Wapato Lake polluted and dying

Wapato Lake no swimming sign It's no secret to anyone who's stopped by this potentially wonderful spot in our fair city. Wapato Lake once was a thriving water hole for the area but now sits dead as its waters are still. Algae kills off wildlife and sometimes pets, no swimming is allowed, and a sheen of guck often covers its surface and shoreline. I've only stopped by the place once and noticed its sad state. MetroParks is acutely aware of the problem and a study is underway to determine at method to help get the lake healthier.

Although one proposal includes rendering some of the run-off toxins like lawn fertilizers inert it's only a temporary fix. A similar method was used in 1984 but the company conducting the study says it didn't work because not enough of the needed chemical was used. Another option is also to dredge the contamination from the lake bottom.

Phosphorous is the main culprit and park visitors can help by picking up after dogs and avoiding feeding park fowl since manure can contribute to the problem. Neighbors are encouraged to avoid fertilizer and other lawn products that contain phosphorous since run-off can drain into the lake. Sounds to me like MetroParks needs to show the area folks, door-to-door if necessary, how they might go about doing this. Show them where these products are, how much they cost, and what they could mean for the lake.

2/13 - Early Wapato Lake report calls its condition serious, TNT

It's a beautiful spot and a little help could certainly got a long way. I'm new enough to this town that I don't have the same memories others surely do about Wapato. Care to share yours? The comments are always open.

Comments (8) | To Top

2/13/2007 @ 12:31pm

Is Wapato Lake a metaphor for the American Empire ? One can guess.

by RR Anderson

2/14/2007 @ 2:37am

Interesting question, RRA. Come up with a good analogy involving crap-filled geese and we'll run with it.

I would have thought by now that the Wapato Lake issue would have been solved. This isn't sudden -- there have been warnings about the water at Wapato and Spanaway Lakes for ages. Difference I suppose is that Spanaway Lake gets circulation while Wapato Lake is rather mediterranean. It's about time Wapato is being taken seriously, if they actually are going to do something this time.

(Last time I swam in the lake: 1998.)

by The Damn Mushroom

2/15/2007 @ 8:46am

I lived on Wapato Lake Dr for many years, and remember the wonderful fishing tournaments that I attended as a participant in the 60's, a father in the 70's. The lake was teeming with trout, bass, catfish, etc. and everyone anticipated the event each year. After the 're-engineering' in the 80's that reduced the inflow and outflow to zero, it's become a stagnant 'petri dish' for contaminants. Phosphorous is a major contributor, but it occurs nearly everywhere - and is mitigated by circulation. Restoring the flow that once existed is nearly impossible, since the outlet that used to flow all the way to Charleton lake on 90th & Hosmer was turned into storm drain, filled and developed. The solution will be wildly expensive - augment to natural springs with clean water from wells.

by Les

8/20/2007 @ 10:23pm

I grew up on %7th Street between Alaska Street and Asotin. At that time the marsh at the north end of the lake was teeming with wetland creatures: frogs, turtles, birds, and other mammals...I recall with great joy walking from out house on the hill down through Mrs. E.H. Mobley's field and then on through the back door of the park and hiking through the forested wetland. We had so much fun catching polywogs and spent endless days on the "swamp". That too, was encrouched upon and developed. What a shame! This was an historic and vital part of the lake and park's ecosystem, which I am quite certain helped to maintain the lake's fragile balance. It is sad to think that what was then considered undeveloped land to some, was a natural habitat that should have been protected under wetlands habitat laws and kept as closely to its pristine condition as possible. Incidently, I went to high at Henry Foss and right across from the school was Snake Lake Discovery Center. How is it that these two similar wetlands were given such unequal attention?

by T.R. Reid

8/20/2007 @ 10:25pm

quick fix: read "57th street" in above comment. Thankyou.

10/5/2007 @ 8:22am

I'll tell you how they got such unequal attention - the further south you go the poorer the community. South Pierce county doesn't get much gov't money to keep things nice.

by rsampson

10/16/2007 @ 3:14pm

Please check out this site. It concerns the terrible pollution of Wapato Lake and a survey for you to take that will be passed along to anyone who might care to do the right thing.

by Wally Giffin

10/16/2007 @ 3:15pm

The site is www.savewapatopark.com

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Tue. February 13, 2007, 07:08am PST