er r eser voir envir onm ent . Affir m t his goal by est ablishing t he nam e: Lake What com Reser voir .
To pr ot ect , pr eser ve and enhance w at er qualit y and m anage w at er quant it y t o ensur e long- t er m sust ainable supplies for a var iet y of uses, w it h pr ior it y placed on dom est ic w at er supply . Managem ent progr am s and act ions w ill be m ade in r ecognit ion of ex ist ing
cont r act ual agr eem ent s and pot ent ial for r eview and r enegot iat ion in light of t hese goals.
To pr ior it ize pr ot ect ion over t r eat m ent in m anaging Lake What com and it s w at ersheds. Managem ent act ions shall r eflect a long t er m view of r eplacem ent or t reat m ent cost s.
To m anage w at er quant it y t o sust ain long- t er m efficient use of t he w at er for beneficial uses w it hin t he count y t hat ar e consist ent w it h a dr inking- w at er r eser voir , and r ecognize t he int egr al link w it h t he Nook sack River and associat ed w at er r esour ce concer ns.
To ensure t hat opport unit ies for public com m ent and part icipat ion are pr ov ided in policy and m anagem ent pr ogr am developm ent , and t o prom ot e public aw ar eness and r esponsible indiv idual act ions.
To pr om ot e lear ning, r esear ch, and infor m at ion oppor t unit ies w hich bet t er our
under st anding of t he w at er shed syst em , t he im pact s of act iv it ies, and t he benefit s and pot ent ials of policies im plem ent ed.
Goa l 1 : Pu blic Edu ca t ion a n d I n v olv e m e n t To develop and incor por at e m echanism s w hich:
• Pr ovide infor m at ion r egar ding individual act ions w hich can r educe or m it igat e ur ban im pact s;
• Pr ov ide educat ional for m at s for descr ibing qualit y and quant it y issues;
• Pr ovide oppor t unit y for public par t icipat ion in developing t he m anagem ent pr ogram and policies for t he lak e; and
• Ut ilize enfor cem ent act ions as oppor t unit ies for educat ion and lear ning Goa l 2 : W a t e r sh e d Ow n e r sh ip
• Pur sue public ow ner ship and pr ot ect ion of t he w at er shed w henever possible t hr ough public/ pr iv at e par t ner ships, t ax incent iv es, t ransfer of developm ent r ight s, land t r ust s, gr ant s, et c.
Goa l 3 : I n for m a t ion a n d D a t a M a n a ge m e n t
• Coor dinat e w it h appr opr iat e agencies t o m aint ain and expand a dat abase sufficient for det ect ion of t r ends, assessm ent of pr oblem s, evaluat ion of act ions, and for m ing m anagem ent decision t hat ensur e pr ot ect ion and enhancem ent effor t s ar e achieved. Goa l 4 : For e st Pr a ct ice s
• Pr om ot e low im pact for est pr act ices in t he w at er shed ov er r esident ial dev elopm ent w hile w or king t o ensur e t hat for est m anagem ent pr act ices ar e conduct ed in har m ony w it h t he pr inciples of a dr inking w at er r eser voir .
• Pursue zoning and developm ent incent iv es t o ret ain lands in long t erm forest ry
• Dev elop and m aint ain a com prehensiv e w at ershed for est m anagem ent plan w hich m inim izes cum ulat ive im pact s on t he dr inking w at er r eser voir .
Goa ls 5 & 6 : H a z a r dou s M a t e r ia ls
• Ensure t hat pot ent ial for w at er qualit y cont am inat ion associat ed w it h t he use and t r anspor t of hazar dous m at er ials in t he w at er shed is m inim ized.
• Rest r ict and/ or designat e t he r out e of t r anspor t for cer t ain kinds of hazar dous m at er ials w it h t he w at er shed
• I m plem ent a hazardous m at erials spill pr ev ent ion pr ogram inv olv ing im pr ov em ent s in r oad design, t r affic speed m odificat ion, and hazar dous m at er ial t r anspor t at ion r out ing r est r ict ions
• Dev elop an ident ificat ion and r epor t ing syst em consist ent w it h st at e and feder al guidelines
• Coor dinat e infor m at ion shar ing am ong agencies, cit izens, local gover nm ent , and em er gency r esponder s t o opt im ize r esponse t im e t o w at er qualit y t hr eat s
• Reduce adver se w at er qualit y im pact s fr om st or age and handling of hazar dous m at er ials w it hin t he w at er shed.
• I dent ify t he var ious sour ces and areas of concer n ( i.e. w r ecking yar ds, under gr ound st or age t anks, et c.)
