The road to Artist Point (the final section of SR 542) and Highway 20 (starting at Ross Dam Trailhead) are both closed for the season.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 14, 2025

MEDIA CONTACT:
Allison Roberts
pr@bellinghamcityclub.org

Coming January 22: The Impacts of Water Adjudication on All of Us

From cities and tribes to farms and businesses, everyone's water use in Whatcom County will be affected. 

12:00 PM, Wednesday, January 22*, at the Bellingham Yacht Club, 2625 S Harbor Loop Dr. Bellingham (*Fourth Wednesday, not the last Wednesday)

Ticket Purchase: Bellingham City Club - Water Adjudication (https://bhamcityclub.wildapricot.org/event-6016360/registration 

Prices: $25 for members, $30 for non-members, $10 for attendees under age 25, and $10 for the program only (no table seating and includes coffee and a cookie).*Tickets are nonrefundable.

Time: Doors open 11:30 AM; Buffet starts 11:40 AM; Program Duration: 12 PM-1:30 PM

*Attendance is limited to 150.

Registration closes: 8:00 PM, Sunday, January 19.

Purchase of tickets in advance is strongly advised; click here to register.

What will be the wide-reaching impacts and implications for us all in Washington’s largest lawsuit ever? Whether residents and municipalities use city water, well water, rent or own, run a business or farm, or belong to a tribe, the Water Adjudication process will impact everyone’s water availability. The resulting legal process of Water Adjudication will quantify and prioritize water use, with the highest priority given to the oldest, continuous water use. The process determines whether each water right on a source is legal, how much water can be used, and its priority during water shortages. 

Some cities and water associations do not have enough water rights to service their current customer base, and it does not appear that there will be additional rights granted. Will some of us run out of water in drought years? How will this affect adding new housing and businesses? What about our farming community? How will it impact tribal entities? One can see why this legal process will be very complex, likely contentious, and take a lot of time – perhaps decades. 

This topic is timely. The Washington Department of Ecology filed a water rights adjudication with the Whatcom County Superior Court on May 2024. The formal summons is anticipated to be sent by certified mail at the earliest in March 2025. January 22 is the 165th anniversary of the Lummi Treaty of Point Elliot - a fortuitous date to understand what tribal water rights include. 


Panelists include:
  • Robert Carmichael, Attorney who represents small cities and water associations
  • Perry Eskridge, Government Affairs Director, Whatcom County Association of Realtors
  • Fred Likkel, Executive Director Whatcom Family Farmers
  • Representative of the Lummi Nation TBD


Caterer:  Guud Bowls

Founded in 1993, the Bellingham City Club is a non-partisan, nonprofit civic organization with over 300 members that fosters dialogue and debate on important issues facing our community. Meetings are scheduled for the fourth Wednesday of each month (except November and December) from 12 noon to 1:30 pm.

        We acknowledge that Whatcom County is located on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples. They cared for the lands that included what we’d call the Puget Sound region, Vancouver Island and British Columbia since time immemorial. This gives us the great obligation and opportunity to learn how to care for our surrounding areas and all the natural and human resources we require to live. We express our deepest respect and gratitude for our indigenous neighbors, the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Tribe, for their enduring care and protection of our shared lands and waterways.
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