On August 6th & 7th, there will be special meetings between the Board of Directors and Finance Committee. The purpose of these meetings is to present the Capital and Operational Budgets for 2026 by Joel Heverling, Finance Director. The meetings will be held in the Community Center Multipurpose Room A at 7:00PM. Click here for the meeting agenda!

A new amenity has been installed at the Sudden Valley Marina. A life jacket (Personal Flotation Device or PFD) loaner kiosk, a joint effort of the Sudden Valley Safety Committee, WA State Parks, and Boy Scout Troop 4019 member Jack Anderson’s Eagle Scout Project is now installed.

The kiosk allows water craft users at the Marina to borrow a PFD, at no charge, for their outings on the water and then return them. Whatcom County waters, including Lake Whatcom, are classified as Cold Water; and State Law requires all boaters (including Stand Up Paddle Boarders) to have a PFD when on the water; and children under 13 must wear them. The Whatcom County Sheriff will cite those not having a PFD when on the lake. 

Cold Water Shock is the most dangerous consequence of sudden immersion and can incapacitate in seconds. Wearing a properly fitted PFD will keep you afloat, while not wearing it could, and does, result in drowning. Even though surface waters are deceptively warm at this time of year, cold water lurks below and easily is brought to the surface in choppy conditions. No one wants their family or friends to go through the trauma of losing someone when wearing the PFD is such an easy, and now free, bit of insurance.

Residents who own PFDs they no longer need are encouraged to donate them to the Recreation Department, where they will be inspected and added to the loaner program if still serviceable. 

Cascadia Daily News recently published an article about the Lake Louise water lily removal project and the volunteers making it happen. Check out the full article here!

To volunteer to help with the water lily removal project, join the Google group here!

A Town Hall meeting to discuss the Barn 6 proposal will be held on July 23, 2025 from 6:30PM – 8:30PM in the Dance Barn and on Zoom.

Learn about one of the architectural options presented to the Board of Directors which will use the existing footprint of Barn 6.

To attend via Zoom, click here!

As the 4th of July approaches, we would like to remind residents that the use of fireworks in Sudden Valley is strictly prohibited. Fireworks are dangerous both for the user and the surrounding homes and forests:

• Fireworks increase the risk of fire, disturb the peace of the neighborhood, and disrupt the activity of the animals that share our space
• Setting off fireworks causes many injuries each year

SVCA maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding the use of fireworks. Security will enforce the No Fireworks Allowed policy and cite offenders on SVCA Rules & Regulations Section 1.4. The fine for violating this rule is $100. No warnings will be given.

To view the event, click here! The original event announcement is shown below.

Great news! MONDAY, JUNE 23, 6:30 to 8:00PM in the Dance Barn — A FREE workshop on Go-Bags, evacuation planning, the AlertSense warning system & neighborhood disaster readiness will be provided by speakers from the Bellingham and Whatcom County Emergency Management teams.

Prizes will be given out in a drawing for in-person attendees!

A Q&A session will be included! Sponsored by the SVCA Safety Committee. Click here to join the meeting!

Whatcom County Public Works will close roads in the Lake Whatcom area from June 24 to June 26 to perform routine road maintenance. Work will include mowing, tree trimming, guardrail repair, ditching, and catch basin maintenance. 

Roads will be closed to through traffic from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the following days:

• Tuesday, June 24
  Lake Louise Road, from Austin Street to Lake Whatcom Boulevard
• Wednesday, June 25 & Thursday, June 26
   Lake Whatcom Boulevard, from Lake Louise Road to Cain Lake Road

Advance warning signs will be posted on-site to alert drivers to the closure periods. Please follow all posted signage and plan your alternate routes accordingly. 

This post was originally made on the Whatcom County website and is being posted here for further exposure. Please see the original announcement here: https://www.whatcomcounty.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=4990

Note: These closures do not apply to emergency vehicles. 

SVCA’s Rules & Regulations state that a burn ban automatically goes into effect for Sudden Valley when Whatcom County declares a burn ban. On June 15th, the South Whatcom Fire Authority implemented a Stage One burn ban, triggering this requirement.

The SVCA Rules & Regulations explain that when a burn ban is in effect, no outdoor fires except properly enclosed cooking fires using gas or charcoal as fuel will be permitted. All other outdoor fires (open flames, including recreational fires) are prohibited for the duration of the burn ban.

Sudden Valley’s rules are more restrictive than those of the County. Even though recreational fires are still allowed by the county, SVCA rules are clear that no recreational fires with open flames will be allowed. Violation of the burn ban can result in a fine of $250. The fine increases to $500 if there is a subsequent violation.

NOTE: Primary Roads – Tuesday, June 10, 2025, All Day. Specialized Pavement Marking (SPM) will be on site painting center lines on primary roads.

Dear Sudden Valley Members,

We appreciate your feedback and understand the concerns regarding recent pool wait times and capacity guidelines. Our goal is to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all members.

Our operations are primarily guided by Washington State regulations. Additionally, the number of patrons allowed in the pool is influenced by factors such as pool size, available lifeguards, and safety considerations.

We acknowledge that recent wait times have been longer than usual. This is partly due to staffing challenges common during the early season. As the season moves forward, more lifeguards will have availability and capacity levels will be higher. 

We recognize the importance of clear communication. Moving forward, we will:

• Provide timely updates on pool operations and any changes to guidelines.
• Ensure transparency regarding the guidelines we follow and the reasons behind operational decisions.
• Prioritize SVCA Residents & Monthly Pass holders over non-resident Day Pass purchasers.

Your feedback is invaluable, and we are committed to continuous improvement. Thank you for your understanding and support.