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Lake Whatcom Watershed residents, living in the Silver Beach Creek Watershed or within City limits, are invited to participate in the Homeowner Incentive Program (HIP), a cooperative program sponsored by the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County. Program participants receive assistance and reimbursement for materials and professional services when they complete projects on their property that reduce runoff and pollution entering the lake.
Through a Department of Ecology Water Quality Financial Assistance Grant, City and County staff provide on-site consultations, project design, permitting assistance, and materials and services reimbursement. HIP empowers watershed neighbors to work together to successfully complete projects.
The focus of the Homeowner Incentive Program is to provide support for homeowners to install projects that increase water infiltration on their properties. Project examples include riparian plantings, impervious surface removal, lawn removal and replacement, phosphorus limiting rain gardens, infiltration trenches and permeable paving materials.
Program Details
As part of the grant, staff will:
- Gather specific information about your site
- Meet on-site to determine project options
- Assist with the project design and permitting process
- Help determine up to $6000 reimbursement for project materials (100%) and professional services (75%)
- Assist with reimbursement agreement
Homeowners will:
- Choose a site-specific, appropriate project
- Complete the project and submit receipts for project materials and professional services
- Be reimbursed for money spent on project materials and professional services
To Request a Site Visit
- Check the project area map (PDF)
- Residents within the city limits portion of the project area, contact Eli Mackiewicz, Engineering Technician, at emackiewicz@cob.org or (360)778-7742.
- Residents in the Whatcom County portion of the project area, contact Chip Anderson, Stormwater Planner, at canderso@co.whatcom.wa.us or (360)715-7450.
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