Fishing resources. temperature is around 65.8F / 18.8C, August is the month with the highest temperature. Median summer near-surface chlorophyll concentrations over time at each sampling site from 1994 2016 (Matthews et al., 2017). Monofilament recovery and recycling program. I gets a tad windy out there so if you want to kayak on it, look at the forecast. FOIA Very crowded with families. In some lakes, this can result in fish kills and cause health officials to issue advisories to those who draw their water directly from those lakes. google.charts.load('current', {packages:['corechart']}); As the water source for a city fast approaching 100,000, the lake extends from the eastern edge of Bellingham, which sits on the Salish Sea, and extends 12 miles into the Cascade foothills. I love walking at North Lake Whatcom Trail because you walk right next to the lake for most of the way and it's amazing. Site Design by Sole Graphics, Cross-Connection Control & Backflow Testing, City of Bellingham Post Point WWTP Solids Management Project. 54.3, Winds are out of the N at 5mph, with wind gusts of 7mph. Located just east of Bellingham. Lake Washington is the place to explore during the summer. See the results of all 50 ensemble members of the ECMWF model in direct comparison for several parameters. 1.7 1.59 vaww02. Elevation: 703 ft. Center: 48.726836, -121.628304 Open in Google Maps. 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. Basin 3 of the lake was still unusually warm in June and remained close to historic maximum levels through September (see Figure 1). The top layer of water (epilimnion) is warmed by the sun and sits atop the metalimnion (also a thermocline). 10.2, Turn left and follow Lake Whatcom Blvd along the lake to the dead end. Fishing spots and depth contours layers are available in most Lake maps. Figure 4. Development permits which propose to exceed more than 500 square feet of exposed soil will not be issued during the 2 weeks prior to October 1 to allow for earthwork to be done and stabilized prior to October 1. Figure 3. Whilst sea temperatures for Bellingham are as accurate as current data allows, there may be slight local and regional variations depending on conditions. 2: { color: '#FF8C00', targetAxisIndex:0 }, There are nine annual streams and approximately 25 additional small creeks and tributaries that flow into Lake Whatcom, accounting for 23 sub-watersheds in all. 97% of travelers recommend this experience. Together these four operating constraints present a complex set of management options that are considered and incorporated into the strategy for managing the Lake Whatcom Reservoir. (2017) indicated that the residual effects from the extremely warm and prolonged summer season in 2015 were still evident through most of 2016. Four degrees doesn't seem like much difference to us, but fish can be sensitive to even a 0.1C difference. This lake supplies water for over 60,000 . The coldest month is January with an water temperature of 39F / 3.9C. Controlling the amount of water flowing into Whatcom Creek is necessary as we attempt to provide healthy habitat for Chinook salmon and other fish using the stream. Here are the guidelines for a popular Lake Whatcom Park. 59.2, The estimated residence time of water entering the lake until it leaves is 7.4 years.[9]. Parking was a challenge, but there were a few spots in the shade. Very crowded with families. Trends in dissolved oxygen over time in Basin 1 at 14 meters (~46 feet) sampled in July and August from 1988 through 2016 (Matthews et al., 2017). The amount available for storage is determined as much by when it rains as it is by how much it rains in the Lake Whatcom Watershed. THE WATER WAS CHOPPY ON THE SWIM, THE BIKE HILLIER THAN DESCRIBED AND THE RUN AND THE FOOD WAS THE BEST OF ANY TRIATHLON I'VE EVER DONE. It changes color depending on the sky and is so picturesque with the snowy mountains in the background. The maximum surface elevation of the lake was set by a court order in the 1960s. Turn around and follow the road all the way around the lake. 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. A 3 minute walk from my house, it is approximately 10 miles total in length and 1 mile in width at its widest. 53.8, The Kokanee fishery typically lasts from April-October before the adults leave the lake to spawn in tributaries starting in late-October and early-November. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. The health of this tremendously important resource is declining, and at a pace that is faster than expected. At Hwy 9, turn right for Skagit County. Displays". 18.4, Basin 1, the Silver Beach Basin, is the furthest north, and has a maximum depth of 100 feet (30m). Fish can be readily angled through the summer from both the shore and boat. Accessibility The downside of relying on treatment processes to clean up source water is that one or more of the steps in the treatment process may become compromised or fail, potentially resulting in thousands of people getting sick before the problem is found. " Stopped by for a picnic in the park ". The stormwater volume from the project does not exceed the monthly natural stormwater volume as determined by an approved DOE continuous runoff model. 