(The Center Square) – The city of Bellingham, Wash., is set to acquire forest land near Lake Whatcom with the intention of protecting the city’s drinking water source.
The city is purchasing the 754 acres property for $3.65 million. The property is located on the southeast end of Lake Whatcom and was owned by Nielsen Brothers, Inc., a local timber company.
The latest purchase is part of the city’s Lake Whatcom Land Acquisition and Preservation Program, which is funded through watershed fees on utility bills.
The sale is expected to close on Feb. 14.
The city stated in a press release that it will actively manage the property to “improve forest health, enhance wildlife habitat, and improve water quality.”
The lake is the primary drinking water source for Bellingham and parts of Whatcom County, including Sudden Valley.
“Years in the making, this purchase is a major step forward in protecting one of our community’s most valuable assets, strengthening our ability to continue providing clean, safe drinking water,” Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund said in a statement.
Prior to the latest transaction, the city purchased more than 2,800 acres in the watershed.
According to city documents, the watershed sale was contingent upon the city selling property owned on Pine Street to Nielsen Brothers, Inc for $7,600. The city-owned property is approximately 4,792 square feet in size and is managed by the Bellingham Public Works Department as part of the sewer utility.
The purchase price is credited to the city’s wastewater fund.
The site that Bellingham is set to purchase is made up of five adjacent parcels zone for commercial forestry with most of the forest having avoided being logged for several decades.
The city notes that small harvests have occurred there in the past few years, causing the city to work to purchase the land and preserve the mix of trees that include fir, hemlock and cedar species.
