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Lake Whatcom Management Program

Lake Whatcom Management Program. Annual Program Review. Today’s Objectives. Demonstrate scope and progress of LWMP work Review problem, causes and solutions Recognize significance of community

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Lake Whatcom Management Program

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  1. Lake Whatcom Management Program Annual Program Review

  2. Today’s Objectives • Demonstrate scope and progress of LWMP work • Review problem, causes and solutions • Recognize significance of community • Affirm the difficult decisions close at hand

  3. A Brief History of Lake Whatcom Management A working watershed – the first 150 years Contemporary timeline – 1992 to 2007 Accomplishments – 2008

  4. The 1990’s • First efforts to cooperatively manage watershed • First stormwater retrofit project • Lake Whatcom declared a sensitive water body, Interlocal Agreement for joint management formalizes Lake Whatcom Management Program (LWMP) • Impervious surface limited for new construction • Nutrient control required for large developments • Stormwater retention and treatment required for new construction and renovation • First 5-year Management Plan is adopted • Created Silver Beach Ordinance and Watershed/Stormwater Overlays

  5. The 21st Century • Placed moratorium on land divisions smaller than five acres • Permanently restricted building on over 1,200 lots in Sudden Valley • 1,400 potential dwelling units eliminated by downzone • Clearing standards adopted for unincorporated areas • Initiated TDR program moving 100 development • Adopted second LWMP 5-Year Management Plan • Banned2-cycle boat motors • P-fertilizer banned on residential lawns and public properties • Invested in capital improvements to reduce pollutant loads • Infiltration required for new construction and redevel0pment

  6. ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2008 • Purchased three watershed properties from development • Pursued re-conveyance of over 8,000 acres of forest land • Finalized Agate Bay Preserve conservation easement • Implemented City and County Stormwater Plans • Coordinated a watershed build-out analysis and developed a consistent methodology for future analysis • Coordinated household hazardous waste collection resulting in over 11 tons of toxics removed

  7. ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2008 • Collected and presented monitoring data • Chronicled land-use regulations that improve water quality • Implemented new septic system maintenance regulations • Surveyed illicit discharges • Responded to Total Maximum Daily Load Technical Report • Completed Northridge retrofit and Northshore Drive project • Established/extended moratoria on subdivisions and building • Initiated pilot projects on P-Best Management Practices

  8. Turning Plans into Action Cable Street Vault Installation Retention Pit Installation in Sudden Valley

  9. Turning Plans into Action Northridge sand filter / detention pond

  10. Cost of Stormwater Infrastructure City/County Capital Expenditures: $5M over last six years $9M next six years Cable Street infiltration swale North Shore Drive pervious bike lane

  11. Problems Causes Solutions Success

  12. The Problems phosphorus, algal blooms, dissolved oxygen, bacteria, metals, petroleum products, dissolved solids & • amount and timing of runoff

  13. The Causes animal waste, failing septics, yard waste, P-fertilizer, detergents, erosion, improper land-disturbance, atmospheric deposition, impervious surfaces, inadequate facilities…

  14. The Solutions • stormwater management plans • LWMP Annual Work Plan • TMDL Implementation Plan • land-use compliance • targeted land acquisition • incentive programs • outreach, outreach, outreach

  15. TMDL: What is it and what does it mean? • Department of Ecology determined that Lake Whatcom suffers from chronically low dissolved oxygen and elevated fecal coliform bacteria. • Total Maximum Daily Load are the amounts of P and FC that the lake can receive and still meet water quality standards. • An implementation plan must be prepared, approved and acted on. • Insufficient action means non-compliance with State permits, fines and exposure to litigation.

  16. What is success? • A cleaner and more predictable water supply healthy ecosystems Removing pollutant sources AND appropriately converting storm water conveyance to infiltration.

  17. Success is convincing people that things must change in order that our expectations for future quality of life can remain the same…

  18. Management Tools 1: Source Reduction • P-Fertilizer use (P) • Animal waste (P, FC) • Yard waste/compost (P) • Cleaning products (P) • Failing Septics (P, FC) • Stream bank stabilization (P) • Shoreline management (P, FC) • Exposed soil (P)

  19. Management Tools 2a: Stormwater Management • For the Homeowner and Developer: • Residential LID options • Homeowner retrofit programs • Incentives • Outreach, outreach, outreach

  20. Management Tools 2b: Stormwater Infrastructure Cable Street Bio-infiltration Swale North Shore Drive Pervious Bike Lane

  21. Management Tools 3 People Governments can build infrastructure and create incentives, but ultimately the effort MUST HAVE COMMUNITY BUY IN • Conduct targeted outreach • Empower community champions • Provide technical assistance • Develop incentives

  22. Urbanization & Land Development Utilities and Waste Management • Watershed Enforcement • Permit Review • Development Tracking • OSS inspection • Water Supply • Waste Water • Solid Waste Stormwater Management • COB Stormwater Plan • WC Stormwater Plan • LID Programs Data Mgmt ICT & Staff Teams • WC & State Health, WC PW, COB PW, DOE, WWU • Urbanization/Development Team • Enforcement Team • Data Management Team • Stormwater Team • Transportation Team • Education Team Land Preservation • Development Rights Programs • City Acquisition Program) • Reconveyance Community Outreach Executive Management Team • Lake Whatcom website • Pledge Program • Stewardship Incentives • Sudden Valley education & • outreach • City Council • County Council • Water & Sewer District Commissioners Transportation • Transportation Planning

  23. 2009 LWMP WORK PLAN • Prepare TMDL Implementation Plan • Implement stormwater plans • Advance programmatic efforts • Secure funding New 2010-2014 LWMP 5-yr Management Plan will be developed in 2009. It will reflect early actions of TMDL response plan.

  24. Work Plan Additions 2009 • Silver Beach Creek Phosphorus Reduction Pilot Project • Interagency review of raingarden efficacy • Refine Low Impact Development program • Pursue animal waste management through Conservation Program on Agricultural Lands (CPAL) and outreach • Refine education and community outreach strategy, techniques and messages • Enhance compliance program for septic system maintenance

  25. 2009 HighlightSilver Beach Creek Pilot Project • Showcase key management tools in the highest priority urban watershed • Promote community acceptance of stormwater facilities and stewardship messages • Demonstrate rapid, scaleable deployment of stormwater programs • Stimulate public dialog about benefits of stormwater management

  26. Project Components • Bio-infiltration facility at Lahti Drive • Retention pond retrofit • Silver Beach Creek bank stabilization • Targeted homeowner Low Impact Development (LID) and retrofit options • Compliance /education program for regulated phosphorus and bacterial sources • Monitor water quality improvements in Silver Beach Creek and Lake Whatcom

  27. The Long View TMDL response will renew focus on: • Stewardship changes (animal waste, car washing, composting, LID, incentives…) • Existing storm water plans • Land-use regulations (e.g., zoning, redevelopment, retrofits) • Engineering standards (private and public construction) • Capital facilities • Funding • Community champions • Cooperation and collaboration • Leadership

  28. http://www.lakewhatcom.whatcomcounty.org/index.shtml

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