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. 16.5, All tributaries and that portion of the lake between Electric Avenue Bridge and the outlet dam are closed to fishing at all times. From the 1800's. Lake Whatcom was not the main drinking-water reservoir until the mid-20th century - the City originally used Lake Padden as the drinking-water source. Fishing for resident Coastal Cutthroat Trout is closed due to a decline in abundance caused by siltation from historical logging and urban activities in their spawning tributaries. However, permits for work that exceeds 500 square feet of exposed soil cannot be issued prior to June 1. URL: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/wa/nwis/current?site_tp_cd=LK&PARAmeter_cd=STATION_NM,62614,62615,00065,00062,DATETIME WATERTEMPERATURE.NET - Wordwide Water Temperatures. County: Whatcom Acreage: 809.90 ac. Lake Washington is a town close to Lake Washington. 43.7, Around 1800 the Saquantch were pushed out by the Lummi tribe. Total phosphorus (TP) levels increased in all basins (see Figure 3). It's the drinking water source for approximately 85,000 residents in Bellingham, as well as Whatcom County. 15.3, The Lake is also surrounded by magnificent beautiful homes to see, among them being Bill Gates home. 39, Bloedel donated 12.5 acres to the city for what would eventually become Bloedel Donovan Park. I love living by it! IF YOUR METER IS CURRENTLY LOCKED, DO NOT PAY ONLINE. Lake information County: Whatcom Acreage: 4923.60 ac. 927 AM EST Fri Jan 13 2023 The water temperature off Rochester is 39 degrees. 43.9, Based on our historical data over a period of ten years, the warmest water in this day in Puget Sound was recorded in 2017 and was 48.4F, and the coldest was recorded in 2012 at 45.3F. 41.4, U.S. Geological Survey Are fishing boats with 2 cycle engines allowed ? ['March', We are so lucky to live in an area where we can walk out and enjoy the lake from our dock. . As you drive toward the lake be sure to look at the view. 39.4, Another amenity open to the public in the watershed is the Sudden Valley resorts 18-hole golf course that has its signature hole abutting the west shore of Basin 3. The hottest avg. Biological productivity in the lake continues to be high in Basins 1 and 2 and in the northern portion of Basin 3 at levels equal to or exceeding maximum levels measured between 1988 and 2014. LAKE WHATCOM TRIATHLON. [2] The city manages the outflow to control the maximum level, to store the inflow, to provide for drinking water demand, and to keep the flow in the creek adequate for the threatened Chinook salmon. Because Dispersion relies on surrounding vegetation to treat stormwater, a Protected Native Growth Area document must be filed with the Whatcom County Auditor's Office to protect the forest or native area prior to building permit issuance. Annual water quality monitoring funded by the city of Bellingham and conducted by Dr. Robin Matthews and her research team at Western Washington University have provided data clearly showing the decline in several water quality parameters over the last 30 years. 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. 4.2, The second part of the availability equation is the timing and amount of water available from the Middle Fork diversion. We really enjoy walking/biking the Interurban Trail from downtown Bellingham to Boulevard Park and along the water to Fairhaven. The measurements for the water temperature in Bellingham, Washington are provided by the daily satellite readings provided by the NOAA. Am I in the District? What people may not know is that Lake Whatcom provides drinking water to more than 95,000 residents including the entire City of Bellingham. Seasonal Clearing Limitations: On parcels within the Lake Padden and Lake Samish watersheds, clearing activities which expose more than 500 sq. In summer, the top of the lake becomes warmer than the lower layers. 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. Picture Copyright: Flickr CC 2.0 ChrisYunker. * We've detected you're using a mobile device. Figure 5. When the weather is warm, take a picnic with you and find a spot - Bloedel or North Lake Whatcom Trail, or anywhere that is public property, and enjoy! Open in Google Maps. In 2005 fertilizers containing phosphorus were banned to try to reduce the amount of phosphorus entering the lake. The effects on Lake Whatcom were clearly reflected in . 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. Projects, work, or activities that create more than 500 square feet of impervious surface area and/or permeable pavement. This combined with sediment oxidation, cause for near or complete anoxic conditions in the deeper levels of the lake. The city is already in the process of building a new $15 million water pretreatment system that should be online in 2018 (Wohlfeil, 2015). Most of the phosphorus enters the lake through non point sources, such as water runoff from storms in parks and lands surrounding the lake. 