The water body is stratified for part of the year (late spring through mid-fall) and mixed during the rest. All tributaries and that portion of the lake between Electric Avenue Bridge and the outlet dam are closed to fishing at all times. 15.3, Projects, work, or activities that create more than 1,500 square feet of replaced impervious surface area and/or replaced permeable pavement. The city of Bellingham and Whatcom County have also restricted development activities such as land clearing, from October 1 through May 31 annually to prevent runoff from exposed soil during high precipitation months. Much better to go down Chuckanut south of Bellingham as there are several pullouts for parking and viewing of the Sound and islands. 1. This up and down movement of the water causes the thermocline to rise and fall as well, which can result in the cold, anoxic water from Basin 3, to spill over the Strawberry Sill into Basin 2. chart.draw(data, options); Love this lake, 9 miles long and 1 mile wide, up to 360 deep! Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Lake Whatcom (for those newcomers to our area who may not be aware) is the primary drinking water source for about 100,000 residents in Bellingham and Whatcom County. Fishing is best in the summer after they finish spawning in April-May. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. 54.3, 1: { color: '#FFCC66', targetAxisIndex:0, lineWidth: 8 }, Based on the 2014 Lake Whatcom Watershed Annual Build-Out Report there are currently 6,877 dwelling units in the Whatcom County watershed with appropriate assessor's residential land use codes, and improvement values of greater than 10,000 dollars. Lake Washington is the place to explore during the summer. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Winds are out of the N at 3mph, with wind gusts of 9mph. With a high around 47F and the low around 36F. Fishing opportunities include resident Kokanee, Largemouth and Smallmouth bass, and Yellow Perch. A control dam at the head of Whatcom Creek, (the only stream flowing out of the Lake Whatcom Reservoir), provides a mechanism for managing the surface level of the lake and therefore the amount of water stored in the lake. In the 1850s came the first known settlement of Westerners on Lake Whatcom. Please refer to the code or speak to a watershed staff member for further information. Both questions have fairly simple answers that belie the complex events and processes that created the conditions that exist today. Water is withdrawn from Basin 2 and processed through a series of treatment steps at the facility that include filtering, adding chemicals to remove smaller suspended particles and algal cells, adjusting the pH and adding chlorine for disinfection. This basin is the shallowest, with a maximum depth of just 40 to 60 feet (12 to 18m). Beautiful ocean views! Most of the phosphorus enters the lake through non point sources, such as water runoff from storms in parks and lands surrounding the lake. Turn around and follow the road all the way around the lake. Good place to take family swimming, nice park. Development stormwater runoff does not occur. Temperature. 4.2, 13.9], Winds are out of the N at 5mph, with wind gusts of 9mph. ft. of soil are not permitted from October 1st through May 31st per WCC 20.80.735(2)(e). Clean water. var chart = new google.visualization.LineChart(chart_waterF); Lake Whatcom is located and managed within three political jurisdictions: the city of Bellingham, Whatcom County, and the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District. Displays". Figure 6. South Whatcom Fire Lt. Scott Crowe and other boaters help pull a sailboat to the dock at Western Washington University's Lakewood water sports facility on Lake Whatcom on April 26, 2019. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife also maintains a boat launch. In 2005 fertilizers containing phosphorus were banned to try to reduce the amount of phosphorus entering the lake. Generally, these are activities such as underground pipe installation and power pole installation and do not apply to residential development which requires a building permit. The warmest water temperature are in August with around 69.1F / 20.6C. Since then, the Lake Whatcom Management Team has worked to install storm water runoff treatment systems around the heavily populated areas of the watershed. [4][5] Bellingham is a participant in the Partnership for Safe Water, and the Citys drinking water also meets the higher standards set by this group. Predictions of future lake temperatures are important because increased temperatures lead to longer stratification times . A control dam at the head of Whatcom Creek, (the only stream flowing out of the Lake Whatcom Reservoir), provides a mechanism for managing the surface level of the lake and therefore the amount of water stored in the lake. 18.7, Elevation: 274 ft. Center: 48.665125, -122.385318 Open in Google Maps. Lake Washington is a town close to Lake Washington. Whatcom Watch Online thanks PogoZone for hosting our Web site. Local governments are working hard to study the lake and make wise decisions about its future. The following are the results of some water quality parameters: Figure 1. The road eventually turns to the right toward Hwy 9. 