September-2021
by Joe Meche Marbled godwitphoto: Joe Meche In the midst of downtime due to the expected dog days of birding in August, there was ample time to reflect on and deal with a multitude of other details. It’s not surprising when you consider the current chaos of Covid-19 [Read More...]
Compiled by Bill McCallum Action Taken at June 3, 2021 Meeting The meeting scheduled for Monday, June 1 was cancelled. It was rescheduled for Thursday, June 3. Shall the commission 69. Authorize the executive director to sign a one-year extension of the contract with Puget Sound Executive Services of Sequim [Read More...]
Compiled by Barry MacHale Action Taken at June 29, 2021 Meeting Shall the council: 149. Authorize the executive to sign a $106,250 contract (amendment #1) with DH of Spokane to continue funding the Covid-19 campaign to educate young adults? At the 2/23/2021 meeting, vote #58, the council passed the original [Read More...]
Action Taken at July 12, 2021 Meeting Report and Update: As of 7/12/21, Whatcom County has reached a 70 percent vaccination rate. HS 1510 passed the state Legislature this year and will be effective July 25, 2021, which reduces police use-of force-options. The mayor's office and team are working on [Read More...]
The Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Chair leaves behind a legacy of salmon and treaty protection Lummi Nation joins the Swinomish Tribe in honoring the late Lorraine Loomis, the Northwest Indian Fisheries Chair, a treaty rights protector and salmon defender. The following statement from Lawrence Solomon, Chairman of the Lummi Nation, [Read More...]
Lorraine Loomis, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission chairperson and Swinomish fisheries manager, passed away August 10 at the age of 81. Loomis became fisheries manager for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community after the 1974 Boldt decision that reaffirmed tribes’ treaty-protected fishing rights. She began working in fish processing in 1970, and [Read More...]
Lorraine Loomis USEPA Photo by Eric Vance. Public domain image by Lorraine Loomis When we talk about how to recover salmon — the math should be simple. The protection of existing habitat plus restoration of degraded habitat should equal a net gain in ecosystem function, leading to more [Read More...]
by Faith Owens European green crabs have been found in Squalicum Harbor, Lummi Bay Sea Pond, Drayton Harbor and Chuckanut Bay.photo: Faith Owens The invasive species was found in a Squalicum Harbor trap. It’s not news that European green crabs have been residing in Whatcom County for at [Read More...]
Three docks are located within the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve. In the foreground is the dock built in 1971 by the Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO). The middle ground dock was constructed in 1966 by Intalco Aluminum Corp., and in the background is the dock constructed in 1954 by Mobil [Read More...]
Editor’s Note: There are over 100 organizations in Whatcom County working to provide supportive ser- vices to those experiencing chronic poverty and its associated effects: ad- diction, homelessness, incarceration, mental illness, and unemployment. Whatcom Watch believes these orga- nizations often labor unnoticed by citizens — this column is designed to [Read More...]