RE Sources

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!

Tips and Resources for Staying Safe While Swimming and Harvesting Seafood This Summer - RE Sources Summer is the season of water, but there are environmental factors that can make both swimming and harvesting something to avoid at times.

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.

Bellingham’s Wastewater Has a Nitrogen Problem. Here's What We're Asking Ecology to Fix 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.

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.

Trust the Process: Cherry Point back in the spotlight in the 11th hour of 2025 Whatcom Comprehensive Plan update - RE Sources 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

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!

North Sound Environmental Justice Survey Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

Whether you're dropping into a DIY renovation or just fixing an outlet, knowing how home electrical systems work is often essential to safe, successful projects. Join The RE Store this Saturday to learn the basics!

Wired Up! An Introduction to Home Electrical Systems | The RE Store Learn about wires, home circuits, and gain hands-on practice changing outlets and switches. When: Saturday, July 11th, 10 a.m – 1 p.m.Where: The RE Store, 2309 Meridian St., Bellingham, WAInstructor: Brian MartinelliCost: Free! About the Class:Learn how to navigate a breaker box, interpret differe...

It's official: a strong El Niño has formed in the tropical pacific. The Pacific Northwest can surely expect a longer, warmer and drier summer than usual, and in turn, a warmer and shorter winter. Click the link in our bio to read our blog from the last El Niño summer (2023) to pick up tips to manage the heat and learn more about what's behind this weather pattern. (Tip number seven is highly recommended.)

Effects of El Niño in Washington State - RE Sources On top of rising global temperatures, the World Meteorological Organization estimates the likelihood of an El Niño developing.

July 5th is considered the dirtiest day of the year for beaches across the country—Fourth of July firework celebrations leave behind literal tons of debris. In our preferred kind of patriotism, we’re gathering to clean up what others leave behind and ensure our public places are enjoyable for everyone.

Join us at 9 a.m. on Sunday, July 5th at Locust Beach in Bellingham to help out!

Volunteers sought to help clean up firework debris at local beaches Sunday A local nonprofit is hosting a cleanup of Locust Beach on July 5, picking up after the celebration of Independence Day.

Did you know that a head of cabbage takes 25 years to decompose in a landfill, compared to just three weeks when composted? Or that food waste makes up 30 percent of what’s in our landfill in Whatcom County?

This past spring’s YEP cohort was excited to advocate to shoppers and school boards alike about the importance of composting after learning all about food waste. Learn more about their awesome action projects in our latest blog post!

Composting for 500, Please: YEP! students take on food waste one game of Jeopardy at a time Whatcom County students learn about food waste, leadership and advocacy as part of the Environment and People (YEP!) program.