16.5, All but the most ardent watersports enthusiasts will be thinking of packing up for the winter. A 3 minute walk from my house, it is approximately 10 miles total in length and 1 mile in width at its widest. If your service has been disconnected, please contact the office at (360) 734-9224 to arrange for service restoration. Figure 3. 43.7, What has been done The coldest in January with an average water temperature of 39F / 3.9C. The hottest avg. Instead, turn left to go to the dead end. Shoreline access: Good Fishing improves throughout the spring as waters warm and fish move onshore, peaking during the spawn. Up to 5,000 square feet or 35% of the existing tree canopy area, whichever is greater, may be cleared for a building site, driveway, parking and landscaping. more. Ecology, City and County staff work together to develop a watershed management strategy that will enable Lake Whatcom to safely meet state water quality standards in the future. The trail ends in 3 miles at a fenced private property. FOIA (Note: The number of sites used to calculate the quarterly averages increased from four to eight in 2012 (vertical dotted line). Lake Whatcom Blvd does not circle Lake Whatcom. Boat rentals add to the enjoyment of this lake. In the early 2000s, the rate of deterioration began accelerating to the alarm of city and county officials, the scientists conducting the monitoring, and the general public. July is the month with the lowest precipitation of 0in / 0mm and December with the maximum precipitation in a year with 2.4in / 60.3mm. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Median summer near-surface total phosphorus concentrations over time at each sampling site from 1994 2016 (Matthews et al., 2017). Snow accumulation of 2 to 7 Inches. [11] Of these units, 1,595 are zoned within the city of Bellingham, 1,551 are zoned within the urban growth boundary, 2,566 are zoned in the Sudden Valley neighborhood, and 1,165 are zoned as rural. Jul. Protective actions to safeguard the lake from human activities were relaxed and eventually forgotten. Center: 48.740296, -122.346516 It has been updated and revised over the decades but remains the guiding document to mitigate the effects of current development and activities on the lakes water quality. Emergency fishing rule changes; . 15.1, Projects, work, or activities that create more than 500 square feet of impervious surface area and/or permeable pavement. weather preparedness ; Whatcom County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan ; SECTION 3. 3.9, The committee developed a draft management plan in 1992, outlining goals and policies to guide all future management actions in the watershed. 2012 Department of Ecology (DOE) Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington (2012) DOE Manual. Temperature Figure 1. Drive over Alabama Hill to the Silver Beach area. 49.3, But, in winter some lake surfaces can get very . Watershed Challenges Stormwater runoff, nutrients, aquatic invasive species and more Fishing resources. There are no upcoming meetings, please check back soon. If you would rather, cycle to experience slow leisurely sightseeing. The city of Bellingham has invested a lot of money and resources in its water treatment facility in Whatcom Falls Park. By the 1930s, however, the region experienced a population boom with increased residential development of homes and summer cottages in the northwest part of the watershed. . 39.4, Successful fishing for Yellow Perch in the winter involves either targeting schools in deep water from boats or through the ice. One look at the lake and its watershed would convey to the casual observer that it is more of a recreational destination and resort area rather than a drinking water source for all of Bellingham and half of Whatcom County. View larger map. Lake Whatcom is the drinking-water source for nearly 100,000 county residents. Drinking Water Quality about real-time data are available with the "Predefined Winter is the hardest time because fish are offshore and slow moving. Among these are six native species: kokanee salmon (non-anadromous form of Sockeye), coastal cutthroat trout, longnose sucker, peamouth chub, sculpin and three-spined stickleback. 49.3, The City of Bellingham manages the amount of water stored in the Lake Whatcom Reservoir in order to ensure that an adequate supply of drinking water is available throughout the year. 10.2, By 1948, all logging and mining activities in the watershed had ended, only to be replaced by increasing residential development and recreational activities which continued unabated into the 1990s. When the wind stops, the water rebounds back and forth until it is settled again. 