The lake is shallow, fed only by small streams, stormwater, and groundwater, in essence, a perfect detention pond!  That means almost every pollutant that reaches the lake stays there to haunt us.  Because it is not flushed (like Lake Washington), it stratifies in summer and mixes in winter, resuspending the detritus from the bottom. 

The best way to protect water quality is to maintain forests and vegetation in the watershed to filter rainwater, hold soils, and minimize runoff.  Trees hold large volumes of water. Vegetation and stable soils also absorb pollutants that affect water quality, before they reach the lake. 

Some activities that affect the lake may seem beyond our immediate control, such as goose poop, ongoing development, and unfortunate accidents such as the tanker trunk crash on Interstate 90 in late September.  With situations like this, it may seem like our individual daily actions don’t make a difference.  But, THEY DO!!  We have cumulative impacts that reach proportions equal to development around the lake. 

Satellite Photo of
Lake Sammamsih

Nutrients, especially phosphorus, feed plants such as blue-green algae and Eurasian water milfoil, which spread in the lake and wipe out other native species that support the food chain and salmonids.   Algae and milfoil are a nuisance for recreational users.  When the algae blooms, it smells bad and forms a layer of surface scum.  The bloom can become toxic to humans and pets.  The more nutrients, the more algae, the more blooms, and the more chance of toxic blooms. There is no fix -- only prevention.

A single gram of dog feces contains an average of 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, some of which can cause disease in humans.  (Dog feces can also contain salmonella, strep, and giardia.)  In high enough concentrations, these bacteria can make water unsafe for swimming, drinking, or fishing. 

Bacterial source tracking studies in a watershed in the Seattle, Washington area found that nearly 20% of the bacteria isolates that could be matched with host animals were matched with dogs.

A 1993 study in Puget Sound found that dogs and cats were the primary source of fecal coliform in urban stormwater.

Stormwater and surface water runoff;

Groundwater contamination;

Shoreline activities; and,

Airborne pollutants reaching the lake

Sweep and collect dirt rather than washing it off of paved areas.

Wash your car, not the fish.  Wash water contains dirt, road grime, oils and soaps.  Even biodegradable soap can harm aquatic life.  If you must wash at home, use soap and water sparingly and do it on the lawn.

Where there are pets and livestock, there’s a “Whole Lotta’ Doo Goin’ On”.  Pick up pet doo, put it in the garbage or flush it to Metro (not to septic).  Take care of livestock manure and contaminated bedding too.  Don’t let the doo pile up; minimize bedding; manage manure by composting, or timely storage and sale to composters or other users.  Call the Livestock Hotline at 206-205-3111 for additional opportunities and seminars.

Properly recycle or dispose of household hazardous waste, such as fluids and wastes from oil-based painting, vehicles (including leaking fluids), gas-powered tools, power lawnmower and boat fluids, batteries, etc.   The Factoria household hazardous waste locker is located at 13800 SE 32nd St., Bellevue.  Hours of operation and Wastemobile dates are listed at www.metrokc.gov/hazwaste/wastemobile/hazsites/factoria.html or call the Hazards Line at 206-296-4692.

Properly drain water-based paint wastes.  Unless you are on a septic system, water based paints are okay down the sewer drain, not the storm drain.

Install and use rain barrel(s) to reduce rainwater to storm drains, and conserve water.

Collect power-washing debris, paint wastes, and the like before it hits the storm drain.

Collect leaves and other yard debris before it floats off to the storm drain.
Stencil storm drains.   Kits are available from Lexi Taylor at King County 206-296-8287.

For charity car washes, install a free, temporary storm drain catchment kit. (Also contact Lexi Taylor).

Use non-chlorine, phosphate-free cleaning products and other nontoxic household products.  This is especially important for houses with septic systems.  (Recommended products at http://www.metrokc.gov/hazwaste/house/cleaners.html#drain and/or contact King County at 206-263-3050).

Use fertilizer sparingly – and when you do, use organic and non-phosphate. Skip the weed and feed; it only increases reliance on chemicals.  (To find out more, see www.metrokc.gov/hazwaste/house/garden/controlweedlawn.html or call 206-633-0224).

