BELLINGHAM, WA – (MyBellinghamNow.com) Bellingham’s Mayor Kim Lund has appointed a new Water Resources Advisory Board (WRAB) with unanimous support from the City Council.

Appointees were approved by the council during the regular meeting last Monday, Jan. 29. The board consists of nine members that will oversee water sourcing, preservation and protection as well as various water utility systems including sewers. They will meet six times a year with a one-year term planned.

The appointees come from a variety of backgrounds: from biotechnology research and civil engineering to pollution prevention, environmental advocacy and conservation. WRAB replaced the Watershed Advisory Board (WAB) that focused on Lake Whatcom and its surrounding watershed. WAB was dissolved in June of 2023 and WRAB was established at the same time.

Councilmembers Michael Lilliquist and Lisa Anderson commended Mayor Lund on the roster she put together during the approval vote.  Anderson also said in the regular meeting she recognized some of the names and finds the appointees to be well qualified, assuaging concerns over who would serve on the WRAB.

The names of the appointees for the new Water Resources Advisory Board are as follows in no particular order:

Fiona McNair, Francesca White, Rick Eggerth, John Peppel, Martin Kjelstad, Kirsten McDade, Benjamin Cairns, Bret Beaupain and Laura Weiss.