May 20098 Whatcom Watch

in the lake have remained relatively the same; however, some changes were noted. The data show the following:n 2008 surface water temperatures during May through July were the

coldest measured since 1988.n Thermal stratifi cation of the lake in late spring was delayed due to

the cold weather, but extended longer into fall compared to 2007.n Dissolved oxygen (DO) levels measured at depth in May and August

were still relatively high compared to previous years’ data due to the late stratifi cation (Figure 1).

n Green algae and especially blue-green algae, which are less tolerant of colder water, were less abundant (Figure 2).

n Nutrient levels in the surface waters of the lake during summer were as follows:❏ Nitrate and nitrite were higher in all three basins (Figure 3).❏ Total phosphorus (TP) continued to increase in Basin 3, especially

at Site 4, compared to the last four years of data (Figure 4).❏ TP levels in Basin 1 declined slightly and dropped below analytical

detection limits in Basin 2 compared to previous years’ data.n Nutrient levels in the deeper waters of the lake during summer were

as follows:❏ TP levels in Basin 2 levels were the highest ever recorded (Figure

5), in Basin 3 (Site 4) the levels were at least double the levels measured since 2004, and in Basin 1 the levels were higher than any other year except for 1988 and 2005.

❏ Ammonia levels in Basins 1 and 2 in November were the highest ever recorded, with Basin 2 data off the scale (Figure 6). Levels in Basin 3 continued to be elevated, similar to previous years’ data.

The decrease in TP found in Basins 1 and 2, in conjunction with the decrease in algae has lead Dr. Matthews to suggest that phosphorus concentrations may (her italics) be stabilizing in those basins, which in turn could be stabilizing their algal populations (Matthews, 2009; Matthews et al., 2009).

The increase in nitrates/nitrites she attributes to less algal abundance, since more algae would consume more nutrients. The importance of this suggestion is that those basins may have adapted to and compensated

for the current level of phosphorus loading, causing less algal growth to occur. That does not mean the lake and its water quality are getting better, only that phosphorus and algal levels have possibly leveled off, at least in the short term.

Basins 1 and 2 are still very nutrient enriched and have high levels of biological productivity in them. The evidence is in the severity of dis-solved oxygen defi cits once the lake becomes stratifi ed and the increasing amounts of TP and ammonia being released from the sediments over the summer months. Moreover, Basin 3 (Sites 3 and 4) phosphorus and ammonia levels are continuing to increase, showing the same signs of nutrient enrichment seen over the years in Basins 1 and 2.

Dr. Matthews also readily admits in an interview with The Bellingham Herald (Stark, 2009) that the water quality results for Basins 1 and 2 could be due to the unusually cold weather last year which made some of the results appear better than they would have been otherwise.

Where the Lake Has to BeThe lake must be restored to meet the requirements of the federal Clean Water Act (Pickett and Hood, 2008) and state regulations. Currently the lake is listed under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act as an

impaired waterbody for dissolved oxygen and phosphorus. By restoring the lake to meet federal and state standards we are also ensuring that it continues to be “... a clean source of drinking water, supports fi sh, birds, plants and animals, and provides aesthetic and recreational value to the community.” (Pickett and Hood, 2008).

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) has conducted a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) analysis for phosphorus and

bacteria (Pickett and Hood, 2008). Using 2002 Lake Whatcom water quality data to calibrate their model, Ecology determined that phospho-rus loadings need to be reduced by 18 to 40 percent (pre-1988 levels) for the lake to be able to process it and still meet federal and state standards.

Since there is a direct relationship between impervious surfaces (roads, roofs, driveways, decks and lawns) in developed areas and phosphorus levels in stormwater runoff, that reduction equates to reducing the amount of developed acres (as of 2003) in the watershed by 85.5 per-cent. Stated another way, there are 3,600 acres in the watershed that are developed, but the model says the level should be 524 to 563 acres (Pickett and Hood, 2008).

How Do We Get There?We need to focus on removing those sources of phosphorus that we can control (Hood pers. comm.). Since those sources are directly linked to stormwater runoff from developments and impervious surfaces, the solution is to reduce those sources.

One mechanism is to increase infi ltration of stormwater runoff to enable the natural properties of soil and resident microorganisms to bind and use the phosphorus before it enters the lake. For example

Lake Whatcom Decline Slowing?

Continued from page 1

households to purchase scattered-site homes and condominiums, as well as new homes of Matthei Place in Bellingham and Kulshan Commons in Ferndale. The Housing Trust Fund grant and increased income limits, when combined with other funding and initiatives, will further their goal to more than double the number of homes in the trust over the next few years.

Kulshan Community Land Trust strengthens community by holding land in trust for permanently affordable homeownership and other community needs , and by offering financial and educational services to people of limited means.

Continued from page 6

Dissolved Oxygen 1988 – 2008

Figure 1. Decline in Basin 1 dissolved oxygen at 18-meter depth from 1988 – 2008 (Matthews et al., 2009).

Figure 2. Lake Whatcom near-surface chlorophyll concentrations from 1994 – 2008 (Matthews et al., 2009).

Chlorophyll 1994 – 2008

Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen 1994 – 2008

Figure 3. Lake Whatcom near-surface dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations from 1994 – 2008 (Matthews et al., 2009).

The state cautions that seeing positive changes to phosphorus and dissolved oxygen levels in the lake will take decades.

9May 2009 Whatcom Watch

between 1986 and 1998 development doubled in the watershed, but regulations to retain canopy cover and implement stormwater controls did mitigate the effects of that development. The lake still got worse during that period, but not as bad as if those controls and actions weren’t taken (Hood pers. comm.).

