Whatcom Water Week Events
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We Scoop Photo Contest and Prize Drawing
September 10-18
Week-Long Event
Submit your best photo of your dog and/or enter to win super handy scooping prizes! During the whole month of September, dog owners are invited to take or renew their pledge to "scoop every poop and put it in the trash!" Pledgers are automatically entered in the We Scoop Prize Drawing to win their choice of a Scooping at Home Prize Pack (includes a long-handled scooper and light-up collar) or a Scooping on Walks Prize Pack (includes a pack out waist pack, 20 rolls of bags, and a light-up collar).
Do you think you're dog's a cutie? Submit your best picture in our contest. Your dog may star in future We Scoop flyers, posters and ads. There will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards and prizes given for Judge's Choice and People's Choice.
Information at cob.org/scooppoop
Self-Guided Lake Whatcom Tour
September 10-18
Week-Long Event
Location: Rufus Creek Trail
Take a self-guided Lake Whatcom tour on the Rufus Creek Trail in the Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve. Learn more about Lake Whatcom history, facts, and stewardship opportunities along this 1.5 mile (one-way) hike. Directions to this Whatcom County park.
Plastic Matters Community Event
September 10-16
Week-Long Event
WWIN and Bellingham SeaFeast challenge you to Keep Whatcom Clean! Join us in participating in a weeklong plastic litter pick up COMPETITION, from September 10-16th, as part of Whatcom Water Week. Plastics will be dropped off on Friday, September 16 and then winners will be announced the next day at Bellingham Seafeast, where the recycled plastics will be on display in SeaCycle sculptures made by local artisans. Individuals, neighborhood groups, recreational groups, clubs, schools or any other group can get together and pick up plastic around Whatcom County for a chance at prizes! To sign up, volunteer, or for more information go to www.bit.ly/plasticmatters
Habitat Photos Monitoring and Prize Drawing
September 10-18
Week-Long Event
Locations: Padden and Squalicum Creeks
Help the City of Bellingham monitor how two of its habitat restoration sites are maturing over time through our Habitat Photo project! Your photos help us document the progress of restoration projects on Padden Creek and Squalicum Creek, which were constructed in 2015 to improve water quality and fish passage. During Whatcom Water Week, we will have additional educational signs at the sites and a prize drawing for a $50 gift card to a local native plant nursery that you can enter when you submit photos. Everyone can enter the prize drawing twice during the week - once at each site. Learn how to participate in the project at www.cob.org/water-week-photos.
Water Savings Pledge and Prize Drawing
September 10-18
Week-Long Event
You're invited to Save our Water, Save your Money with the Whatcom Water Alliance! Take your pledge to reduce your household water use to be entered into a drawing for 1 of 5 water saving prizes. Changes in our everyday actions can significantly reduce our personal water consumption, Whatcom Water Alliance has put together the complied the evidence-based behaviors or actions that will see your water bills drop and our shared water resources grow. Join us by sharing what you already do to conserve water, and take the next step by pledging future actions. Prize options: Water Hose Timer • Lawn Rain Gauge • Shower Timer • Soil Moisture Meter • Low Flow Shower Head More information and how to pledge at: https://www.whatcomwateralliance.org/news-events
Watersafe Challenge
September 10-18
Week-Long Event
Location: Lummi Island
Join Lummi Island Heritage Trust and Water Watchers in the Watersafe Challenge! This event is designed to help islanders protect Lummi Island's precious water supply. To make sure sure we have adequate drinking water in the future, we need to take measures now - and we mean actual measures. We need data, and that is what the Watersafe Challenge is all about. Join Water Watchers Isaac Colgan and Mike Skehan with guest Sheryl Howe Hydrogeologist at the WA State Dept. of Health, to learn how Lummi Islanders can measure and test their private wells during Whatcom Water Week. Training for this event begins with a 5:30pm August 22 Zoom meeting. More information www.liht.org/watersafe
Bellingham Stormwater Discovery Tours
September 10-18
Week-Long Event
Location: 5 Bellingham Locations
Discover where all that rainwater goes on Bellingham's Stormwater Discovery Tours. Explore our urban and parkland areas while learning how we work hard to keep the water clean, filter out pollutants, and prevent flooding. These tours are self-guided. Visit https://stormwater.cob.org for tour details or look for QR codes near stormwater facilities in Fairhaven, Bloedel Donovan Park, Barkley Trails, Squalicum Creek Park, and Downtown Bellingham.
Stormwater Pop-Up Event
Multiple Days and Times
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Enjoy some time outdoors and stop by the Whatcom County Public Works Stormwater Division booth to learn about simple ways you can prevent water pollution.
