A new draft plan to clean bacteria out of Whatcom Creek and its freshwater tributaries is available for public comment through the Washington State Department of Ecology.
Whatcom Creek, which is fed by Lake Whatcom and ends in the waters of Bellingham Bay, has high levels of fecal coliform and e. coli bacteria throughout the year. Despite the bacterial levels and health risks, the creek is a popular recreational spot during the warm months of the year.
The creek and four of its tributaries are on the state’s list of impaired water bodies, known as the 303(d) list. Whatcom Creek has been on the impaired list since 1996. Water quality improved significantly in 2004, according to Ecology, but bacterial loads still exceed water quality standards.
As a result, Ecology developed a water quality improvement report to assist in the cleanup process.
The four tributaries that require cleanup are Fever Creek, Lincoln Creek, Hanna Creek and Cemetery Creek.
The public comment period opened March 30 and will be available through April 30, 2023.
