Whatcom Water Week
Early Events
Sharing Our Water
September Free First Friday
September 4, 10:00am-9:00pm
Whatcom Museum, Bellingham
Sharing Our Water – a festival of art, voices, and community. Join the Whatcom Museum, with the Salish Current, and League of Women Voters for a day of art, music, and honest conversation about protecting the water we all share.
Location: Whatcom Museum, 250 Flora Street, Bellingham
Event Organizer: Whatcom Museum
Civil Discussion: Should Washington Rivers Have Rights?
September 10, 4:00pm-5:30pm
Bellingham Public Library, Bellingham
Should Washington rivers have rights? Join us for an interactive deliberation on granting legal rights to rivers. We’ll explore an ongoing case related to the Snohomish River and consider how cases like it could impact environmental and governance decisions in Washington. Program provided by Michael Bowman, Rural Civic Engagement Specialist, Office of Washington Secretary of State.
Pizza will provided for participants. Registration is helpful for placing our food order, but is not required. Please come! Register Here
Location: Bellingham Public Library, Central Branch, Lecture Room (lower level), 210 Central Ave., Bellingham
Event Organizer: Bellingham Public Library
Whatcom Water Week Events
Run with the Chums
September 12, 8:30am
BP Highlands, Blaine
Join your community in celebrating healthy water, healthy habitat, and healthy people during the 14th annual Run with the Chums 5K Fun Run! This free event welcomes people of all ages and speeds. The 5K course has beautiful views of Whatcom County shoreline and beaches. Children 10 and under can enjoy the Smolt Sprint obstacle course.
Location: BP Highlands, 6898 Point Whitehorn Road, Blaine
Event Organizer: Whatcom Conservation District
StoryWalk at Taylor Dock
September 12 - 20, All Day
Taylor Dock, Bellingham
Step into the poetic world of Hello, Ocean! by Corinna Luyken at our StoryWalk®! Stroll along Taylor Dock and discover the amazing treasures that can be found in the ocean and how we can protect them.
Location: Taylor Dock, Fairhaven
Event Organizer: City of Bellingham Public Works
StoryWalk at Little Squalicum Pier
September 12 - 20, All Day
Little Squalicum Pier, Bellingham
Dive into the wonders of the Salish Sea with a StoryWalk®!
Walk along Little Squalicum Pier and read 1, 2, 3 Salish Sea by Nikki McClure. Learn about the amazing animals that live in our ocean and why we need to protect them.
Location: Little Squalicum Pier, Bellingham
Event Organizer: City of Bellingham Public Works
Kids Water Week Science & Story Time
September 14, 10:00-11:00am
Marine Life Center, Bellingham
Join the Marine Life Center Staff as we explore some hands on science and storytelling about water in our lives. Best suited for budding scientist 2-5 years old and their guardian(s) come prepared to be messy.
Location: Marine Life Center, 1801 Roeder Avenue, Port of Bellingham
Event Organizer: Marine Life Center
Tour of Bellingham's Water Treatment Plant
September 15, 10:00-11:00am & 5:30-6:30pm
Bellingham
Celebrate clean water! Join us for a tour of the City of Bellingham's drinking water treatment plant on Tuesday, September 15 from 10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. or from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Learn about where the City's drinking water comes from, how the water is filtered and sanitized for drinking, and challenges the drinking water treatment plant operators face in treating drinking water due to human impacts in the Lake Whatcom Watershed. Tour will include Q & A with plant operators and laboratory staff.
Registration is required due to space restrictions. Register by email: haroger@cob.org
Location: Whatcom Falls Park
Event Organizer: City of Bellingham Public Works
Birch Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour
September 15, 1:00pm (approximately 1-hour tour)
Blaine
Learn how Birch Bay's wastewater is treated and cleaned before being discharged to the Strait of Georgia. Tours take place outside and in an industrial setting; all visitors must dress appropriately and wear closed-toed shoes. Tours are approximately 1 hour long. Please register by emailing: mikekim@bbwsd.com
Location: Blaine
Event Organizer: Birch Bay Water & Sewer District
Stream to Sea: An Interactive Walk Connecting Our Home to Salmon and Orcas
September 15, 5:00pm-6:00pm
Bellingham
Do you want to learn more about our local orcas and salmon? Join the Whatcom Marine Resources Committee and the Whatcom Conservation District for an interactive walk along Squalicum Creek and the Little Squalicum Pier. You will be able to learn more about these amazing species that share our waters, the challenges they face, how we are all connected, and some tips for seeing them in the wild! All ages are welcome. Please register by emailing: wmrc@co.whatcom.wa.us
Location: Little Squalicum Estuary. Meet at the parking lot at 640 Marine Drive in Bellingham at 5:0opm.