1.7 1.59 vaww02. The following are some of the more important water quality indicators reported in the 2014/2015 Lake Whatcom Monitoring Program Annual Report: I. You've probably noticed this when swimming in a lake in summer - your shoulders feel like they're in a warm bath while your feet are chilled. Lake Whatcom, the drinking water source for 100,000 Whatcom County residents, including Bellingham, faces an onslaught of threats from logging and development, to pesticides and invasive mussels hitching rides on un-inspected boats. A small portion is attributed to lawns, gardens, and streets containing some phosphorus. Monofilament recovery and recycling program. After the merger of Whatcom, Sehome, Bellingham and Fairhaven towns into the city of Bellingham in 1903, Lake Whatcom became the primary source for domestic water (Peterson, 2008). The effects on Lake Whatcom were clearly reflected in . Title: USGS Current Conditions for Washington This combined with sediment oxidation, cause for near or complete anoxic conditions in the deeper levels of the lake. Very crowded with families. Here are the guidelines for a popular Lake Whatcom Park. Calibration focused on model predictions of hydrodynamics (flow and water level), temperature, and water quality. These activities expanded and increased into the 1900s with the population of workers living in the watershed also increasing. 47.1, Lake Whatcom's current water temperature is 36F Todays forecast is, Mostly cloudy throughout the day. Anyway back on topic, if you haven't visited the third largest lake in Washington State, Lake Whatcom is the place to go! Very crowded with families. Today's Details. 4: { color: '#FFCC66', targetAxisIndex:1, lineWidth: 0 }, By the late 1800s, logging, timber production and mining were the primary activities in the watershed, with most of the workers who supported those industries building houses and living nearby. This lake supplies water for over 60,000 . ['August', 10], 6.1], 42.8, The summer weather makes the Lake very conducive for swimming with the water temperatures ranging around 70F during the summer months. 6, We've kayaked on it and you can paddle forever and not get to the end! The lowest in January with an average water temperature of 39F / 3.9C. Eurasian water milfoil is the only species on Washington's list of 50 unwanted species (13 of which are freshwater) that is known to exist in Lake Whatcom. var options = { Parking was a challenge, but there were a few spots in the shade. April Markiewicz is a toxicologist and the associate director at the Institute of Environmental Toxicology at Huxley College of the Environment at Western Washington University, as well as president of the People for Lake Whatcom Coalition. 14], 11-10-019 Publication and Contact Information This report is available on the Department of Ecology's website at Fishing improves throughout the spring, peaking before the spawning period in May and June. Each of us gets up every morning, turns on the water faucet and expects to have clean, fresh water at our disposal. Of these, 4,007 are developed, 5,552 are zoned for development but are currently undeveloped, and 2,519 are protected under conservation easement, as a result of land use acquisition by the city of Bellingham and private individuals. Downspout Full Infiltration is a method in which stormwater is directed back into the ground via infiltration trench or dry well (or other methods as specified in the DOE Manual). Maximum Surface Elevation series: { Air Temperature undefinedF High: undefinedF Low: undefinedF Wind MPH Gust: undefined mph Bearing: undefined 927 AM EST Fri Jan 13 2023 The water temperature off Rochester is 39 degrees. Bloedel donated 12.5 acres to the city for what would eventually become Bloedel Donovan Park. However, permits for work that exceeds 500 square feet of exposed soil cannot be issued . The measurements for the water temperature in Bellingham, Washington are provided by the daily satellite readings provided by the NOAA. }, Fishing is best for Coastal Cutthroat in the spring and fall. Currently, based on the city of Bellinghams 2007 guide to Lake Whatcom, the Lake Whatcom watershed is zoned for residential use, private commercial forest use, public land, urban growth area, and watershed protected properties, along with non-residential reconveyance areas. It changes color depending on the sky and is so picturesque with the snowy mountains in the background. July is the month with the lowest precipitation of 0in / 0mm and December with the highest precipitation in a year with 2.4in / 60.3mm. undefined's current water temperature is undefinedF Todays forecast is, undefined With a high around undefinedF and the low around undefinedF. Despite lake water quality challenges, the City is committed to supplying some of the safest drinking water in the country. With a high around 71F and the low around 37F. The data also have revealed, however, that warmer summer temperatures with longer warmer seasonal periods accelerate biological productivity causing severe deleterious chemical changes to water quality. https://waterdata.usgs.gov/wa/nwis/current? Parking and viewing of the N at 3mph, with wind gusts of 9mph, temperature, and Perch! The N at 5mph, with wind gusts of 9mph portion is attributed to lawns, gardens and! To longer stratification times water body is stratified for part of the Sound and islands through May per... Acres to the code or speak to a watershed staff member for information... Resources in its water treatment facility in Whatcom Falls Park fertilizers containing phosphorus were banned to try reduce... Are no upcoming meetings, please contact the office at ( 360 ) 734-9224 to arrange service. Review is the hardest time because fish are offshore and slow moving permits for work that exceeds 500 feet... 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