422d 



This statement is presented on behalf of the Lake Whatcom Improvement Com- 

 mittee - an organized citizen's group representing residents and property owners 

 outside the city limits of Bellingham, in the Lake Whatcom area in Whatcom County. 

 The names of committee members and a map of the areas they represent appear as 

 EXHIBIT I in the appendix to this statement. 



In preparing this statement, we presume the same objectives and require- 

 ments mentioned in the proceedings of the first session of this conference (Ref. 

 1, Vol, I) obtain. 



We ask for the opportunity to make this presentation in hopes that it will 

 make a positive contribution to the deliberations of the conference. We do not 

 wish to seem or be presumptious. 



Among many assumptions underlying our presentation, a few are particularly 

 prominent. We assume that: 



1.) In developing policies and procedures for enhancement of marine waters, 

 it is of utmost importance to consider problems and practices along the 

 entire tributary water course and to examine alternative long-range 

 solutions to problems. 



2.) That Whatcom Creek is an exceedingly important tributary which by virtue 

 of the diversion of water from the Middle Fork of the Nooksack River 

 into it, can be viewed as part of the Nooksack System. 



3.) That problems and practices along a given water course must be related 

 to total area-wide water resource needs. 



4.) That social, political, scientific and economic factors are inextricably 

 linked in pollution problems and therefore a wide range of facts need to 

 be examined. 



In this vein then, we submit the following facts and findings to the confer- 

 ence for discussion: (Order of listing does not imply priority of concern.) 



1. The pollution of the Whatcom Creek watercourse has long been recognized. 



a.) In early days when farming, mining, logging and lumber mill operations 

 were begun, concerns for pollution were expressed. Evidence for this 

 can be found in newspaper files dating back fifty years. 



b.) In engineering studies for flood control in 1946 (See Exhibit 2), a 

 proposal was made to divert the waters of the South Fork through Lake 

 Whatcom. Three major benefits in addition to flood control were recog- 

 nized. 



1.) Domestic water supply improvement by introducing pure silt-free 

 water. 



2.) Hydroelectric potential - self liquidating at lowest rates. 



