RE Sources

08/27/2026

The freshwater lakes that we frequent are vulnerable to harmful algal blooms that threaten ecosystem function and public health. RE Sources’ North Sound Waterkeeper and team currently monitor five lakes throughout the summer and fall seasons, when algal blooms are more likely to occur due to warmer temperatures. These lakes were selected because they are used as drinking water or have high recreational usage like swimming, boating, and fishing. This week, RE Sources’ Program Coordinator Zoe Fry and North Sound Waterkeeper Intern Sarah Guenther were out collecting water samples at Cain Lake. Regularly monitoring these lakes is crucial for informing the public and leading agencies to further assess these blooms.
�The Lake Monitoring process consists of visual observations and data collection on water quality parameters, which aids in detecting signs of algal blooms and nutrient pollution. Using a YSI multimeter, a water quality monitoring instrument, we measure parameters from the surface of the water to the bottom of the lake. In the RE Sources lab, the water samples are analyzed for the presence of phosphate and nitrate. Harmful algal blooms are caused by an excess of nutrients, specifically nitrogen and phosphorus, which enter lakes from stormwater runoff and wastewater effluent. If any algal blooms are observed on the surface or in the water column, samples are collected for microscopic identification.

One of the best ways to be informed about harmful algae blooms is signing up for ’s listserv, or visiting nwtoxicalgae.org. And, check out re-sources.org for tips and resources for staying safe while swimming and harvesting seafood this summer.

08/11/2026

For young people across the globe, climate change and environmental degradation aren’t just academic issues, they are crises that impact nearly every facet of life. That’s why RE Sources hosts Youth for the Environment and People (or YEP!), a one-of-a-kind youth empowerment program for high school students that elevates student voices and gives youth key skills to make change in the world.

This fall, Bellingham and Ferndale YEP! students will explore our local transit infrastructure, how we can make environmentally friendly commuting easier to access, and how to prioritize sustainable transportation in our communities. Students will learn from local experts and tour Whatcom Transit Authority (WTA)’s bus barn before designing and implementing their own solution to reducing dependence on fossil fuel-based transportation through a group action project.

Applications for fall colors will be accepted through September 14th! If you’d like to meet and work with like-minded people, learn about important local issues, and make a difference in your community, we encourage you to apply!

08/10/2026

Looking forward to The RE Store's first annual Make Art Not Trash DIY: a free, all-ages, and all-skill-levels DIY Reclaimed Art Show.

Saturday, September 12th, 1-5 p.m.

And you can contribute! Sculpture? Painting? Collage? Take something headed for the landfill and turn it into art. Or just come see what others have made, vote for your favorite, and maybe leave with a few ideas of your own.

08/07/2026

On Monday, August 10, Bellingham City Council will vote on approving a $40.9 million contract to upgrade the incinerators at Post Point Wastewater Treatment Plant. “Upgrading” the incinerators is the City effectively doubling down on antiquated technology (the incinerators are already decades old) that will continue to release pollution and toxics into our air and water for decades to come. This outdated wastewater treatment infrastructure is already failing to meet today’s demands — let alone tomorrow’s.

We’ve had more than 1400 people voice their concerns and opposition to this upgrade, yet the City and City Council have continued to move forward with this process. Now is the time to make one more appeal to City Council to reject the contract and instead steer our community toward a healthier, more sustainable future.

Use the link below to directly email City Council members with a pre-written, editable message we've put together.

08/04/2026

It's the best time of year to enjoy the water, so here's a few tips and resources to help ensure you stay safe and healthy while recreating and harvesting. From checking swimming advisories at local beaches to knowing where seafood is more likely to be contaminated by pollutants, it's best to know before you go. Have fun, be safe, and stay healthy out there!

Summer is the season of water, but there are environmental factors that can make both swimming and harvesting something to avoid at times.

07/28/2026

Washington Department of Ecology is currently accepting public comments on the draft wastewater discharge permit for Post Point. Bottom line: The final permit needs to be stronger.

Use the link on our page to learn more about the issue, see what additions we're asking for, and send a pre-written email (that you can add to) to Ecology!

The public comment period ends August 10.

Ecology is finalizing a new wastewater discharge permit for Post Point, but it needs to be a lot stronger than what's currently on the table.

07/14/2026

Sometimes, the process of how you achieve something is just as important as the achievement itself. While the five-year-long deliberation process that created the Cherry Point Amendments was complex and messy, in the end, these efforts yielded the meaningful stakeholder engagement and Tribal consultation that allowed this compromise to pass County Council unanimously.

So when a few proposed changes to the Cherry Point language muddled the final stages of the 2025 Whatcom Comprehensive Plan update process in May 2026, it was clear these additions did not have the same intentional, unhurried, and meaningful conversations behind them to do this topic justice. Once again, the stakes were too high to be hasty. In the end, no changes were made — a win that preserves the process behind the original language.

We expect that Council will vote to adopt the original, hard-earned language along with the rest of the Comp Plan after a hearing today. Follow the link below to read more about our work engaging in the Comp Plan process.

Whatcom County Council votes to make no last-minute changes to language regarding land use at Cherry Point in Whatcom County’s 2025 Comprehensive Plan

07/13/2026

The people closest to community challenges are often closest to the solutions. That's why we are joining North Sound ACH in asking community members across the region to share their experiences through an Environmental Impact Survey. All it takes is five minutes, and you’re helping us see what’s working, and what’s missing. Take the survey today at the link below!

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.