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September 10, 9:00-11:00am Run with the Chums Event
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September 13, 3:00-6:00pm Birch Bay Berm Trail
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September 15, 3:00-6:00pm Lake Whatcom Park
As we enter the rainy season, it's even more important to be mindful of pollution sources, such as pet waste, car wash water, and other household hazardous waste that can wash into our local water bodies. We'll be ready to provide you with information and free tools to help you be part of the solution to clean water in Whatcom County.
Run with the Chums
September 10
9:30am
Location: BP Highlands Birch Bay
10th Annual Run with the Chums! This Whatcom Conservation District sponsored free family-friendly event includes 5k run/walk and a Smolt Sprint for youth participants. There will be two 5k start times to spread out participants. The kids' Smolt Sprint will start 15 minutes before each 5k start time. This is a fun, non-competitive event designed for everyone! Festivities before and after the race include watershed information exhibits, kids' activities, refreshments, and water conservation prizes. Registration is free and the first 300 participants receive an event t-shirt. More information
Family Field Day at Birch Bay State Park
September 10
11:00am
Location: Birch Bay State Park, BP Heron Center
Fun for the entire family! Kick off Whatcom Water Week! Explore tide pools with Garden of the Salish Sea Curriculum and Friends of Birch Bay State Park's Family Field Days. Explore Birch Bay with beach naturalists. Learn to identify different organisms using ID guides, see adaptations and body parts that help organisms survive, relate organisms to the food web, have fun finding cool creatures on the beach. Take the Salish Sea Challenge to practice watershed healthy and climate Friendly Habits. Meet at 11:00am at the BP Heron Center at 7290 Birch Bay Drive, Blaine, for this two-hour event.
Ochre Sea Stars Crochet-A-Long
September 10
4:00pm
Location: Northwest Yarns & Mercantile, Bellingham
Northwest Yarns & Mercantile is having a crochet-a-long to celebrate our lakes, streams, marine waters and other valuable water resources during Whatcom Water Week at Northwest Yarns and Mercantile! Ochre Sea Stars, a native species of the Salish Sea, is a keystone species that is also an indicator of the health of our intertidal zones. Want to crochet up one of these purple and orange beauties? Sign up at https://www.facebook.com/events/1207179693462166 or just pop in to Northwest Yarns and Mercantile, 1401 Commercial St, Bellingham, for our crochet-a-long with Joi Weaver!
Gardening Green Online Course
Starts September 12
(runs through November 12
Would you like to grow naturally beautiful landscape that keeps our Whatcom waters clean? Learn how to pick plants that will naturally thrive, how to nourish healthy soils, how to save water, and reduce your maintenance chores. In this online course, you’ll watch online lectures and videos, get worksheets and resources, and learn from your fellow students through online discussion boards. This course will give you the information you need to put environmentally friendly gardening principles into action. Course begins September 12th. To learn more go to https://extension.wsu.edu/whatcom/nr/gardening-green/ to register email Cheryl Lovato Niles: clniles@wsu.edu. Fall is an excellent time to plant!.
Bellingham Bay Renovation Walking Tour
September 12
12-1:30pm
Location: Waypoint Park, Bellingham
The Bellingham Waterfront is being transformed beneath our very eyes. This land was once dominated by heavy industries that were largely inaccessible to the public but now people stroll through this area visiting a park, pump track, cafe, and pub. Are you curious to know what these past industries were and how the cleanup process is being carried out? Join RE Sources on this Bellingham Bay Waterfront walking tour and learn from local experts about this remarkable piece of land - past, present, and future. Tour starts and ends at Waypoint Park - look for the blue canopies. All are welcome. Please RSVP to help us plan accordingly- thank you!
Lynden Water Treatment Plant Tour
September 13
10:00am
Location: Lynden
Take a tour of the City of Lynden Water Treatment Plant and learn where Lynden's drinking water comes from and how the water is filtered and sanitized for drinking. This is an approximately 1 hour long tour. Parking is at the north entrance, just below 6th and Judson alley. Please RSVP to Mike Kim at kimm@lyndenwa.org.
Ochre Sea Stars Crochet-A-Long
September 13
5:30pm
Location: Northwest Yarns & Mercantile, Bellingham
Northwest Yarns & Mercantile is having a crochet-a-long to celebrate our lakes, streams, marine waters and other valuable water resources during Whatcom Water Week at Northwest Yarns and Mercantile! Ochre Sea Stars, a native species of the Salish Sea, is a keystone species that is also an indicator of the health of our intertidal zones. Want to crochet up one of these purple and orange beauties? Sign up at https://www.facebook.com/events/1207179693462166 or just pop in to Northwest Yarns and Mercantile, 1401 Commercial St, Bellingham, in for our crochet-a-long with Joi Weaver!