Event Organizer: Whatcom Marine Resources Committee
Tour of Bellingham's Post Point Wastewater Treatment Plant
September 16, 10:00-11:30am & 6:00-7:30pm
Bellingham
Wastewater is the used water from our homes, schools, and businesses — everything from flushing toilets to washing dishes, clothes, ourselves, and even fruits and veggies. Every day, about 12 million gallons of this soapy, dirty water flows through Bellingham’s sewer system. That’s a lot of dirty water to clean! Join us for a tour of the City of Bellingham's Post Point Wastewater Treatment plant on Wednesday, September 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to learn how bugs eat our poop and wastewater is cleaned before returning to Bellingham Bay. Tour will include Q & A with plant operators and laboratory staff.
Registration is required due to space restrictions. Register by email: haroger@cob.org
Location: Fairhaven
Event Organizer: City of Bellingham Public Works
Clayton Beach Stewardship
September 17, 9:00am -12:00pm
Bellingham
Join us for a day of stewardship at Clayton Beach! We will begin the day with a short site visit and discussions of the Clayton Beach restoration project's past, present, and future - and continue with vegetation management on the backshore to prepare for a late fall planting event. For more information and to sign up for this event please visit the link here: https://salishseaalliance.salsalabs.org/claytonwaterweek26
Location: Clayton Beach, Lost Lake Parking Lot
Event Organizer: Salish Sea Alliance
Water Week Read Aloud
September 17, 10:30am -11:30am
Bellingham
For children ages 3 – 8. Celebrate Water Week with a read aloud of the StoryWalk® along Taylor Dock! This special collaboration with Public Works will feature a story, songs, and end with nature inspired crafts.
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10:30 to 11:30 at Taylor Dock
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Meet at the play structure at Boulevard Park
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Librarian-led read-aloud of Hello, Ocean!
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We will have some fun nature-based crafts after the story!
Location: Taylor Dock, Boulevard Park
Event Organizer: City of Bellingham Public Works
Lightcatcher Building Green Roof Tour
September 17, 1:00pm
Bellingham
Join an educator to learn how the museum recycles water using innovative green roof technology. On this tour of our LEED certified building, you’ll see how rainwater is collected on the green roof, stored in cisterns, and eventually transported to the toilets to help make each flush greener.
Location: Whatcom Museum, 250 Flora Street, Bellingham
Event Organizer: Whatcom Museum
Exhibition Explorers: Totally Tubular Water Play
September 17, 2:00-4:00pm
Bellingham
Twist and curve bendy tubes to create your own water obstacle course and beat the heat in the courtyard. When you’re finished experimenting, visit the current exhibition, Luminous Glow, to learn how Seattle artist Kelsey Fernkopf bends glass tubes to create glowing neon installations.
Location: Lightcatcher Building, 250 Flora Street, Bellingham
Event Organizer: Whatcom Museum
Water Week Trivia
September 17, 7:00-9:00pm
Bellingham
This week’s trivia is Water Week themed! Water Week is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about water issues, promoting conservation, and advocating for sustainable water policies. Get ready for the best trivia in town! Only a $2 buy in and teams of up to four compete to take home the loot 🍻 Check our socials each Thursday afternoon for a category clue for that nights trivia!
Family friendly // pet friendly // outside food friendly.
