The Stormwater Team

The Stormwater Watcher Program was created by People for Lake Whatcom and RE Sources in 2004.  The goal of the program is to train volunteers and interns to assess construction sites to ensure that appropriate erosion control measures are installed and maintained.  Vegetation acts as erosion control and, when removed for construction, alternative erosion control measures are required by permit to keep sediment onsite.  Sediment that runs off construction sites during rain events and enters storm drains directly impacts water bodies and aquatic organisms.  Sedimentation reduces available habitat, clogs fish gills, suffocates fish eggs, and impacts various survival skills due to water column turbidity.

Alternative erosion control methods are referred to as Best Management Practices, or BMP’s.  They include source control features such as plastic tarps and silt fences, flow control features such as gravel or packed dirt, and treatment measures such as check dams and detention ponds.  For a complete instruction on BMPs, please visit our citizen training guide slide show.

The Stormwater Watcher Program holds two training sessions per year and recruits new volunteers on an on-going basis.  Current and interested volunteers can access the Stormwater Team Evaluation Form and the Stormwater Team Protocol here. 

For more information, contact North Sound Baykeeper Wendy Steffensen or Stormwater Intern Jamie Theuer at 733-8307.

Check out our new E-newsletter here! (March 2008)

The North Sound Baykeeper is a project of RE Sources and Puget Soundkeeper Alliance.

The North Sound Baykeeper receives program support from:

The Bullitt Foundation
The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation
The Harder Foundation
Northwest Fund for the Environment
The Russell Family Foundation
Your membership donations!

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Internship positions are available with the Baykeeper Program - Learn more HERE