The creek water quality monitoring sites are described in detail by Walker, et al. (1992), and summarized below. Sites that have hydrograph data include a description of the location of the hydrograph gauge.
Smith Creek:
Samples are collected approximately 100 yards upstream from Lake Whatcom. The
Smith Creek hydrograph is mounted on the south wall of a sandstone bluff directly
underneath the bridge over Smith Creek (North Shore Road) approximately 1
km upstream from the mouth the the creek. The GPS coordinates for Smith
Creek at the dead end of North Shore Road are 48∘ 43′ 46.3” N; 122∘ 18′ 51.1”
W.
Silver Beach Creek:
All routine monitoring samples are collected immediately upstream from the culvert
under North Shore Road. GPS coordinates are not available for Silver Beach
Creek.
Park Place storm drain:
Samples are collected inside the storm drain under Park Place (road off of North Shore
Drive.) When the lake level is low enough, samples can be collected at the mouth of the
outlet pipe flowing into the lake. GPS coordinates are not available for the Park Place
storm drain.
Austin Creek:
The site is located at the Sudden Valley golf course approximately 1800 ft upstream
from where the creek flows into Lake Whatcom. The Austin Creek hydrograph is
mounted on the north west support pillar directly underneath the bridge over Austin
Creek (Lake Whatcom Blvd.), approximately 1 km from the mouth of the creek. The
GPS coordinates for Austin Creek at the bridge are 48∘ 42′ 46.8” N; 122∘ 19′ 52.2”
W.
Wildwood Creek:
The site is located approximately 30 feet south of the entrance to the Wildwood Resort
at the culvert where South Lake Whatcom Boulevard crosses the creek. The GPS
coordinates for Wildwood Creek at the culvert are 48∘ 40′ 41.1” N; 122∘ 19′ 04.9”
W.
Anderson Creek:
The site is located at the bridge where South Bay Drive crosses the creek. Water
samples and discharge measurements are collected upstream from the bridge. The
Anderson Creek hydrograph is mounted in the existing stilling well on the east
side of Anderson Creek, directly adjacent to the bridge over Anderson Creek
(South Bay Drive), approximately 0.5 km from the mouth of the creek. The GPS
coordinates for Anderson Creek at the bridge are 48∘ 40′ 24.3” N; 122∘ 16′ 02.8”
W.
Blue Canyon Creek:
This small creek is not shown on the USGS topographic map for the area. However, it is
located just north of the two major Blue Canyon streams pictured on the USGS Lake
Whatcom 7.5 min. quadrangle (Sect. 22, T 37N, R 4E). Samples are collected
upstream from the culvert crossing the Blue Canyon road. The GPS coordinates for
Blue Canyon Creek on Blue Canyon Road are 48∘ 41′ 06.3” N; 122∘ 17′ 00.7”
W.