Lake
Whatcom Watershed residents, living in the
Silver Beach Creek
watershed or within city limits, are invited to participate in the
Homeowner Incentive Program (HIP), a cooperative program sponsored by the
City of Bellingham and Whatcom County. Program participants receive
assistance and reimbursement for materials and professional services when they complete projects on
their property that reduce runoff and pollution entering the
lake.
Through a Department of Ecology Water Quality Financial Assistance Grant,
City and County staff provide on-site consultations, project design,
permitting assistance, and materials and services reimbursement. HIP empowers
watershed neighbors to work together to successfully complete projects.
The focus of the Homeowner Incentive Program is to provide support for homeowners to install projects that increase water infiltration on their properties. Project examples include riparian plantings, impervious surface removal, lawn removal and replacement, phosphorus limiting rain gardens, infiltration trenches and porous paving materials.
Homeowner Incentive Program Brochure (PDF)
As part of the grant, staff will:
Homeowners will:
The City and County have invested millions of dollars to protect and improve the water quality in Lake Whatcom with stormwater retrofits and treatment systems, property acquisition, education and outreach, and regulation and enforcement. For these efforts to be successful, residents must also change the way water runs through and off their properties. Water that runs off residential properties often carries excess fertilizers and pesticides, pet waste, car oil, and soaps, which harm the quality of our drinking water source and increase water treatment costs.
