Monitoring and Water Quality
Lake Whatcom has been monitored for many years, generally beginning with regularity in the early 1960’s although limited data prior to that period can be found in some early reports and studies. Currently the Lake is sampled at 5 locations, with 12 tributaries monitored throughout the year (Figure 1). In 2004/2005, additional sites were added to the Austin/Beaver Creek system. Samples are analyzed for a number of water quality parameters including temperature, dissolved oxygen, clarity (Lake), nutrients, pH, conductivity, fecal colifrom. Flow information is also collected for a number of tributaries in the watershed. 
The majority of the current monitoring is being conducted by the Institute for Watershed Studies (IWS) at Western Washington University under a contract with the City of Bellingham. IWS provides annual reports summarizing details of the monitoring programs and results. These reports can be viewed at the IWS website. The website also provides on-going results for each site in the form of graphs and other statistical representations, as well as written descriptions. A summary of findings from the 2004-2005 Final Report and associated management actions can be downloaded here (PDF, 272 KB).
The City of Bellingham and Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District also conduct monitoring for untreated and treated water. Among other uses, the data is used to help develop annual consumer confidence reports. Consumer confidence reports are required under state law and are intended to provide consumers with information about the quality of their drinking water. Often the reports include other valuable information as well. The District report can be viewed at http://www.lwwsd.org/water/cc.asp, the City of Bellingham report can be seen at http://cob.org/pw/water.htm.
Additional monitoring work has been conducted in recent years to support the Department of Ecology Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) project and the WRIA 1 Watershed Management Project models. The results of these modeling efforts will be used to help develop and refine management actions necessary to address water quality issues in the lake and tributaries. Reports and studies associated with the TMDL project can be viewed at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/tmdl/watershed/tmdl_info-nwro.html#1, http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0203074.html, and http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0203082.html. Information related to the WRIA 1 Project modeling can be seen by visiting the Whatcom County Stormwater Division library.