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Seattles weather is mostly wet but summer months from July to September are extremely hot with temperatures ranging between 70F and 90F, a good time to be around water. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. [3], As a drinking water source, Lake Whatcom Reservoir's quality is in compliance for all tested chemicals, bacteria and turbidity. format: '#C'}, IWS provides detailed annual reports (PDF). Despite lake water quality challenges, the City is committed to supplying some of the safest drinking water in the country. These chemicals are recirculated throughout the lake once water temperatures cool and the water is no longer thermally stratified. 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. Lake Whatcom and its watershed provide important fish and wildlife . This phenomenon is important to the hydrology of the lake. If your service has been disconnected, please contact the office at (360) 734-9224 to arrange for service restoration. about Lake Whatcom because the lake is the drinking water supply for the COB and some residents that live near the lake. Fishing may pick up in early Fall, followed by a decrease in action as waters cool. 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. Baker Lake Weather Forecast, WA - WillyWeather F 1 10:04 pm 29 Nov Relative Humidity 100% Rain Today 0.1in (0in Last Hour) Wind E 16.1mph (23mph Gusts) Dew Point 37.4 F Pressure 999.3 hPa Hottest 88 F Saipan Island, Saipan International Airport, AK Coldest -32.1 F Northway, Northway Airport, AK Windiest 52.9mph Utility bills are for water and sewer services received in the previous two months and are mailed out bi-monthly. title: 'Water Temperature Graph: Lake Washington', 4.1], 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 City of Seattle is in the State of Washington and home to Lake Washington in King County. undefined's current water temperature is undefinedF Todays forecast is, undefined With a high around undefinedF and the low around undefinedF. Find our. 15.8, Major outputs of lake water are Whatcom Creek (77.5% of outflow),[2] City of Bellingham intake (11.3%), evaporation (7.9%) and hatchery (2.5%). Air Temperature 36F High: 47F Low: 36F Wind 5 MPH Gust: 7 mph Bearing: N Water Temperature 36 F Weather Details Average Wind 6 mph Growing concern about the decline in water quality as evidenced by monitoring data collected since the 1960s eventually led to the formation of the Lake Whatcom Management Committee made up of the county executive, the Bellingham mayor and the manager of the Sudden Valley water district (now the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District). Return and drive toward Hwy 9. The following are some of the more important water quality indicators reported in the 2014/2015 Lake Whatcom Monitoring Program Annual Report: I. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "The Dam of the Lake Whatcom Reservoir; Whatcom County, WA", "Lake Whatcom Management Program: 20102014 Work Plan", "Resources - Lake Whatcom Management Program", "Institute for Watershed Studies, Western Washington University", "Lake Whatcom Watershed Annual Build-Out Report", "A City of Bellingham Guide to the Lake Whatcom Watershed", Citizen site on Protection of Lake Whatcom - (not active), Dock at Lake Whatcom, c.1892, U.Wash Digital Collections, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lake_Whatcom&oldid=1115697666, Protected areas of Whatcom County, Washington, Articles needing additional references from October 2012, All articles needing additional references, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles using infobox body of water without alt, Articles using infobox body of water without image bathymetry, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 12 October 2022, at 19:04. If you have the time to spend 1-2 hours there, go for it! Elevation: 274 ft. Center: 48.665125, -122.385318 Open in Google Maps. 11-10-019 Publication and Contact Information This report is available on the Department of Ecology's website at Local governments are working hard to study the lake and make wise decisions about its future. Please note, the tide times given are not suitable for navigational purposes. The more degraded the lake water, however, the more treatment is needed to clean it to levels safe for drinking. 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). Chlorophyll (Chl) concentrations increased in all three basins. You can go a short distance or walk for miles on a very well maintained, flat trail. Lake Whatcom was the transportation route for timber, harvested on the slopes, and floated in "log-booms" towed to the mills at both the south and the north ends of the lake. Today's Details. The committee developed a draft management plan in 1992, outlining goals and policies to guide all future management actions in the watershed. 