Lake Samish Comprehensive Stormwater Planning

Lake Samish Watershed

The Importance of Lake Samish

  • The Lake Samish Basin is an 8,020 acre watershed located in the southwest corner of Whatcom County, Washington.
  • The basin drains to Lake Samish, an 826-acre freshwater lake.
  • Basin is a sub-basin of the Samish River Basin which drains to Samish Bay.
  • Provides many recreational opportunities.
  • The primary drinking water source for 95% of area residents, most drawing directly from the lake. 
Decline In Water Quality
 
  • Monitoring studies revealed a decline in the lake water quality.
  • Contributing factors are:
    • sediment
    • external nutrient loading from development
    • land use practices within the basin.
  • There is no public water treatment and distribution system within the basin.
  • Deteriorating water quality could eventually present a public health and safety issue.
  • The Whatcom County Stormwater Division initiated a stormwater planning effort for the Lake Samish Basin in 2009. 
Lake Samish Basin Comprehensive Stormwater Plan
After a series of public meetings, research, and engineering analysis, the Lake Samish Basin Comprehensive Stormwater Plan was approved and adopted by the Whatcom County Council on March 11, 2014. See Resolution 2014-014 (PDF) for more information.