Here’s what we know about the land Bellingham is buying on Lake Whatcom
Land that Bellingham is buying on the north shore of Lake Whatcom is part of a long-standing city desire to preserve forests in the watershed, city officials said after the $1.8 million deal was disclosed at the end of a City Council meeting late Monday, Sept. 14.
City Council President Gene Knutson announced the 125-acre purchase agreement with Chris and Nancy Secrist of Bellingham and the Oeser Co., which he said was discussed in a closed session Monday afternoon.
Lake Whatcom is the source of drinking water for 100,000 people.
Councilman Michael Lilliquist told The Bellingham Herald that it’s “a valuable purchase” with a creek and wetlands, and adjacent to other city-owned tracts of land.
“This is part of a decades-long effort to protect clean water in our source of drinking water,” Lilliquist said in an email.
City Council members approved the deal unanimously Monday night.
It closes “on or about” Oct. 30, Knutson said.
Rene LaCroix, assistant public works director, said the Squalicum Valley site above Agate Bay encompasses six parcels and removes nine “development units” from the watershed.
“It is adjacent to other city-owned property and has stands of mature trees,” LaCroix told The Herald in an e-mail.
“The property also has wetlands and continues a succession of properties north from Agate Bay preserve, including Agate Creek preserve and Agate Pond preserve,” she said.
LaCroix said the deal is funded through the city’s Watershed Acquisition Program.
Since 2001, the city has bought some 2,229 acres at a cost of $33.7 million and protected an additional 164 acres of land., she said.
Oeser makes wooden utility poles from Douglas fir and Western red cedar, according to its website.
The Secrists are listed as governors of the company’s board of directors, according to the online database Open Corporates.
