Bellingham shores up protection of Lake Whatcom watershed with purchase, easement revision
More than 100 acres of land in the Lake Whatcom watershed is getting greater protection under an expanded non-development agreement and purchase of property near the lake, which provides drinking water for about 100,000 people.
Bellingham City Council members unanimously approved a pair of deals during their meeting Monday.
In the first action, the city combined two existing conservation easements that affect several tracts of land owned by Patricia Otto at 3695 Agate Bay Lane.
“The new easement replaces two previous ones at the site, carrying all the same protections while also removing any further potential for development. The Otto easement will be a partnership between Whatcom Land Trust and the city of Bellingham, with Whatcom Land Trust providing monitoring to ensure easement compliance. There will be no cost for this new easement,” Public Works Department spokeswoman Stefanie Cilinceon told The Bellingham Herald in an email.
“The Otto easement is part of the Agate Pond Preserve, encompassing a portion of the headwaters of Agate Creek, 100 acres of mature second growth forest, and 5 acres of forested wetlands. The unique and complex habitat features of the preserve are critical to water quality and habitat protection,” Cilinceon said.
Consolidation of easements removes five development units from the watershed. One house on the property will be allowed to remain and rebuilt if needed, according to the agreement, which is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.
In the second sale, Hien N Dang and Thanh-tan Le and Mehdi Shafa sold their undeveloped 1.9-acre property on the corner of Toad Lake Road and Academy Road to the city for $225,000. That purchase removes a single development unit, with a closing date of Dec. 20.
Both transactions are part of the Lake Whatcom Watershed Land Acquisition and Preservation Program, which has protected 2,815 acres of land around the lake since 2001.
Bellingham residents fund the program through assessments on their water and sewer bills.
