Bellingham OKs two more Lake Whatcom land purchases to protect city’s water
Bellingham is continuing to buy tracts of land around Lake Whatcom, part of the city’s effort to protect its drinking water source, which is surrounded by homes, from further development.
City Council members unanimously approved two purchase agreements totaling nearly 150 acres at their June 23 meeting:
▪ A 60-acre site for $730,000 that’s part of the North Beaver Creek Preserve — from James and Mary Jansky of Bellingham.
North Beaver Creek Preserve is along Lake Louise Road, across from the beaver pond at Stimpson Family Nature Reserve. The Jansky property is on the hillside south of the park, Connor Harron of the Bellingham Public Works Department told The Herald.
“The acquisition includes three densely forested parcels, primarily made up of Douglas fir and cedar. The terrain features interesting topography, with several unnamed streams running through the property, adding to its ecological value and natural character,” Harron said in an email.
Purchase of that site prevents three homes from being built, he said.
▪ Skykomish Resources forest land at the south end of Lake Whatcom, on the hillside above South Bay Drive between where Fir Creek and Brannian Creek cross the road. The size of the tract is 88.8 acres with a price of about $1.07 million, including a designated forest land compensating tax.
“Whenever you turn on your tap, at your home, it’s going to come out clean water. And that’s because of the work that we are trying to do here,” Councilman Dan Hammill said after the June 23 vote.
Bellingham began buying land in the Lake Whatcom watershed in 2001, using money from fees charged to water customers.
Lake Whatcom is the source of drinking water from more than 100,000 Bellingham-area residents.
Through December, the city has purchased more than 2,800 acres in the watershed and protected an additional 164 acres of land through conservation easements or restrictive covenants, according to the city’s website.
About 1,000 more acres have been purchased so far this year.
This story was originally published July 5, 2025 at 12:28 PM.
