Thurston County plans Pattison Lake Management District to improve water quality

Thurston County plans to establish a new lake management district for Pattison Lake after receiving a petition from local residents.

In a 2-0 vote, the Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution declaring their intention to create the new district on June 21. A public hearing on the matter is set for July 26.

If formed, the lake management district would aim to protect the “water quality, fish and wildlife, recreation and aesthetic values” of Pattison Lake for 10 years beginning in 2023.

The county administered district would also feature an advisory committee of five elected LMD ratepayers who would provide input to Thurston County Public Works staff. Forming the group would require an additional 0.5 full-time equivalent county employee, said Water Resource Manager Tim Wilson.

County officials estimate annual rates and charges for the new LMD will result in $134,912 in revenue for the first year, but this may increase by up to 5% each subsequent year. The county does not pay for the cost of the LMD, according to county documents.

About 119 people signed the petition, representing about 35.7% of the total acreage proposed for the Lake Management District boundary, per the resolution. This exceeded the 20% minimum set by state law.

Just before the vote, Commissioner Tye Menser said he initially felt hesitant to create a new district after having some issues with existing districts. However, he changed his mind after meeting with community leaders.

“I left feeling confident that the Pattison Lake community would work with the county cooperatively and productively on this project,” Menser said. “I know this is a long process to form so I’ve asked that we expedite it in any way we can.”

The county currently has regular LMD committee meetings for Long Lake and Pattison Lake. Recently, the county has undertaken a program to clarify the roles and responsibilities in LMDs.

Commissioner and Board Chair Carolina Mejia abstained from the vote on the resolution, saying she still had many unanswered questions about the district.

“I have not had an opportunity to meet with the petitioners,” Mejia said on Tuesday. “I do not want to delay the process, so I thought (abstaining) was the best way to address this.”

During an earlier public comment period, a few people expressed support for the Pattison Lake Management District.

Margaret Tudor, who sits on the Pattison Lake Association board of directors, said she wants to work with the county to reduce toxic algae outbreaks and manage weeds.

“We appreciate the science that has been used in the past to warn us of these toxic outbreaks, but we’d like to prevent them in the future,” Tudor said.

She added residents along the lake are happy to tax themselves to help keep the lake healthy for the county’s growing population.

Jane Appling, who also sits on the PLA board, called the low-speed lake a “quiet and serene place” where people can recharge. Yet, she said the lake has “changed dramatically” over the years.

“We’ve had a lot of problems with invasive species, and we have definitely seen more frequent, more serious toxic algae blooms on the lake,” Appling said.

Next steps

Following the public hearing, the county must authorize a vote of landowners with affected properties, according to county documents. If that succeeds, the county may then adopt an ordinance establishing LMD No. 23 as soon as this fall.

A map of the proposed district shows it will consist of bordering parcels along the lake and some communities with access to the lake.

A copy of the petition lists proposed activities for the LMD program. It suggests the program contract a company to study the lake to assess its water quality and identify aquatic plants and noxious species.

From there, the petition proposes the program manage the vegetation and wildlife to ensure safety for boaters and swimmers. This includes reducing toxic algae blooms and rapidly increasing weed growth, conducting regular water testing and identifying pollution sources.

The public hearing has been scheduled for July 26 at 3 p.m. at the Thurston County Courthouse, Building 1, Room 280 at 2000 Lakeridge Drive Southwest in Olympia.

People who cannot attend can still submit written comments by mail or email by a 5 p.m. deadline on July 25.

The county request letters be sent to Paula Cracknell, an aquatic resources specialist, at Thurston County Public Works, 9605 Tilly Road South, Olympia. Cracknell can also be emailed at tcpw.hearings@thurston.wa.us.