• Ev aluat e effect iv eness of ex ist ing regulat ions and policies t o adequat ely addr ess concer n
• Recom m end and im plem ent addit ional act ions as appr opr iat e ( i.e. r est r ict or condit ion cer t ain t y pes of act iv it ies)
• Educat e user s on hazardous m at er ials alt er nat ives, use, and disposal w it h an em phasis on avoidance of use of hazar dous m at er ials in t he w at er shed Goa l 7 : N u t r ie n t Loa din g a n d Ot h e r Pot e n t ia l Th r e a t s
• I dent ify ot her sour ces of nut r ient loading and ot her t hr eat s and im plem ent m easur es t o m inim ize im pact s on t he lak e.
Goa l 8 : Re cr e a t ion
• Allow r ecr eat ional oppor t unit ies w hich do not adver sely im pact t he w at er shed or w at er qualit y w hile finding appr opr iat e w ay s t o r educe im pact s of ex ist ing act iv it ies.
Goa l 9 : Solid W a st e
• Ensur e t hat t he gener at ion, handling, st orage, or disposal of solid w ast e does not degr ade w at er qualit y
• Pr ohibit t he dev elopm ent of landfills w it hin t he w at ershed
• Dir ect t he Healt h Depar t m ent t o assess t he “ Y” r oad landfill cont r ibut ions t o w at er qualit y degr adat ion
• Pr ohibit t he on- sit e burial of w ast e w it hin t he w at er shed ( st at e r egulat ions cur r ent ly exem pt single fam ily r esidences and single fam ily far m s engaged in on- sit e solid w ast e handling)
• Pr om ot e educat ion effor t s dir ect ed at t he pr oper disposal of w ast e, and use of t he household hazardous w ast e facilit y
Goa l 1 0 . Spill Re spon se
• Ensure t hat spill pr ev ent ion and response pr ogram s adequat ely pr ot ect w at er qualit y .
• I m pr ov e spill response pr ogram t o ensure t hat a com m unicat ion net w ork associat ed w it h spill occur r ences is clear ly defined, t est ed and im plem ent ed.
Goa l 1 1 . St or m w a t e r
• Pr ev ent w at er qualit y degr adat ion and w at er quant it y im pact s associat ed w it h st or m w at er r unoff.
• Adopt and im plem ent st or m w at er m anagem ent st andar ds and m aint enance pr act ices t hat include cont r ol of off- sit e im pact s, t he use of sour ce cont r ol and t r eat m ent , Best Managem ent Pr act ices, er osion and sedim ent cont r ol, and oper at ion and
m aint enance.
• Cont rol developm ent densit y and locat ion
• Phase in a st or m w at er m anagem ent pr ogr am for ex ist ing dev elopm ent , including t r eat m ent of dischar ges
• Ev aluat e opt ions w hich can be applied t o bot h ex ist ing and new dev elopm ent t o r educe im pact s on w at er qualit y , including v eget at ion m anagem ent , educat ion, and cost incent iv es
• Require m aint enance of st orm w at er t r eat m ent dev ices and facilit ies
Goa l 1 2 : Tr a n spor t a t ion
• Design and dev elop t r anspor t at ion and t r affic sy st em s w it hin t he w at ershed t o m inim ize t he im pact s on w at er qualit y .
• Pr om ot e t he developm ent and use of m ass t r ansit , and ot her alt er nat iv e
t r anspor t at ion syst em s w hich m inim ize det rim ent al im pact s of t r affic w it hin t he w at er shed
• Design m aj or r out es and t r ansport at ion lines so t hat t hey ar e not locat ed adj acent t o t he lak e or in a locat ion/ design w hich does not allow for adequat e t r eat m ent pr ior t o ent er ing t he lake
• Ensur e r oad dr ainage sy st em s for exist ing and new r oads m inim ize w at er qualit y im pact s
• Ev aluat e and im plem ent act ions w hich m inim ize t he num ber and use of r oads w hich lie adj acent t o t he lake ( e.g. r educe “ t hrough t r affic” by m aking appr opr iat e r oads dead end)
• Pr ovide ongoing evaluat ion of effect s of t r anspor t at ion on feeder st r eam s, sur r ounding w et lands, and t he lake
Goa l 1 3 . Ur ba n iz a t ion / D e v e lopm e n t
• Pr event w at er qualit y degr adat ion associat ed w it h dev elopm ent w it hin t he w at er shed
• Rev iew and r ecom m end changes in zoning and developm ent pot ent ial t hat ar e com pat ible w it h a dr inking w at er r eser voir envir onm ent
• ( I n addit ion t o zoning) ident ify and pr om ot e ot her act ions t o m inim ize pot ent ial for incr eased dev elopm ent in t he w at er shed ( i.e. land t rust , dev elopm ent r ight s, cost incent iv es, et c.)
