Progress Report on Activities
A number of land preservation management actions have been implemented over recent years. Many are associated with the tasks included in the Jointly adopted Work Plans but others may be implemented by one or more jurisdictions. This section provides an overview of some of the actions undertaken, with in some cases, links to other sites for additional information.
2005 - 2009 Work Plan Actions:
Five activities are identified and progress on them can be viewed at "2005 Land Preservation Progress Report".
2000 - 2004 Work Plan Actions:
- Land Preservation Criteria - The Lake Whatcom Management Committee requested recommendations for land preservation criteria from the Lake Whatcom Citizen Advisory Task Force. In April 2000, the Task Force began meeting to review background information, land preservation programs in other communities, and potential threats to water quality. Using this information, the Task Force developed and tested a series of criteria that would identify high priority watershed lands for preservation. The recommended criteria included proximity to waterbodies, current land use, potential land use (through zoning designations), and slope. Each of these criteria was broken down into scored elements. To determine the priority level for each land area, the cumulative score of the criteria was calculated.
The recommended criteria were reviewed by staff, council members, and commissioners from the City, County, and Water District 10. Minor changes to the recommendations were suggested and a final set of criteria was developed. In addition, a set of site-specific criteria was developed for consideration during the site assessments. These included cost of preservation/ protection, cost of management, size of the preserved/protected area, cost-benefit analysis, connectivity to other preserved/protected areas, mine hazard areas, alluvial fan hazard areas, and critical site for sanitary or stormwater facilities. In March 2002, the Bellingham City Council, Whatcom County Council, and Water District Commissioners agreed to jointly adopt these criteria to help guide future land preservation activities. These criteria are being used as the base criteria used by each of the jurisdictions when choosing properties for preservation.
- Land Preservation Options - Whatcom County Water Resources staff has compiled information and examples from other communities describing preservation and funding options for long-term land preservation in the Lake Whatcom watershed. Preservation options include land acquisition, conservation easements, and transferable development rights. Funding options include land preservation fees, conservation futures funds, bonds, and grants.
Other Activities
Note: This section is being updated to reflect the latest purchases in the watershed.
- City Land Acquisition Fee - The City’s Lake Whatcom Watershed Property Acquisition Program is funded through the Council-approved Land Acquisition Fee. The $5 fee is added to the City’s water bill each month, and it generates approximately $1.8 million per year for property acquisitions made through recommendations from the Watershed Advisory Board.
- City Watershed Advisory Board - The Lake Whatcom Watershed Advisory Board convened in August 2003 to make recommendations regarding property management and acquisition through the City’s Lake Whatcom Watershed Property Acquisition Program. The Board gives input and advice to the City staff regarding recommended land acquisitions, policies for land use, maintenance, and disposition. Recommendations provided by the Board are guided by the overriding goal of protecting water quality in the Lake Whatcom Reservoir.
- City/Other Purchases and Donations - All properties acquired were unsolicited. Citizens may contact the City when interested in selling or donating property or conservation easements for the program.
The Lake Whatcom Watershed Property Acquisition Program was very active in 2002 and 2003. The City of Bellingham has accomplished the following:- Closed Acquisitions (properties the City now owns): 22 properties; 508 acres protected; 249 development units removed
- Closed Joint Acquisitions (properties jointly purchased by the City and County): 1 property; 369 acres protected; 10 development units removed from watershed
- Conservation Easements to City: 1 property; 90 acres; 5 dwelling units removed
- 2004 Pending Acquisitions: 2 properties; 200 acres; 32 dwelling units removed
- City Stormwater Easement - The City purchased an easement at the foot of Alabama at Electric Avenue for a new stormwater facility. Some future stormwater retrofits may require an easement purchase, but those have not yet been identified.
- Stimpson Family Nature Reserve - The 350-acre Stimpson Family Nature Reserve was donated to the Whatcom Land Trust in memory of Edward K. and Catherine C. Stimpson by their seven children. The Land Trust then purchased additional land, Western Washington University donated land, and Whatcom County purchased a trail and conservation easement over the combined acreage. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) then joined the partnership by including their 139-acre Lake Louise Natural Resources Conservation Area. Whatcom County Parks and Recreation manage the entire property, honoring the intent of the donors and the DNR through resource protection and education.
- County Watershed Downzone - In 2003, the County implemented a downzone in the Lake Whatcom watershed that resulted in a reduction of approximately 1,400 potential dwelling units within the watershed.
- Olsen Estate - The City of Bellingham and Whatcom County jointly purchased the 369-acre Olsen Estate near Sudden Valley. Funding for the acquisition was provided through the City’s Lake Whatcom Land Watershed Property Acquisition Program and the County’s Conservation Futures Fund. The City and County own equal halves of the property and the Whatcom Land Trust holds a conservation easement on the land. The City’s Watershed Advisory Board will provide recommendations for land use and property management for this site. The Olsen Estate is the single largest property to be purchased through the watershed land preservation programs.
- Anderson: Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham jointly purchased a 34 acre parcel with a large pond and stream system along Lake Louise Road. The parcel is adjacent to the Stimpson Family Nature Resrerve and accommodated up to 11 housing units.
- Sudden Valley Density Reduction: WHatcom County, the City of Bellingham, and LWWSD have worked to have permanent restrictive convenants removing development potential on almost 400 lots. This is in addition to over 675 potential units removed through restrictive covenants, lot line consolidations, and covenants to biond acheived by the Sudden Valley Community through their density reduction program.
- Transfer of Development Rights Program - The TDR program has resulted in 322 certified development rights and 124 development rights transferredd out of the watershed with several pending transfers underway.
- Prime Lakefront - Whatcom County is currently finalizing the purchase of a 5.7 acre wooded parcel with 670 feet of waterfront alon the east shore of the lake. A small stream flows through the property. tHis pardcel is platted for three building sites and has septic systems and wells already installed.
- Critical Areas Conservation Easements - Conservation easements are an effective tool for protecting critical areas (wetlands, stream riparian areas, lake shoreline). Whatcom County Planning and Development Services often uses conservation easements to protect critical areas through the permitting process.
- Bank Stabilization/ Riparian Buffer Projects
Eroding stream banks contribute sediment, nutrients, and other pollutants to the tributaries of Lake Whatcom. Bank stabilization and riparian buffers reduce the pollutant loading and provide a buffer between the upland and water systems. Three residential sites along Beaver Creek (tributary to Austin Creek) were identified as high priority bank stabilization projects through the County’s Repair and Maintenance Program. Bank stabilization was completed at one site in the fall of 2000. The riparian buffer was revegetated in early spring 2001. An easement was placed on the riparian area to restrict the use of the area and to maintain the natural vegetation. Bank stabilization and re-vegetation work was completed for the other two sites in 2001/2002.