Capturing and treating the stormwater runoff from these sources is another mechanism. Matthews et al. (2009) reports continued improve-ments in particle and fecal coliform removal due to redesigning the city’s Park Place Pond. Moreover, phosphorus removal has also improved due to increased maintenance of the city’s stormwater treatment vaults. For example the Alabama Hill stormwater treatment vault had an average total phosphorus reduction of –2 percent between 2004 and 2006. In 2007 the reduction was at 18 percent and in 2008 at 25 percent.

Understandably, there is some skepticism regarding the use of storm-water treatment vaults due to their expense and relatively low level of effectiveness in removing phosphorus. Indeed, earlier data showed higher levels of phosphorus leaving the treatment vaults than what entered in the stormwater. Subsequent studies, however, found that the data results were a function of when the vaults were sampled.

According to Matthews (pers. comm.), during the dry summer months dust and soil particles would enter the vaults and accumulate on the treatment canisters. When the fi rst major rain event occurred in the fall, the water entering the vault scoured the accumulated particles off from the canisters and carried them out of the vaults. Samples collected at the infl ow and outfl ow during that fi rst fall storm event therefore showed higher levels of phosphorus and particles leaving the canisters than what entered.

Although these treatment systems are improving, they are not at the 80 to 90 percent levels needed in reducing phosphorus in stormwater runoff. Every technique, however, that helps reduce phosphorus load-ings to the lake is crucial to restoring it as our community’s irreplaceable clean drinking water source.

The city and county can only do so much. It will also require people living in the watershed to stop stormwater runoff on their properties from entering the lake. Some methods people can use include install-ing natural rain garden systems, using porous pavement materials for driveways and paths, converting to ecologically based wastewater treat-ment and water reuse systems, and harvesting rainwater for irrigation or other reuse systems.

Sue Taylor has taken that level of responsibility a step further and started an educational opportunity for watershed residents called “Sus-tainable Landscaping for Watershed Living.” It is a hands-on, free edu-cational pilot project working with homeowners to encourage gardening practices that reduce stormwater run-off by adding vegetated buffers, reducing impervious surfaces, and improving soil to increase its ability to absorb and slowly release water. It is time for all property owners in the watershed to take responsibility for their actions and the effects of those actions on our community’s primary source of drinking water.

Ecology has informed the city and county of what needs to be done to restore the lake to meet federal and state laws. The city and county are now charged with providing a plan to Ecology outlining how they will achieve those requirements and the time frame. Ecology admits it will be a daunting task for our community. It will take a lot of money and a lot of time to restore the lake.

They estimate just getting to 74 percent fewer developed acres/imper-vious surfaces (at 2003 levels) will take almost two generations (about 60 years). Even addressing runoff from all the roads in the watershed is estimated to take more than 20 years. Ecology further cautions that seeing changes to phosphorus and dissolved oxygen levels in the lake will also take decades. Those changes will be subtle, making it even more diffi cult to keep political leaders and the public engaged, and

supportive of the resources being expended. All of us need to be engaged now. The studies have been done and

the targets we have to reach identifi ed. We are ultimately responsible for protecting and restoring our drinking water source. Our elected city and county offi cials need to be asked what limits they are going to put on development in the watershed. If they continue to allow some development to occur then they need to be clear with us how much more they are going to allow.

Every new house, driveway or road that is built in the watershed is only going to contribute that much more phosphorus loading into the lake. Those contributions, no matter how small, will mean that much longer for us to clean up the lake, with all of us paying an even greater price for generations to come.

References:n Matthews, R.A. 2009. Lake Whatcom Water Quality Monitoring

Program Update. Presented to the Lake Whatcom Technical Review Task Force on March 17, 2009, Bellingham, WA. Available online at http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~iws/ under Lake Studies - Lake Whatcom Online PDF Reports, Presentations.

n Matthews, R.A., M. Hilles, J. Vandersypen, R.J. Mitchell, and G.B. Matthews. 2009. Lake Whatcom Monitoring Project 2007/2008 Final Report. March 2009. Institute for Watershed Studies, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, 317 p. Available online at http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~iws/ under Lake Studies - Lake Whatcom Online PDF Reports, Annual Reports.

n Pickett, P. and S. Hood. 2008. Lake Whatcom Watershed Total Phosphorus and Bacteria Total Maximum Daily Loads Volume 1: Water Quality Study Findings. Publication No 08-03-024, November 2008. Washington Department of Ecology, Olympia, WA. 145 p. Available online at www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0803024.html.

n Stark, J. 2009. “Lake Whatcom quality appears stable.” The Bellingham Herald, April 5, 2009, page A1 and a correction on April 7, 2009, page A1.

Thurs., May 7, 6:30 p.m.The Chuckanut Radio Hour, with special guest, Tom RobbinsTickets: SOLD OUT Venue: Boundary Bay Beer Garden

The title of Tom Robbins’ forthcoming book is “B is for Beer.” So, what could be more fi tting than an evening with Tom in the beer garden at Boundary Bay Brewery?

Tom will be the special guest for The Chuckanut Radio Hour and will be in-terviewed by former Cascadia Weekly columnist, Christian Martin. Performance poet, Kevin Murphy, will hold forth in the Poets Corner. There will be a new episode of “The Bellingham Bean” and be graced with a humor-ous essay by Cascadia Weekly columnist, Alan Rhodes.

Lake Whatcom Phosphorus 1994 – 2008

Figure 4. Lake Whatcom near-surface total phosphorus concentrations from 1994 – 2008 (Matthews et al., 2009).

Basin 2 Phosphorus 1988 – 2008

Figure 5. Lake Whatcom total phosphorus data for Basin 2 from 1988 – 2008 (Matthews et al., 2009).

Basin 2 Ammonia 1988 – 2008

Figure 6. Lake Whatcom ammonia data for Basin 2 from 1988 – 2008 (Matthews et al., 2009).

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