Public Involvement and Education
 The
Water Resources Public Involvement and Education (PIE) program
implements and facilitates programs within the various water
resources areas outlined in the County's Comprehensive Water
Resources Plan. The areas include watershed planning, management
of Lake Whatcom, and recovery of endangered and threatened
fish species. In addition, this program coordinates with Whatcom
County Health and Human Services, Planning
and Development Services, Cooperative
Extension, and other local government agencies to ensure
an integrated approach to water issues throughout the county.
Water issues in Whatcom County are complex, and affect every
citizen. In turn, every citizen can help to protect water quality,
conserve water, and contribute to the recovery of finfish and
shellfish. Many of the policy decisions facing the county require
the community's collective wisdom, understanding, engagement,
and support. The PIE program strives to provide knowledge and
skills to citizens, enabling them to make informed decisions about
their own behavior and to contribute to policymaking processes.
Public involvement and education are vital components of each
water resource program area:
 The
Stormwater PIE program led the development of this newsletter
about the WRIA 1 Watershed Management Project, a countywide
watershed planning effort
Lake
Whatcom management. Lake Whatcom PIE activities focus
on encouraging stewardship of the lake with products and events
such as the lake-friendly gardening kit, a collection of booklets
on pest management, lawn care, streamside buffers, and other
low-impact gardening practices; the lake-friendly gardening
workshop series; development and promotion of a phosphorus-free
fertilizer, the Lake Whatcom blend; the Lake Whatcom boating
kit which encourages boaters to reduce their impacts on water
quality, and mutt mitts.
Salmon
recovery. PIE efforts include development of a web
site on local recovery efforts and outreach activities in
the South Fork Nooksack watershed, the most critical area
in the county for recovery of Chinook salmon, a threatened
species under the federal Endangered Species Act.
The Whatcom County
Comprehensive Water
Resources Plan, the WRIA 1 Watershed Management Project
scope of work, and the Lake Whatcom Management Program Plan
mandate public involvement and education activities. 
The Lake-Friendly
Gardening Kit is a joint project of the Water Resources PIE
program and Whatcom County Cooperative Extension. 
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