Article by Department of General Administration. Published on Friday, March 06, 2010 EST.
Picture shows about 200 mud snails scooped out from under a dog’s paw print. Some of the snails may have attached themselves to the dog for easy transport to another body of water.
The state Department of General Administration began draining Capitol Lake again in the early hours of March 5, preparing to refill it with freshwater from the Deschutes River and Percival Creek.
The department lowered the lake last week to allow in saltwater from Budd Inlet. Most of the saltwater will be released from the lake starting around 2 p.m. today.
Refilling the lake with freshwater should be completed by about March 8.
The back-flush is a test to determine the effectiveness of saltwater in killing the invasive New Zealand mud snails. Researchers from the departments of Fish and Wildlife and Ecology will measure the effects.
The goal is to reduce the snail population so it is less likely to spread to other waters. And this is where the community can help. Mud snails, which are about the size of a grain of rice, are easily transported to other bodies of water. They are able to attach themselves to shoes, clothing and animal fur. Many residents have been walking along the lake shore and allowing their pets into the water.
To help prevent the spread of the snails, General Administration on March 8 will begin installing 400 feet of fencing along the steps to the gravel beach adjacent to the seawall at Heritage Park. The low fencing, about 44 inches high, should not interfere with lake views from the park lawns and pathways.
The lake remains closed indefinitely to all uses. Signs are posted at multiple locations announcing the closure. Unfortunately, people and pets continue to enter Capitol Lake, especially from the beach area.
More information about the back-flushing: http://www.ga.wa.gov/News/CurrentNews.htm
General Administration began draining Capitol Lake again in the early hours of March 5, preparing to refill it with freshwater from the Deschutes River and Percival Creek.
The department lowered the lake last week to allow in saltwater from Budd Inlet. Most of the saltwater will be released from the lake starting around 2 p.m. today.
Refilling the lake with freshwater should be completed by about March 8.
The back-flush is a test to determine the effectiveness of saltwater in killing the invasive New Zealand mud snails. Researchers from the departments of Fish and Wildlife and Ecology will measure the effects.
The goal is to reduce the snail population so it is less likely to spread to other waters. And this is where the community can help. Mud snails, which are about the size of a grain of rice, are easily transported to other bodies of water. They are able to attach themselves to shoes, clothing and animal fur. Many residents have been walking along the lake shore and allowing their pets into the water.
To help prevent the spread of the snails, General Administration on March 8 will begin installing 400 feet of fencing along the steps to the gravel beach adjacent to the seawall at Heritage Park. The low fencing, about 44 inches high, should not interfere with lake views from the park lawns and pathways.
The lake remains closed indefinitely to all uses. Signs are posted at multiple locations announcing the closure. Unfortunately, people and pets continue to enter Capitol Lake, especially from the beach area.
More information about the back-flushing: http://www.ga.wa.gov/News/CurrentNews.htm
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