Whatcom Water Week Storytime
September 14
10:15am-10:45am
Location: Bellingham Public Library, Central Library
Join us in the Dodson Room at Bellingham Public Library's, Central Library location for fun stories and songs all about water! This event is for children ages birth - 5 years with caregiver and siblings all welcome!
Bellingham Water Treatment Plant Tour
September 14
10:30am
Location: Bellingham
Tour the City of Bellingham's drinking water treatment plant to 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.
RSVP is required. Please email nreducation@cob.org or call 360-778-7974 to reserve your space. Minimum age to tour plant is 8 years old, children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult chaperone. Tour includes stairs, walking up to 1 mile, and standing for 1 hour. Closed-toe shoes and long pants are required.
Whatcom Water Week Storytime
September 14
11:00-11:30am
Location: Bellingham Public Library, Central Library
Join us in the Dodson Room at Bellingham Public Library's, Central Library location for fun stories and songs all about water! This event is for children ages birth - 5 years with caregiver and siblings all welcome!
Bellingham Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour
September 14
12:30pm
Location: Bellingham
Tour the City of Bellingham's wastewater treatment plant to learn how the City filters and sanitizes wastewater for protection of human and environmental health. Tour will include Q & A with plant operators and laboratory staff.
RSVP is required. Please email nreducation@cob.org or call 360-778-7974 to reserve your space. Minimum age to tour plant is 8 years old, children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult chaperone. Tour includes stairs, walking up to 1 mile, and standing for 1 hour. Closed-toe shoes and long pants are required.
Wild Things
September 16
9:30-11:00am
Location: Whatcom Falls Park
Wild Things, organized by Wild Whatcom, is a nature exploring program for families with children under six years old (but all children are welcome). We explore a different park each month, and September finds us investigating leaves and spying on ducks downstream from Lake Whatcom in Whatcom Falls Park! By donation. Click here for more information and to register: www.wildwhatcom.org/wild-things
Restoring the South Fork Nooksack River
September 16
1:00-2:00pm
Location: South Fork Nooksack River near Acme
The Nooksack Tribe's South Fork Nooksack River Downstream of Hutchinson Creek Restoration Project (DS Hutch Project) was designed to form deep, cool pools with complex woody cover to provide refuge for holding and rearing Chinook salmon and other salmonid species. Restoration was completed in 3 phases over 3 years and involved constructing 27 engineered log jams. Nooksack Tribe Natural Resources Department Habitat Program staff will host a tour of the DS Hutch Project to share how these projects are planned and implemented, and why engineered log jam restoration projects are critical to Chinook recovery efforts. Please dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes or boots. Site location involves walking on non-paved and rocky/natural paths. Additional information including directions and parking will be emailed to registered participants. Please register by September 9.
Community Work Party at Whatcom Creek
September 17
9:00am-Noon
Location: Whatcom Creek at Bellingham City Hall
Celebrate Whatcom Water Week with the City of Bellingham Parks Volunteer Program and the Bellingham Kiwanis as we work to restore salmon habitat and cleanup this well-loved trail behind Bellingham's City Hall. All ages and abilities welcome! Participants under age 14 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Tools, gloves, snacks, and instructions are provided. Please dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. This event will follow current health department guidelines and safety protocols. Additional information and reminders will be emailed to registered participants. If you sign up, please show up! Pre-registration required: https://www.volunteerbellingham.org/need/detail/?need_id=722475 Questions? pkvolunteers@cob.org or 360-778-7100
International Coastal Cleanup
September 17
10am-12pm
Location: Locust Beach, Bellingham
Join RE Sources and Surfrider for the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC)! Hosted every year by Ocean Conservancy, ICC encourages volunteers and groups around the globe to pick up trash and keep our oceans pollution free. All ages welcome, trash grabbers, and gloves, and snacks provided. Location of event is Locust Beach (3199 Locust Avenue, Bellingham. Questions? Email Destiny Dunbar at RE Sources.
Bellingham SeaFeast
September 17
10am-5:00pm
Location: Squalicum Harbor, Bellingham
Bellingham SeaFeast is an annual festival that takes place the third week of September. A sampling of activities you'll find include food court with traditional Lummi Nation salmon grilling and other food booths and trucks, sea-cycle scultures, the new Fishermen's Pavillion, Family Art Pavillion, Music at the Pavillion, Explore Some More and much much more! Bellingham SeaFeast is also partnering with WWIN on Plastic Matters! Information at bellinghamseafeast.org