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Environmental Impacts

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It can be difficult to see and comprehend some of the other negative effects of boating from the helm as the impacts often occur far from the boat.  For example, the wake from a boat causes unnecessary shoreline erosion long after that boat has passed. Or if you operate a personal watercraft too close to shore, you will never see the wildlife that has to stay undercover until the waves and noise have subsided.  Many environmental impacts from boating could be avoided if the existing City and County boating regulations were observed. (Link here to county boating codes)

Erosion:

Although Lake Whatcom is 328 feet at its greatest depth, the areas that receive the most impact from wakes created by boats and personal watercraft are located in Basins One and Two where the average depths are 30 and 38 feet respectively.  This may seem deep enough to boat in without impacting the wildlife and shoreline, but the closer you are to the shore the more accelerated the affects are especially when considering these areas have already been altered by development and therefore lack natural stabilization

Erosion of the lake’s shoreline occurs naturally by wind-generated waves. Excessive erosion may also hit property owners in the wallet since eroding shorelines can lead to decreased property values and costly erosion prevention and control measures.

Boats and PWC are often operated close to the lakeshore, in the shallows and at excessive speeds.  Personal watercraft have an especially high potential for causing shoreline erosion since they can be launched from a beach, and the combination of a jet and shallow draft enables them to go very fast even in shallow water.  Wakes from both boats and PWC can lead to larger more frequent waves on shore, which in turn stir up sediments and erode the shoreline.

Impacts to Fish & Wildlife:

Most species of aquatic plants, fish, and water dependent wildlife are born, reproduce, and die in the shallow transitional zone from the land to the water—the littoral zone. The majority of Washington’s wildlife also use the upland vegetated area next to the water, the riparian area, for feeding or cover. This is also the point where people most often access the lake and stir up sediments during boat and PWC launches. 

Turbidity

Clear water is an important visual attribute for all lake users and is essential for healthy aquatic life.  Stirred up sediments affect aquatic organisms ability to breathe, find shelter, forage, and reproduce. Churned up sediments may also release nutrients that are stored in the sediments.  Nutrients like phosphorus can support undesirable algal blooms in the summer.  Turbidity, a measure of water clarity, is based on the ability of light to penetrate down into the water. Lower turbidity usually indicates higher water quality.  When turbidity increases, less light penetrates and visibility decreases.  Boating in the shallows increases turbidity. An increase in turbidity causes less light to reach plants, limiting photosynthesis. Imagine trying to breath or even find your way around town with dust in the air everywhere.

Propeller Impacts

As boats or PWCs move through shallows, the propeller or jet can directly impact aquatic plants by cutting shoots or uprooting entire plants. In shallow areas with high use, vegetation decreases due to persistent contact with boat bottoms and propellers. 

Noise Pollution

Fish and wildlife depend upon an undisturbed environment for nesting, spawning, and feeding. The noise or mere presence of a boat or PWC can scare off fish and wildlife without ever touching them. Unfortunately, the start of boating season coincides with an extremely sensitive time for young wildlife. The closer boats are operated to shore the more likely they are to cause a scare. Birds are particularly sensitive to disturbance. If frightened during nesting and feeding they may abandon eggs or young. By slowing down, steering clear of wildlife, and staying out of the shallows the needless disturbance of fish and wildlife can be reduced.

Exotic Aquatics

Native aquatic plants play a significant role in lakes and streams by providing food and habitat for fish and wildlife, stabilizing shorelines, and contributing to nutrient cycling.  An over-abundance of native vegetation is usually an indication of excessive nutrients, such as nitrogen or phosphorus, or other problems in the lake or stream (WDFW “Aquatic Plants and Fish”). An over-abundance of non-native species however is an indication of the introduction of plants from other sources.  Exotic aquatics are not limited to plant species.  They can also include non-native shellfish.

Lake Whatcom hosts boaters from all over Washington and Canada.  This extensive use of the lake makes it probable that plants from other locations will hitch a ride on an unsuspecting vessel into the Lake Whatcom watershed and begin it’s plan to take over the aquatic environment.  These non-native species will out-compete the native plants for space, nutrients and sunlight, thus altering the ecology of the Lake.  As these plants take over, the Lake the available dissolved oxygen will be exhausted and the overgrowth will make access to the lake impossible.

Prevention

To prevent the spread of exotic aquatics, make it part of your regular boating routine to follow these important steps listed and become familiar with the most common invasive plants so you can readily identify them and take proper action.

Most Common Aquatic Noxious Weeds

Eurasian watermilfoil (milfoil) is a common invasive, exotic, aquatic plant is present in Lake Whatcom.  According to the Whatcom County Noxious Weed Control Board and Department of Ecology plant surveys, Lake Whatcom is the only lake in Whatcom County that has Eurasian watermilfoil.

Milfoil reproduces primarily through plant fragmentation.  Each fragment that breaks off can produce a new plant that is equally adaptable and capable of spreading.  Milfoil usually flowers in July when the plant reaches above the surface.  Its flowers are pinkish on reddish spikes.   After flowering, the milfoil becomes brittle, breaks off and continues to reproduce through further fragmentation.

Milfoil is most noticeable in the Bloedel swimming area around Basin One.  It is also found in the vicinity of Strawberry Point, Agate Bay and the fish hatchery on the south end of the lake.  Most invasive species thrive on nutrient loaded runoff and poorer water quality, so the urbanized areas of the lake are most susceptible to colonization.

While these other invasive species haven’t been found in Lake Whatcom yet, be on the lookout for:

Brazilian Elodea (Egeria densa)	Fanwort (Caboma caroliniana)
Parrotfeather (Myriophyllum  aquaticum)	Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)

For additional information on noxious plants(aquatic or otherwise, contact the Whatcom County Noxious Weed Control Board (360)354-3990 or check out their website at Noxious Weed Control Board, Whatcom County Washington or the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife WDFW - How to Control Aquatic Plants.

Keeping the Lake Clean:

Just as the backcountry saying “Pack it in, Pack it out” helps keep our forests and trails clean and healthy, adopting that same philosophy for your boating habits can help make Lake Whatcom a cleaner, healthier environment for all its users as well as the fish, wildlife and shoreline.  Not only is it illegal to dump trash overboard, it is also unsightly, inconsiderate, and costly to remove.

Solid wastes such as plastics can entangle birds, fish, and other aquatic life if they inadvertently swim through it or mistake it for food.  Plastics can also create navigational hazards if they become entwined in a propeller or clog the engine intake system.  Fish scraps should never be thrown back into the water.  In addition to being smelly and unsightly, they add excess nutrients to the water and as bacteria break down the scraps, oxygen is removed from the water.
All trash and waste products should be contained on board and disposed of properly once you are home.

While fishing, know the area you are in so you can avoid losing your lines, hooks and other gear to the environment.  Use caution where you cast so you do not snag plant life.  However if you do, do not leave the line there, retrieve it and dispose of it properly.

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