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Birch Bay Watershed & Aquatic Resources Management District
July 2022
Monthly Newsletter with Birch Bay Watershed Updates
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Photo by Alexi Guddal from the Day at the Beach event
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Want to see your Birch Bay photo in the newsletter? Submit your photos here.
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Using a soil or weather-based irrigation controller means your lawn and gardens get water when they need it. As the weather becomes dryer, save water and money by using an irrigation controller for your lawn needs. The Whatcom Water Alliance offers $75 rebates to anyone purchasing WaterSense Irrigation Controllers in Whatcom County outside of Bellingham City Limits. Learn more on the Whatcom Water Alliance website.
Watering deeply every other day will save our water and save you money. Check with your local water provider for voluntary or required water use restrictions.
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Learn Sound Horsekeeping Practices from Local Experts
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Join Whatcom CD for a Farm Speaker Series event at Northwest Therapeutic Riding Center! You will be able to learn from Julia & Mike Bozzo about Sound Horsekeeping practices on their farm. Topics will include stall and manure management, heavy use areas, and single bay composting. RSVP online or by calling (360) 526-2381 ext. 105.
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Thank You to Our Maintenance & Operations Crew!
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Clearing large driftwood logs off outfall pipes is just one of the many tasks that our maintenance and operations (M&O) crews perform in Birch Bay. We are so grateful for their swift response to community requests and concerns. If you see something that needs addressing, you can use this form to let Whatcom County Public Works know about a problem or ask us a question.
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It was a Great "Day at the Beach"!
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 With a -1.77 foot tide there was a whole lot of fun to be had at the June 12th “Day at the Beach” with BBWARM, Whatcom CD, Birch Bay State Park, Garden of the Salish Sea Curriculum, The Friends of Birch Bay State Park, and Whatcom County Libraries! Over 55 people stopped by our booths at Birch Bay State Park to practice their wildlife ID, learn about the stewardship of Birch Bay, pick up a scavenger hunt, play a game, grab some refreshments, or participate in a naturalist-led walk along the beach.
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On the 5th of July, many volunteers came out to Birch Bay to clean up fireworks debris. At least 56 people stopped by our booths to get cleanup supplies, and we saw many more people out on the beach with their own materials. Along with the debris cleanup, at least 12 smoldering beach fires were extinguished. Thank you for all your help!
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Join our Team - We’re Hiring!
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 Whatcom County Public Works is hiring a part-time Stormwater Outreach Program Technician to provide assistance with Stormwater Division programs, including the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, the Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resources Management (BBWARM) district, and the Lake Whatcom Stormwater Utility (LWSU). This position will support stormwater education and outreach programs, maintain and update web content, assist with fieldwork and perform other tasks to support the program as needed. View the open position on our website.
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How's the Water Quality in Birch Bay?
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In June, 20 of the 26 sites that were sampled in Birch Bay met the water quality health standards for fecal coliform bacteria.
Visit the Whatcom County Public Works’ Routine Water Quality Results page for links to online maps and status reports for focus areas throughout Whatcom County.
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Quarterly Advisory Committee Meeting
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This month's BBWARM Advisory Committee meeting is an all-day retreat for committee members and county staff. Public are welcome to listen via Zoom, however, this is an internal meeting for the AC and public comments will not be taken. It is scheduled for July 20 from 10am – 3pm at the BP Heron Center. We will discuss BBWARM history, AC member roles & responsibilities, opportunities for increased involvement and any other topics of interest. The retreat will also entail a field trip to visit some of our past, current and future stormwater capital improvement project sites in the afternoon. The agenda, meeting packet and Zoom link will be posted to the BBWARM website.
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Other BBWARM News and Resources:
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Please share this newsletter with your neighbors!
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What is BBWARM?
The Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resources Management (BBWARM) District is the stormwater management district for the Birch Bay watershed managed by the Whatcom County Public Works Stormwater Division and a citizen advisory committee. BBWARM was established by the Whatcom County Council to address citizen concerns about water quality, flooding, and the loss of aquatic habitat. Visit our website to learn about BBWARM programs, history, and funding.
www.bbwarm.whatcomcounty.org
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