HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources September 11 20121
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Natural Resources Committee
September 11, 2012
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Carl Weimer called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
(9:37:46 AM)
Present: Carl Weimer, Bill Knutzen and Sam Crawford.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Kathy Kershner, Barbara Brenner and Pete Kremen.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
1. PRESENTATION OF THE LOWER NOOKSACK WATER BUDGET STUDY BY
PETER GILL, WHATCOM COUNTY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES,
AND DR. BANDARAGODA, OUTSIDE CONSULTANT (AB2012 -278)
file).
Peter Gill, Planning and Development Services Department, submitted handouts (on
(Clerk's Note: Discussion continued after Other Business.)
OTHER BUSINESS
Jack Louws, County Executive, introduced exchange students from Germany who are
visiting the County today.
Weimer described the structure of the local County government.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
1. PRESENTATION OF THE LOWER NOOKSACK WATER BUDGET STUDY BY
PETER GILL, WHATCOM COUNTY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES,
AND DR. BANDARAGODA, OUTSIDE CONSULTANT (AB2012 -278)
(Clerk's Note: Discussion continued from earlier in the meeting.)
Peter Gill, Planning and Development Services Department, continued his
presentation and described the features if the Lower Nooksack Sub - Basin. He read from the
handouts.
Christina Bandaragoda, continued the presentation regarding the water budget.
Kremen asked and there was discussion of whether the 2.5 percent of stream flow
coming from the lower drainages in July is the low point, and whether that information is
consistent with past data from other sources.
Natural Resources Committee, 9/11/2012, Page 1
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Kershner asked and there was discussion of the black box data and not accounting
for public water systems.
Weimer asked and there was discussion of how accurate is the use data in the
model.
Kremen asked and there was discussion of whether they looked at significant trends,
in terms of the amount of water and flow over a certain period of time.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of defining a quantifiable amount of water
that is necessary for sustaining agriculture in Whatcom County and considering the reuse of
wastewater for irrigation.
Brenner asked and there was discussion of:
• Whether well and septic owners would be judged differently.
• Whether surface water and ground water that stay in the same aquifer would
not result in a net loss.
• Whether they measure evaporation.
Gill concluded the presentation on usability and accessibility of the data.
Weimer asked and there was discussion of whether the staff used any of the
information from the Utah State University model.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of whether there is potential to work with
municipalities along the river to store treated water.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE CITY OF
BELLINGHAM TO COMPLETE A COMPREHENSIVE INVENTORY OF AQUATIC
INVASIVE SPECIES IN LAKE WHATCOM (AB2012 -279)
Laurel Baldwin, Noxious Weed Board Coordinator, gave a staff report and stated
they've identified grant funds to inventory plant and animal invasive species that are in the
lake.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of hiring an outside contractor versus
working with staff and County equipment.
Crawford asked and there was discussion of creating a licensing program for
implementation in 2013.
Jon Hutchings, Public Works Department, answered questions.
Kershner asked if the inspection program includes only boats, or also includes boat
trailers.
Baldwin submitted a handout on the results of this summer's inspection (on file).
Weimer moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Natural Resources Committee, 9/11/2012, Page 2
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The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Weimer, Knutzen and Crawford (3)
Nays: None (0)
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION ON TOPICS RELATED TO LOT SIZES AND THE PROPOSED
WHATCOM COUNTY CODE 20.51, LAKE WHATCOM WATERSHED OVERLAY
DISTRICT (AB2012 -117A) (10 :23:54 AM)
Cathy Craver, Planning and Development Services Department, gave a staff report
and stated she would like direction on the next steps in looking at the overlay district. She
described the work that has been done to date.
Crawford asked and there was discussion of 44 percent of parcels that are existing
lots that have not been built on and are under 10,000 square feet.
Craver stated the Council can choose one of three options, which are described in the
Council packet beginning on Council packet page ten.
Weimer asked and there was discussion of whether option two allows more
phosphorus and whether staff worked with the Department of Ecology about the timeline
and the proposal.
Crawford asked and there was discussion of:
• How a threshold of 10,000 square feet was chosen.
• Whether they should set a smaller threshold.
• The timelines of the three options.
• Staff's preferred option.
Weimer stated that if they move forward with option two, they must decide where
the additional 25 percent of phosphorus will go rather than into the lake.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of the cost of phosphorus reduction efforts.
They must treat developed lots, not just restrict undeveloped lots.
Brenner asked and there was discussion of:
• Whether the national pollution discharge elimination system (NPDES) permit
requires low impact development.
• Considering water circulators in the lake.
• Involving the water and sewer district.
• Retrofitting the main roads with much better engineered solutions for runoff.
The following people spoke and answered questions:
• Jon Hutchings, Public Works Department
• Steve Hood, Department of Ecology, submitted a handout (on file).
• Linda Twitchell, Building Industry Association of Whatcom County, stated
consider and discuss the work done by the Planning Commission.
Kershner stated and there was discussion of moving forward with or without a
Planning Commission recommendation.
Natural Resources Committee, 9/11/2012, Page 3
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Kremen stated and there was discussion of focusing on certain practices rather than
development standards.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of purchasing fertilizer with phosphorus.
Weimer asked and there was discussion of how patient the Department of Ecology
(DOE) will be as the County works on this item and if the County would have to contract
with the DOE to offset increased phosphorus if the County goes forward with option two.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of whether the water quality offset
regulations (on file) were available to the Planning Commission.
Crawford moved to recommend option two to the full Council.
Weimer stated he supports option two if they also address the offsets.
Kremen stated and there was discussion of whether it's fair and right to make
undeveloped lot owners pay to offset the pollutants when the problem with Lake Whatcom
comes from phosphorus loading from existing development. He supports option two.
Weimer stated a majority of the councilmembers present seem to support option
two.
Knutzen stated and there was discussion of discussing it with the Planning
Commission at the next Planning and Development Committee.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Weimer and Crawford (2)
Nays: Knutzen (1)
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 11:05 a.m.
ATTEST:
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council@�.omhatcomma.us
Natural Resources Committee, 9/11/2012, Page 4