• develop specific st andards w hich r educe t he im pact s of ur banizat ion, such as m inim al lot clear ing; clust er ed dev elopm ent t o r educe infr ast ruct ure; collect ion and t r eat m ent of st or m w at er befor e ent er ing t he lake
• develop appr opr iat e int er local agr eem ent s w it h gov er ning agencies t o pr ohibit t he pot ent ial for addit ional developm ent once an agreed upon lev el is set
Goa ls 1 4 & 1 5 : Se w e r Sy st e m
• Pr iorit ize t he ut ilizat ion of sew ers ov er on- sit e sy st em s in a m anner consist ent w it h m anagem ent pr inciples for a dr inking w at er r eser voir envir onm ent .
• Ensur e t hat sew er syst em s pr om ot e, im prove, and pr ot ect w at er qualit y w it hout pr om ot ing gr ow t h.
• Pr ev ent dir ect dischar ge of sew age fr om sew er sy st em s
• Review appr opr iat e sit es and pr om ot e ext ension of sew er syst em s int o ar eas w it h sept ic syst em pr oblem s
Goa l 1 6 : On - Sit e W a st e Sy st e m s
• Ensur e t hat accident al or int ent ional dischar ges of hazar dous m at er ials and ot her cont am inant s t o sept ic syst em s serv ing dom est ic and com m er cial facilit ies do not adv er sely im pact w at er qualit y .
• Est ablish a com plaint response sy st em w hich w ould pr iorit ize act ion on com plaint s w it hin t he Lak e What com Wat er shed
• Dev elop and im plem ent an operat ional perm it sy st em for all sept ic sy st em s w it hin t he w at er shed
• Conduct a m or e int ensiv e sur vey at t he older seasonal r esidences as recom m ended in t he Sept ic Sy st em Sur v ey conduct ed by t he Healt h Depar t m ent in 1990
• Encour age t he pr oper use and m aint enance of sy st em s t hr ough public educat ion, sy st em m onit or ing and r egulat ion enfor cem ent
• Elim inat e t he use of hazardous sept ic syst em cleaner s in t he w at er shed
• I dent ify ex ist ing and pot ent ial new com m ercial facilit ies w it hin t he w at ershed w hich use hazar dous m at er ials and evaluat e, r ecom m end and im plem ent m anagem ent plans t o pr ev ent im pact s on w at er qualit y
Goa l 1 7 : Con se r v a t ion
• Pr om ot e t he w ise and efficient use of w at er t hr ough conser v at ion for dom est ic, indust r ial, and com m ercial user s.
Goa l 1 8 . D iv e r sion Ope r a t ion for Re se r voir M a n a ge m e n t
• To m anage or r educe t he diver sion of w at er from t he Nook sack River and Lake What com in a m anner consist ent w it h w at er resour ce law s and t o t he ex t ent possible m inim izes im pact s on beneficial uses w it hin t he Nook sack Basin, w it h a part icular em phasis on fisher ies.
Goa l 1 9 . Re ch a r ge
• Wher e it does not conflict w it h w at er qualit y goals and obj ect iv es, ident ify and prom ot e beneficial r echar ge pr act ices w it hin t he w at er shed and assist in m aint aining supplies for all beneficial uses ( e.g. st r eam buffer s, encouraging m inim um im per v ious surfaces w it hin t he w at er shed, et c.)
• Monit or st r eam qualit y , flow , and fisher ies as a m et hod of ear ly det ect ion of im pact s t o w at er qualit y ( in t he Lak e)
Goa l 2 0 . D ist r ibu t ion / Av a ila bilit y w it h in t h e Cou n t y
• Given t he im por t ance of Lake What com and it ’s Middle For k Div er sion as a sour ce of w at er supply, and t he lim it ed availabilit y of alt er nat iv e sour ces t o suppor t ant icipat ed gr ow t h in t he count y, est ablish a pr ocess t o det er m ine t he ex t ent t o w hich t he Lake What com r eser voir w at er should be m ade available beyond t he Bellingham Ur ban Ar ea.
Goa l 2 1 . Fish a n d W ildlife
• Pr om ot e act ions and progr am s w hich pr ot ect and enhance fish and w ildlife habit at t o include:
• Design culv er t s and br idges ov er st r eam s w hich do not prohibit fish passage
• Pr om ot e and encour age act ions t o cor r ect ar eas w her e fish passage pr oblem s ar e alr eady exist ing
• Maint ain, prot ect , and re- cr eat e st ream buffer s
• Regulat e st ream flow t o r educe scour ing and sedim ent deposit ion
[ The abov e r esolut ion w as signed by Bellingham Council Pr esident on Novem ber 30, 1992, What com Count y Council Chair on Novem ber 30, 1992 and by Wat er Dist r ict 10
Com m issioner s on Decem ber 11, 1992.]
