Boat ban considered on Washington lake
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – One proposal to ban all motorized boating and another to phase out the use of most two-stroke engines on Washington’s Lake Whatcom will be voted upon by the Whatcom County Council Tuesday, according to a story in today’s Bellingham Herald.
Supporters of the proposals say boats should be restricted because they allow fuel to be spilled into the lake, which is the drinking water source for 85,700 people, including the city of Bellingham, the newspaper reported.
A group of boaters known as the Healthy Community Campaign has fiercely opposed proposals for restrictions. The group says there is no evidence that pollution in the lake is caused by boats and expects to challenge any boating restrictions in court. Campaign member Gary Lynse told the Herald that he expects several hundred of the group’s supporters to show up for the meeting.
“Our feeling is that if we don’t get 500 people there, we’ve missed the boat,” Lynse said.
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