Effects On Lake Washington

Lake Washington's Health:

Boaters in Lake Washington

Considering that Lake Washington resides in a center of urban development, its water quality is excellent. This due to large amounts of water entering/leaving the lake constantly and its deep depths. This purity is part of what makes the lake considered one of the beauties of Seattle. Along it there are many parks, trails, and beautiful homes. As a source of beauty and entertainment, it is our duty to maintain this great lake.


Invasive Species:

Introduced accidentally or on purpose from somewhere, invasive species spread and cause damage to their new environments. They may cause biological impacts on the native plants and animals and can be costly to remove and repair what they damage. Typically, invasive species have a high reproductive rate, high dispersal rate, span a wide geographic area, and are associated with human activity. (biol 476)

Effects Of Eurasion Water Milfoil:

Original Figure: Effects of Eurasian Water Milfoil (Lake Access)

The Eurasion Watermilfoil is an invasive freshwater plant and considered one of the most problematic plants in Washington State. According to the Washington State Department of Ecology, 1 million dollars a year is spent by organizations attempting to control its invasion. It is extremely difficult or impossible to remove Milfoil from a body of water once it has settled in. By growing at a rapid rate and creating dense mats on the surface, it drowns out other species that live in the area. The sheer amount of plant material in these areas lower the oxygen and pH making it uninhabitable. Also, Milfoil can interfere with human activity. During the summer, many Seattle residents spend time on the lake swimming and boating. Swimmers can easily get entangled in the large masses of vegetation. Boats motors and engines can become clogged by it and unable to run, sometimes stranding people in the middle of the lake. Houses along the shore sometimes have so much Milfoil that their boats cannot dock. (ecy.wa.gov)