5. Emergency fishing rule changes; . 18.9, more. Manthey's Country Mobile Home Park, Whatcom County, Washington, United States - The ideal weather forecast for the next 14 days. Turn left for Acme and the Mt Baker Hwy. 6.6], ['December', The lake holds around 250 billion gallons of water which it receives from 36 different tributaries. View larger map. 3: { color: '#FF6347', targetAxisIndex:1, lineWidth: 0 }, The road eventually turns to the right toward Hwy 9. Coordinates: 48.7194, -122.308. "By the same token, we don't control the weather." A few winters ago, soggy conditions led to multiple . This is a good hike for birding. 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. County: Whatcom Acreage: 4755.30 ac. var chart = new google.visualization.LineChart(chart_waterF); Some brown trout. With a high around 47F and the low around 36F. Figure 6. 6.5, . 4, The first claim of private land was reported for $8. Luxurious homes interspersed with summer cottages line much of the shoreline, with more stacked in tiers extending to higher elevations in the watershed. courtesy photo: City of Bellingham. Yellow Perch can be caught year-round. In 1906, the city imposed a stringently enforced ban on swimming in the lake. 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. Water temperature in Puget Sound today is 46.8F. depth (ft) To depth map. Meetings Customers are encouraged to attend meetings and share their views with the Commissioners on the second and last Wednesday of each month. All of these tributaries and the area surrounding them make up the 36,000-acre Lake Whatcom watershed. The views are similar to being in the SW Alaska area! July through September total trihalomethane (TTHM) concentrations in the city of Bellinghams water distribution system from 1991 2016 (Matthews et al., 2017). Large coal mining operations also existed near the lake from the late 19th century through 1919, when the Whatcom Mining Company closed down. 9.6], The rate of oxygen depletion in Basin 1 was again abnormally rapid compared to 1988 through 2014 data, setting up anoxic conditions in May, June and July that were lower than historic minimums (see Figure 2). The Lake Whatcom Reservoir is the drinking water source to over 100,000 Whatcom County residents, which is about half the county's population. Atypical depletion of dissolved oxygen in the cooler bottom (hypolimnetic) water layers of Basins 1, 2 and the northern portion of Basin 3 occurred again during the summer of 2016, but were not as extreme as in 2015 (see Figure 1). The earliest known settlement was a Northwest Coast Salish village at the south end of the lake, occupied by the Saquantch tribe. The coldest in January with an average water temperature of 39F / 3.9C. 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. We decided to make a day trip from Vancouver BC to see what was over in the Whatcom Falls area. Shoreline access: Good ['May', I don't know Bellingham very well, but our fave stops are Cornwall Park (lovely treed park with a small network of walking/biking trails, grassy picnic spots, and a couple of playgrounds) and Fairhaven (Such a cute town!). Air Temperature undefinedF High: undefinedF Low: undefinedF Wind MPH Gust: undefined mph Bearing: undefined How many docks do you count in this photo? 39.2, Lake Whatcom (from the Lummi word for "loud water") is located in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. Drive on the residential streets to continue close to the Lake. 47.1, 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. [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. 15.1, This is a big lake that is popular with the people. Trihalomethanes (THMs), which are known carcinogens created during the disinfection process of water treatment, have decreased overall in tap water to about 0.04 mg/L, down from the high of 0.06 mg/L in 2015 (see Figure 6), and well below the maximum allowable contaminant level of 0.08 mg/L. The warmest water temperature is in August with an average around 52.5F / 11.4C. City Hall210 Lottie StreetBellingham, WA 98225+1 (360) 778-8000info@cob.org. General. Summer is a slight lull though dawn/dusk hours can be very good. The quality of Lake Whatcom water, however, does not and has been listed as an impaired water body under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. Lake Whatcom is located and managed within three political jurisdictions: the city of Bellingham, Whatcom County, and the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District. Sun 8 Jan Mon 9 Jan Tue 10 Jan Wed 11 Jan Thu 12 Jan Fri 13 Jan Sat 14 Jan. 60 F 40 F 20 F. Land use is primarily residential, with a mix of lake protection program properties and some rural forestry. Lake Whatcom drains into Bellingham Bay by way of Whatcom Creek.