Whatcom Water Week is in full swing, with free and family-friendly events happening across the county through Sunday, September 20. Now in its annual September run, the week-long celebration is organized by the Whatcom Watershed Information Network, with the goal of connecting residents to the waterways, wetlands, and water systems that make Whatcom County what it is.
This year's programming includes guided tours, water trivia, stewardship volunteer events, and outdoor recreation activities spread across the county's cities, parks, and natural areas. The full calendar of events is available at whatcomwin.org/water-week-events.
What Whatcom Water Week Is About
Whatcom County sits in one of the most water-rich regions in the country. The Nooksack River drains the slopes of Mount Baker and runs through the agricultural heart of the county before reaching Bellingham Bay. Lake Whatcom supplies drinking water to more than 85,000 residents in the Bellingham area. Puget Sound, Birch Bay, and the Lummi and Portage Bays along the coastline support shellfish harvesting, recreational boating, and an ecosystem that is deeply tied to the region's identity and economy.
But that water is also under pressure. Decades of development, agricultural runoff, stormwater, and warming temperatures have all affected water quality across the county. Whatcom Water Week exists to remind residents that water is a shared resource, that how people use and care for land affects the water that flows through it, and that there are opportunities to get involved in local conservation efforts.
Sponsors for this year's Water Week include Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District, Associated Earth Sciences, Inc., and WECU, a local credit union that has been active in community and environmental sponsorships in the region.
Types of Events Happening This Week
The week's programming is designed to appeal to a range of ages and interests. Guided tours give participants a close look at local water infrastructure and natural areas. These might include tours of water treatment facilities, riparian restoration sites, or waterfront parks where restoration work is ongoing. Stewardship events, which typically involve hands-on work like invasive plant removal, trash cleanups, or native plant installations, give participants a chance to contribute directly to local water quality.
Water trivia events are scheduled as lighter, social options where participants can test their knowledge of local hydrology, fish species, and water history. These are often hosted at community venues and are a good fit for families with school-age children who are starting to learn about local ecology.
For anyone wanting to attend events, checking the online calendar before heading out is recommended, as specific times, locations, and any registration requirements vary by event. Some events are drop-in, while others may have limited capacity.
Why Water Issues Matter in Whatcom County Right Now
This year's Water Week comes during a period of drought. The Washington State Department of Ecology declared a drought for Whatcom County in April 2026, and the U.S. Drought Monitor has designated much of the county as being in moderate drought, with the far eastern areas in extreme drought conditions. Lower water levels in rivers and streams during late summer put stress on salmon populations, raise water temperatures, and reduce the buffer capacity of local aquifers.
Fires burning near Ross Lake in the far east of the county have also been in the regional news this week, and while they are being managed by the National Park Service rather than county emergency management, they serve as a reminder of how dry conditions can ripple across a watershed. Snowpack and summer meltwater from the Cascade Mountains feed streams across the county, and years of below-average snowpack compound the effects of dry summers.
Water Week events this year include discussions and educational programming that touch on drought conditions, water conservation at the household level, and what residents can do to support healthy water systems. For homeowners on private wells or septic systems, the week's programming includes practical guidance on protecting water quality close to home. For city residents connected to municipal water systems, the week offers a chance to understand where drinking water comes from and what keeps it clean.
How to Get Involved
The full event calendar is updated regularly and lists events by date through the end of the week on Sunday, September 20. Whether you have a few hours for a morning stewardship event or just want to catch a guided tour on a weekday afternoon, there are options across the county, from Bellingham and Ferndale to more rural parts of the Nooksack Valley.
The Whatcom WIN organization also maintains resources on local water quality data, ongoing watershed projects, and ways to get involved beyond Water Week. For residents who want to stay connected to local conservation efforts after the week wraps up, signing up through their website is a straightforward next step.
Local coverage of the county's water resources, from the Lake Whatcom watershed protection effort to ongoing fire conditions in the Cascades, can be found in prior reporting on regional conditions. Water Week is a good reminder that those issues connect directly to everyday life across Whatcom County.
