whatcom.land · Whatcom County, Washington

The land around us

Maps and charts of Whatcom County's forests, fires, farms, protected land, rivers, snow and glaciers, drawn from public records and satellite images, with notes on what they show. Each tab answers one question.

Areas approved for harvest. Darker is more recent. HarvestsWhat's happening in the forests around us? Timber harvests the state has approved, who owns the land, and whether each area has been cut yet.
A century of fires. Darker is more recent. FiresWhere has fire burned around us? Every wildfire on record, how badly the large ones burned, and how the land is coming back.
The main crop in each square of farmland. Berries are dark red. FarmsWhat grows on the farms around us? Berries, hay, corn and vegetables: where they grow, and how farming here has changed.
About 76% of the land is protected in some way. Darker is more strongly protected. ConservedHow much of the land around us is protected? National park, wilderness, forest, state and local land and easements: how strongly, and who looks after it.
The Nooksack River's highest level each winter. Darker is a bigger flood. FloodsHow high have our rivers risen? Every high water at the river gauges, the November 2021 flood, levees, and where flood risk is mapped.
Snow on the mountains each April 1, against normal. Darker is more snow. SnowHow much snow did the mountains hold? Snow each spring and through each winter, this season so far, and rain falling on snow.
Mount Baker in late summer, 1984 and 2026: bright snow and ice went from 54.8 to 27 km². GlaciersHow have the glaciers changed? Mount Baker's glaciers since they were first mapped, and one satellite picture for every late summer since 1984.

Skagit County is included for comparison: pick it from the county menu on any map. How the site is made, its sources and its privacy rules: About.