Be safe when you’re out on the lakes. Boating speed rules and no wake zones on Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish keep swimmers and boaters safe and protect the shoreline from erosion. Here's a summary of what you need to know:
Slow to 6 mph:
- Within 100 feet of a swimmer or non-motorized boat
- Within 300 feet of any public boat launch
- Wakeboard boats on Lake Samish within 300 feet of shorelines, docks, floats
- All other boats on Lake Samish within 150 feet of shorelines, docks, floats
- All boats on Lake Whatcom within 250 feet of shorelines, docks, floats
Night time slow to 8 mph (30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise)
Day time maximum speed limit 40 mph
No-Wake zones:
- East of the Lake Samish Drive Bridge
- Lake Whatcom South Bay
If water skiing, move in a counter-clockwise direction
WCC 11.20.010, WCC 11.13.030 & BMC 8.12.060