BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Washington State Department of Ecology has come out with a draft plan to reduce pollution in the Whatcom Creek Watershed.

Researchers studying the watershed over the past few years have found that the creek is contaminated with a significant amount of fecal pollution.

They found that most of the waste entering the creek comes from stormwater and septic systems that are not functioning properly.

Pollution levels were higher in the lower regions of Whatcom Creek and connecting waterways, including Fever, Lincoln, and Hanna Creeks.

The State Department of Ecology wants to prioritize cleaning up the smaller creeks and identifying where the biggest sources of fecal pollution come from.

Their plan would also address malfunctioning storm and sewage systems within the watershed.

The public is invited to view and comment on the draft plan, which will be released on March 30th.