Location: Stones Throw Brewery, Fairhaven
Event Organizer: Stones Throw Brewery
Wild Things: Toddler Family Nature Walk at Whatcom Falls Park
September 18, 9:30am-11:00am
Bellingham
Designed for young children and their adults, Wild Things is a placed-based community program that visits different local parks each month to see what nature has to offer. We meet year round rain or shine. Outings involve opportunities to explore nature in a hands-on way while moving at a toddlers pace, and concludes with snack and story time, when we find the perfect snack log and read several nature-themed stories. Our walks at Whatcom Falls allow great viewing of Derby Pond, and the numerous ducks, geese and other wildlife who call the water and park home. Learn More or Register
Location: Whatcom Falls Park, 1401 Electric Ave., Bellingham
Event Organizer: Wild Whatcom
Wonder Walks: Accessible Nature Walk for Adults
September 18, 11:30am-1:00pm
Bellingham
If you're curious about local flora and fauna and like to move slowly and intentionally as you go, this program is for you! Join us every Friday afternoon to explore the natural history of local parks on meandering walks meant to engage your senses and deepen your sense of place. This program takes place at various parks around Whatcom County on low barrier, low incline trails. Trail surfaces include gravel, pavement, and packed dirt, and are accessible to those who use wheelchairs and/or canes. In addition to moving slowly, we will stop frequently along the way to take breaks and make natural observations, so all ability levels are welcome! Bring your sense of wonder and dress for the weather, walks will happen rain or shine!
Location: Whatcom Falls Park, 1401 Electric Ave., Bellingham
Event Organizer: Wild Whatcom
Salmon Seeker's Guide to Whatcom County
September 18, 12pm-1pm
Bellingham or Online
You can see salmon all over the PNW, from Seattle’s Pike Place Market to local artwork and murals, but unless you know where and when to look you may never see them out in the wild! So…where are they?
Pack your lunch and join us in person or online! In this free lunch & learn session, we will showcase some publicly available online resources, including data from NSEA’s Salmon Spotters community science project, that you can use to better understand where and when you can see salmon in Whatcom County
Location: Bellingham or Online
Event Organizer: Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA)
Bellingham Dockside Market
September 19, 10am-2pm
Squalicum Harbor - Bellingham
Water is essential to fisheries! All are welcome to come to Bellingham Dockside Market during Whatcom Water Week on September 19th. We are a pop-up fishermen's market open year-round on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month from 10am-2pm in Squalicum Harbor. Come buy seafood directly from local fishing families and celebrate with us!
Location: Squalicum Harbor, Gate 5
Event Organizer: Port of Bellingham- Bellingham Dockside Market
Forest Water Scavenger Hunt
September 19, 11am-3pm
Stimpson Family Nature Reserve - Bellingham
Join Whatcom Land Trust for a self-guided scavenger hunt at Stimpson Family Nature Reserve and discover how forests help keep our water clean, cool, and flowing. Pick up a family-friendly activity booklet at the trailhead, then explore the trail as you search for mossy logs, trickling streams, and other natural features that show how forests filter and store water. Kids can draw, check off clues, and earn a Water Wise take-home memento -- plus snap a photo at our fun forest-themed face-in-hole board! More Information Located Here
Location: Stimpson Family Reserve, 2076 Lake Louise Road, Bellingham
Event Organizer: Whatcom Land Trust
Beach Cleanup for International Coastal Cleanup Day
September 19, 11am-1pm
Gulf Road Beach - Ferndale
Join RE Sources for one of our beach cleanups to help keep waterways clean!
Supplies provided. Please wear appropriate footwear for uneven terrain, and dress for the weather. Thank you for helping protect our oceans.
Beach Cleanup for the annual International Coastal Cleanup Sunday, September 21st from 11:00am to 1:00pm Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve: 4601 Gulf Road, Ferndale
RSVP: https://www.re-sources.org/event/beach-cleanup-icc-2025/
Location: Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve.
Event Organizer: Re Sources
We Scoop Photo Contest
Month of September
The annual We Scoop Photo Contest is here! Dog poop left on the ground washes into our waterways, causing pollution. Be your dog's personal pup-arrazi and they could be featured in our future scooping ads! Enter by submitting the best pic of your pup and taking the pledge online. Winners will be featured in future ads and receive a scooping prize pack! Learn more at www.whatcomcounty.us/scooppoop
Event Organizer: Whatcom County Public Works and City of Bellingham