Water Quality

Which brings us now to the further subject of water quality. Lake water is typically very clear and fresh to taste and scent through June and well into July. Prevailing Northwest winds are quite brisk and provide good aeration. Little or no runoff that might carry pollutants occurs after the end of the rainy season and before concerted lawn fertilizing registers effect. Some blooms occurring in mid-summer plus the appearance of bottom growth in shallow water cause some deterioration - mostly cosmetic - during this period. The heaviest bottom growth, appearing for the first time about 1986 - has been identified as Alodia, an aquatic plant used in home aquariums. While disagreeable under foot, this plant can be controlled somewhat by periodic raking and composting according to Len Hulsman, one of the more diligent observers and preservers of our environment. Chemical treatments were considered worse than the problem. Most residents probably recognize the need to guard against permitting dissolved garden chemicals and fertilizers from reaching the lake—a situation where we must police our own behavior.

The most potent - and least controllable - pollutant is waterfowl droppings, particularly those of the Canadian goose (the mightiest dropper of them all). Aside from the obvious distasteful nature of this pollutant there are also excreted snail larvae of some type which causes skin itch problems among a minority of persons. Whether this snail is attributable to geese, ducks or even gulls, or all 3, is not known by this writer.

1989 Reports show an alarming increase in Goose population. Over 900 nests were counted in Union Bay this year with 6 to 8 eggs each. Puget Sound lakes are at severe risk of pollution. Renton and Kirkland Park Systems both recently spent $l5,000.00 for lawn "poop vacuums" and this only marginal protects the water. On a calm September morning last year the writer observed a floating island of waterfowl pollutants about 200 yards long and 50 yards wide. This consisted of feces and feathers. Even a Labrador retriever probably would refuse to swim in this mess.