HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2006-053WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 2006-322
CLEARANCES
Initial
Date
Date Received in Council Office
Agenda Date
Assigned to:
Orr naror:
Fleetwood
7/24/2006
7/25/2006
Introduction
Division Head-
�-
8/08/06
Council
Dept. Head:
Prosecutor:
Purchasin /Bud et:
Executive:
TITLE OF DOCUMENT.•
Res. creating a stormwater management plan for Lake Whatcom Watershed.
ATTACHMENTS:
SEPA review required? ( ) Yes ( ) NO
Should Clerk schedule a hearing 7 ( ) Yes ( -( ) NO
SEPA review completed? ( ) Yes ( ) NO
Requested Date:
SUMMARYSTATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: (If this item is an ordinance or requires a public
hearing, you mustprovide the language for use in the requiredpublic notice. Be spec fc and cite RCW or WCC as appropriate.
Be clear in explaining the intent of the action.)
Resolution in support of creating a comprehensive slormwater management plan for the Lake Whatcom Watershed
COMMITTEE ACTION.
COUNCIL ACTION:
7/25/06: Introduced
8/08/06: Council Approved 7 -0
Res. 2006 -053
Related County Contract #:
Related File Numbers:
Ordinance or Resolution
Number: Res. 2006 -053
Please Note: Once adopted and signed, ordinances and resolutions are available for viewing and printing
on the County's website at: www. co. whatcom. wa. us /council.
IASHAREDIRFS12006\S1ormwa1er Resolution 7.24.doe
PROPOSED BY: Fleetwood
SPONSORED BY: Consent
INTRODUCED: July 25, 2006
RESOLUTION NO, 2006 -053
SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE STORMWATER
MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE LAKE WHATCOM WATERSHED
WHEREAS, Lake Whatcom and its associated watersheds are the sole
source of drinking water for 90,000 people; and
WHEREAS, the vast majority of the Lake Whatcom watershed lies
within the jurisdiction of Whatcom County; and
WHEREAS, the official studies to monitor water quality in the lake for
the City of Bellingham by the Institute For Watershed Studies, Western
Washington State University have repeatedly documented the high pollutant
loadings on creeks and storm drains entering the lake from urbanized areas;
and
WHEREAS, those studies have identified significant degradation of
water quality in Lake Whatcom as a result of urbanization and stormwater
runoff; and
WHEREAS, in 1998, pursuant to section 303(d) of the federal Clean
Water Act, Lake Whatcom was listed as an impaired water body for low
dissolved oxygen and it's tributary Silver Beach Creek for fecal coliform; and
WHEREAS, in 2004, pursuant to section 303(d) of the federal Clean
Water Act, Lake Whatcom was additionally listed as an impaired water body
for Dieldrin, PCBs, mercury, and phosphorous; and
WHEREAS, the degradation of Lake Whatcom has led to poorer source
water quality including algae, total organic carbon and iron delivered to the
City of Bellingham's water treatment plant; and
WHEREAS, these changes in water quality have led to an increased
number of particles and regulated disinfection byproducts in the drinking
water; and
WHEREAS, development of a comprehensive stormwater
management plan to catalog existing infrastructure, identify problem areas,
evaluate alternatives, coordinate efforts, prioritize improvements, incorporate
adaptive management, set operational standards, and establish a mechanism
to finance the system is a necessary component of an overall Lake Whatcom
protection strategy and should be given the highest environmental priority
for Whatcom County government; and
WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Executive has recognized the
importance of stormwater management and made protection and
preservation of our drinking water supply a top priority by emphasizing the
need for comprehensive stormwater management in his 2005 State of the
County address; and
WHEREAS, the County Council has adopted Resolution 2006 -028
which recognizes stormwater management as a high priority; memorializes
the County's intention to construct stormwater facilities throughout the Lake
Whatcom watershed; and strongly supports the County Executive's efforts to
secure federal funds for that purpose; and
WHEREAS, the three governments that form the Joint Lake Whatcom
Management Committee, the County, the City of Bellingham, and the Water
District, have all given stormwater management the highest priority; and
WHEREAS, development of a comprehensive stormwater
management plan will prevent the current piecemeal and ineffective
approach to construction of stormwater facilities; and
WHEREAS, it is imperative to develop a comprehensive stormwater
management plan as quickly as possible, due to evidence of the continuing
decline in water quality under current environmental conditions; and
WHEREAS, delaying the implementation of more effective stormwater
treatment will only increase the cost of complying with environmental
regulations that require rehabilitation of the lake and its watershed; and
WHEREAS, retrofitting existing urbanized areas with more effective
stormwater treatment systems has long been recognized as a necessary
component to any effective comprehensive stormwater management plan;
and
WHEREAS, the Washington State Department of Ecology is currently
establishing a Total Maximum Daily Loading standard for phosphorous to deal
with the impairments; and
WHEREAS, the County's stormwater discharge permit for Lake
Whatcom is scheduled to be issued before the TMDL standard is established
and therefore the TMDL requirements will not be address_ ed until a new
stormwater permit is issued in 2012; and
WHEREAS, the stormwater permit may be reconsidered and modified
if requested by Whatcom County; and
WHEREAS, it is the consensus of the building industry, the regulatory
agencies, County and City governments, and environmental groups that
comprehensive stormwater management is essential and the highest priority;
and
WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of the County to protect public
health by protecting water quality in the lake by regulating and treating
stormwater to counteract the effects of urbanization; and
WHEREAS, the County currently has no Comprehensive Stormwater
Management Plan for the Lake Whatcom watershed.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Whatcom County
Council that the County executive is hereby requested to develop a
Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan for the Lake Whatcom
watershed.
1. The Plan shall include all of the required elements in the
Phase 11 stormwater permit as outlined in the Federal
Register.
2. The Plan shall comply with the stormwater policies and
standards of the 2000 Puget Sound Water Quality
Management Plan.
3. The Plan shall address all existing developed areas on public
and private land under County jurisdiction.
4. The Plan shall include:
a) an assets inventory to identify the current stormwater
collection and treatment facilities, their characteristics
and capacities of on both public and private land,
b) an operation and maintenance plan with standards to
ensure facilities are maintained once they are
constructed,
c) a prioritized 20 year capital improvement plan so that
costs are identified and improvements are made based
upon the greatest benefit to water quality, and
d) a proposal for financing the Plan, including a proposed
first year budget for Council approval.
5. The Plan shall be completed and submitted to the County
Council for adoption by December 1, 2007.
6. The County Executive is also requested to work closely with
the Washington State Department of Ecology in the
development and implementation of the TMDL standard and
incorporate its conclusions and recommendations into the
Plan, or its updates, as that information becomes available.
7. The Executive shall request that Ecology reopen the
stormwater permit when the TMDL is filed so that the permit
can incorporate the latest information to protect the lake.
i
r �rl
day of August , 2006,
D* Brovr'i -Wvi5, Cie of the Council
T APPROV AS TO FORM:
Civil Deputy rosec for
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
t.G� -fl
Laurie Caskey - Schreiber, Council Chair