Test soils (lawn, garden or crops) before applying fertilizer or amendments. The savings on fertilizer will often offset the cost of testing, and will minimize unnecessary fertilizer application.

Manually remove invasive plants on slopes so they do not choke out natives important for soil slope stability and natural habitat. For a list of noxious species, see http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/lands/weeds/weedid.htm or call King County’s Noxious Weed Program at 206-296-0290. 

Handpick pests – slugs, caterpillars, leaf miners, insect eggs, before using pesticides.  Drown pests in a bit of soapy water. If manual removal absolutely doesn’t work for you, keep in mind that using herbicides and pesticides will only increase reliance on them.  Use them on a spot basis only, and use safer pesticides.  And don’t spray during wind and rain.

Use a mulching mower – grasscycle to reduce water and fertilizer requirements.   See http://dnr.metrokc.gov/swd/resrecy/recycling/grasscycling.shtml.

Water lawns less often and more deeply, and in the early morning hours to reduce evaporation.

Aerate and thatch annually to reduce compaction and runoff.

If you use a professional garden service, pick one that is environment-friendly, does not condone spraying everything to take care of it, and practices chemical free lawn care, if possible. Compost makes a great grass fertilizer.  Remember, grass can be maintained without fertilizer, and at the most, should be fertilized no more than once or twice per year   Any yard service that wants to fertilize or spray insecticides on a frequent or monthly basis, whether it needs it or not, is wasting your money and the products, and is damaging our environment!

Plant and maintain a “chemical free” zone of native vegetation by the water’s edge.

What to do with yard debris?  Compost yard debris at home, or send it to Clean Green/Yard Waste for composting.  Don’t burn it. Don’t pile it near the lake.  Don’t hose it down a storm drain.  Don’t throw it over a stream bank or into the lake.

If you have a septic system – learn how it works, what affects the microbes, and how to detect failure.  Have the system inspected regularly and watch what you dump down the drain.  Proper care of a septic system guidelines can be found at: http://www.metrokc.gov/health/wastewater/care.htm or call (206) 296-4600

Before you consider chemical removal of milfoil and other invasive aquatic plants, review management techniques at the Washington Department of

Ecology’s website on Aquatic Plant Management http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/plants/management/.  

If control techniques don’t work and the milfoil becomes too much of a problem, call SLS to learn about sources of assistance, such as state, city, or county, grants, community service projects, or other means.  (See sidebar on Grants next page)

Grow native plants and trees along shorelines and beaches to reduce erosion.  Erosion promotes algal growth and reduces beach area and quality.

Establish a vegetated buffer zone between landscaping and the lake – it filters runoff and is an effective barrier to keep geese off grass.

Maintain shoreline naturally, without bulkheads.

Refuel  boats or jet skis at a gas station. If you do gas up at your dock, use a leakproof gas cart with fuel pump (available at marine stores) with utmost care.

Keep oil slick pads at your dock and on the boat. Research shows that one quart of oil can contaminate 250,000 gallons of water.

Take litter off the boat with you and put it in a garbage can.

Do not use dishwashing detergent to “dissolve” an oil spill, it only coagulates the oil and harms fish and invertebrates.  

Observe no wake zones and go 8 mph or less within 1000 feet of shoreline to reduce erosion.

Plant erosion-prone slopes with appropriate native vegetation (not English Ivy!)

Participate in volunteer plantings or invasive species removal.

Collect duck and goose droppings from docks, patios and floats and put in the garbage rather than sweeping or  washing into the lake.

Don’t feed water fowl – bread is not part of their natural diet, anyway.

Carpool or bike to work.

Ensure your housecleaners, painters, window-washers, landscapers and other contractors use care and dispose of all cleaners and chemicals correctly, not down the storm drain.

Speak out if you see someone damaging water quality – see www.scn.org/savelake for enforcement numbers or call SLS at 425-641-3008.

Be advocates and educate others – if they’re damaging the lake, it’s probably because they don’t realize the connection.

Support sustainable forestry and advocate for low impact development.

Finally, please tell us about other things you are doing to protect the lake and we’ll pass them on in the next newsletter.