Lake Whatcom Promoted As Secret Vacation Get-A-Way

Apparently, the waterfront is not the only area being redeveloped without public comment.  In the July 27, 2013 edition of the Vancouver Sun, an upscale “secret” Canadian vacation get-a-way is being promoted… on the shores of Lake Whatcom.  http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Summer+Here+Lake+What/8716662/story.html.

Ninety small homes and extensive community facilities will be built on 14 acres along the lake.  This appears to be the sight of the former RV park. Home sale information is available at http://www.wildwoodlakefrontcottages.com/cottages/resort-amenities/.  

I heard about this project about a year ago. I have twice written the county for information and I have been ignored each time. Apparently, you need to file a public record request to find out about a major redevelopment project in the Lake Whatcom watershed.

This project creates a great deal of new impervious surface.  The promotional materials tout a clubhouse with a library area, fireside lounge, fitness center, management office, outdoor fire pit, and viewing veranda.  There is a lakeside pool and hot tub, and a tennis court is being built to championship USTA dimensions.

Plans include a Creek House, which is a covered recreation center next to a creek with large wood burning fireplace, barbecues, picnic tables and large screen TV.  Other listed amenities are a large children’s playground, a pier boardwalk, an onsite manager (an additional residence), a shower house and a wood shack.  There will also be two yurts and two bunkhouses in case of guests. 

This does not include boat and fishing facilities. The promoters state that the development features a new private marina on Lake Whatcom with the only gas dock on the lake, (presumably a non-conforming use from past development), 34 private boat slips, 15 mooring buoys plus a limited number of transient slips.  These facilities support “water sports galore – power boating, jet skiing, wakeboarding, water-skiing, swimming, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, fishing.”  Finally, there is a “private boat launch ramp (one of only 4 on the entire lake) and a staging dock.”

Some of this infrastructure has already been built and you can view the photographs at http://www.wildwoodlakefrontcottages.com/cottages/amenity-gallery/.  Isn’t the large, semi-pervious grass lawn just lovely? Photos of the homes being sold can be found at http://www.wildwoodlakefrontcottages.com/cottages/product-gallery/.

So here we are talking about Lake Whatcom stormwater standards to improve water quality, and no one is talking about a large redevelopment project that is adding new impervious surface to the watershed.  These are connected issues, and perhaps the real problem is the county’s failure to treat them as such.  

ALL development has impact. And it is not only water quality that is a problem.  This redevelopment will increase the intensity of shoreline use, increase recreational water use, and create smoke and disperse harmful particulates.  Resulting impacts on wildlife, habitat, and air quality will decrease the lake’s ecological function and increase opportunity for introduction of new aquatic invasive species. 

Clean water is the by-product of a healthy lake. Water quality is not something that can be controlled entirely by improved stormwater standards.  We need to take a holistic approach to lake restoration and focus on protecting all lake ecological functions.  Increased growth, even under the most stringent development regulations, is not sustainable.