Local decisions. Public records. Your community.
COMMUNITY COVERAGE
The Northwest Clean Air Agency is calling a Stage 1 air quality burn ban effective immediately in the Columbia Valley urban growth area (including the Peaceful Valley and Paradise Lakes developments) in Whatcom County. Cold, stagnant air is preventing harmful wood smoke from clearing out.
The good news: our cleanup partner, Whatcom County Public Works, is making steady progress on its multi-year construction project to manage asbestos-laden sediment and control flooding in Swift Creek.
Much like Opportunity Council beginning in a small room with just a typewriter, CAZ had its own humble beginnings—this time in a garage with a Subaru. CAZ, “Comfort from A to Z,” was founded in 2010 by Dan Dunne. A former employee of Opportunity Council, Dan took the skills he gained working in our Weatherization program and launched his own business doing energy audits. He joined forces with a friend, James Reider, to expand to insulation services and the company quickly began to grow from there.
For more than 50 years, Washingtonians have relied on regulatory tools and the stewardship of local agencies and tribes to protect our environment. Most notably, the Washington State Department of Ecology was the first governmental agency in the U.S. to focus on clean water and the environment. Ecology pre-dates the federal Clean Water Act and goes above and beyond federal requirements for protection of water, land and wildlife.
If you live in Northwest Washington, or even if you just love to visit, you know it’s a place worth protecting. That’s why we’re launching our Give Like You Live Here campaign: a 48-hour fundraiser for local environmental advocacy and action, November 10th–11th.
The air you breathe when you step out your front door can sometimes be different than the air a few blocks away or across town. But how different? For the first time in Washington’s history, Ecology will be able to answer that in greater detail, thanks to a new study funded by the Climate Commitment Act (CCA). This winter, a fleet of specialized air monitoring vehicles will hit the streets in over 20 overburdened communities and participating Tribal Nations as part of a one-time, year-long High Resolution Mobile Monitoring study.
SOUTH WHATCOM FIRE AUTHORITY
SOUTH WHATCOM FIRE AUTHORITY
Northwest Washington is a place of unique abundance. Salmon and orcas move through the Salish Sea, one of North America’s largest estuaries, billions of birds pass through along the Pacific Flyway, and our mature forests store carbon as well as almost anywhere on Earth. The same land and water supports agriculture, working forests, and four of the state’s five oil refineries. An expanding population, rising sea levels, flooding, and wildfire smoke—all in a changing climate—add further complexity to choices about how and where to grow.
Last summer, campers of ages three to six returned to NSEA’s campus for another great year of Camp Keystone. Camp ran for 10 weeks, each one full of laughter, crafts, games, and lots of creative play in the outdoors. Both new and returning campers spent their days outside, learning about the natural world through open-ended exploration.
Friday, October 2, 2026 Emergency Management Daily Briefing for Whatcom County
The Whatcom County Fire Marshal’s Office has lifted the outdoor burning restrictions for unincorporated Whatcom County, effective October 4th, 2025. Please see the below press release and visit the Fire Marshal’s Office website for details on how to burn safely and within the law.
BELLINGHAM, WA (October 2, 2026) – In celebration of International Credit Union Day and the cooperative spirit of the credit union movement, WECU is joining forces with local credit unions and community organizations for a series of service and giving opportunities throughout Whatcom and Skagit counties from September 30 through October 16.
Port Invites Community to Open House October 29
You are receiving this email as part of a SEPA Distribution. This email goes out to all agencies, cities and interested parties. Please check the location of the SEPA listed below. If you are representing an incorporated city it may not pertain to you. Parcel Number: 390201015130000 Address: 488 W Pole Road SEPA Case Number: SEPA2026-00073 SEPA Determination: MDNS If you have questions, please contact Planning and Development Services at [email protected] or call 360-778-5900.
Civic Center Annex, Garden Level Conference Room, located at 322 N. Commercial Street, Bellingham, WA, 98225 and via Zoom Platform (see Zoom link below)
Burn Restrictions Lifted in Whatcom County October 1st
Thursday, October 1, 2026 Emergency Management Daily Briefing for Whatcom County
Whatcom and Skagit counties have called off their fire safety burn ban on outdoor burning in rural areas as of Thursday, October 1. (See information below for details.)
With Flu Cases Increasing, It’s A Good Time to Get Vaccinated
Archived - Wednesday, September 30, 2026 Emergency Management Daily Briefing for Whatcom County
Health - Public Health News Posted on September 30, 2026 | Last Updated on September 30, 2026
You are receiving this email as part of a SEPA Distribution. This email goes out to all agencies, cities and interested parties. Please check the location of the SEPA listed below. If you are representing an incorporated city it may not pertain to you. Parcel Number: 4001034450400000 Address: 3370 Sweet Road, Blaine, WA 98230 SEPA Case Number: SEPA2026-00044 SEPA Determination Reissued MDNS If you have questions, please contact Planning and Development Services at [email protected] or call 360-778-5900.
Notice of November 3, 2026 General and Special Election
Auditor - Elections Posted on September 29, 2026
Special Meeting Workshop
Archived - Tuesday, September 29, 2026 Emergency Management Daily Briefing for Whatcom County
Archived - Monday, September 28, 2026 Emergency Management Daily Briefing for Whatcom County
Vegetation Trimming May Cause Traffic Delays on County Roads
Potential Ferry Service Interruptions Due to High Winds
You are receiving this email as part of a SEPA Distribution. This email goes out to all agencies, cities and interested parties. Please check the location of the SEPA listed below. If you are representing an incorporated city it may not pertain to you. Parcel Number: 3803060632140000 Address: 139 Smokey Drive SEPA Case Number: SEPA2026-00052 SEPA Determination MDNS If you have questions, please contact Planning and Development Services at [email protected] or call 360-778-5900.
You are receiving this email as part of a SEPA Distribution. This email goes out to all agencies, cities and interested parties. Please check the location of the SEPA listed below. If you are representing an incorporated city it may not pertain to you. Parcel Number: 4005022070770000 Address: "0" South Pass Road SEPA Case Number: SEPA2025-00037 SEPA Determination: MDNS If you have questions, please contact Planning and Development Services at [email protected] or call 360-778-5900.
Every beach cleanup turns up something unexpected. This season, one of our volunteers found a message in a bottle. It was sealed, weathered, and clearly written with great care. Let’s just say it wasn’t a love letter, and we won’t be reprinting it here.
Archived - Friday, September 25, 2026 Emergency Management Daily Briefing for Whatcom County
2026 Change of Value Notices Mailed & 2026 Assessed Values are Now Online
UPDATE: Gillies Road Has Reopened to All Traffic
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