Update on phosphorus mitigation at Moses Lake
WATERLINE SPONSORED CONTENT
by Sam Castro (MLIRD) & Ryan van goethem, CLM (EUTROPHIX)
Columbia Basin Conservation District (CBCD) and Moses Lake Irrigation & Rehabilitation District (MLIRD) received federal funding to perform a large phosphorus (P) mitigation demonstration project. In 2024 and 2025, EutroPHIX and Aquatechnex implemented this work, which involved mitigating phosphorus Rocky Ford Creek with EutroSORB® WC, and a large-scale sediment treatment in the Rocky Ford Arm with EutroSORB® G. A previous Waterline article describes this work in detail.
Why Lake Management Districts matter
Celebrating 40 Years of the Lake Lawrence Lake Management District (RCW 36.61)
by Barry Halverson, Co-Chair of the Lake Lawrence Lake Management District
About the lake
Lake Lawrence is a 331-acre lake in southeastern Thurston County, just a few miles southwest of Mount Rainier. Formed thousands of years ago by the Vashon Glacier as it moved north from the Puget Sound region into Canada, the lake consists of two distinct basins: the larger East basin (277 acres) and the smaller West basin (54 acres). The lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet and an average depth of approximately 12 feet.
WALPA Board updates
Plan for WALPA’s 2026 Conference now!
WALPA Legislative Committee update
Early career panel slated for April 3.
Western Washington lakes workshop coming in May!
Apply for a 2026 WALPA student scholarship!
Get social with WALPA!
Developing a rapid assessment technique for monitoring zooplankton assemblages in Idaho
By Brianna DeCora, Natural Resources Master’s candidate, Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Idaho, winner of WALPA 2025 Scholarship
Beneath the surface of Idaho’s lakes and reservoirs, a hidden world of microscopic life is constantly at work. Nestled in the aquatic food chain between algae and fish exist the “animal wanderers” known as zooplankton. Zooplankton serve as trophic intermediaries by consuming algae and transferring energy up the food web to higher trophic levels of planktivorous and piscivorous fish. All fishes rely on zooplankton in some capacity during their life histories, and to fisheries managers, zooplankton are a powerful biotic indicator for food web stability. Understanding variation in zooplankton is critical to understanding the function of lentic systems and guiding fish management actions.
Turning water quality data into insights: Thurston County’s interactive dashboards
WATERLINE SPONSORED CONTENT
by Timothy Clark, Herrera Environmental Consultants, and Kevin Hansen and Stuart Whitford, Thurston County
Thurston County has been collecting water quality data in streams, lakes, and other surface waters for years. That long-term monitoring effort has generated a deep and valuable dataset. This dataset supports technical analysis, regulatory compliance, restoration planning, and day-to-day decision making. Thurston County, local cities, and their partners have greatly benefited from this robust water quality database when developing stormwater management action plans, retrofit prioritizations, and lake management plans. I greatly appreciated the historic data on Lake Lawrence as we have been developing a lake cyanobacteria management plan with their lake management district.
From dock to data: How lake residents can strengthen monitoring with iNaturalist
by Ethan Fleming, Snohomish County intern
iNaturalist is a tool that lets the average lake resident make an impact on the health and quality of their lake. With a simple photo, noxious weeds can be identified, aquatic plant inventories made, and communities brought together. iNaturalist projects can help bridge the gap between citizen scientists and lake managers to create a simple database of aquatic life in the lake. From a curious visitor to an active community member, every observer can help groups working to keep our lakes healthy through iNaturalist.
There’s more to milfoil
by Wes Glisson, Aquatic Plant Specialist, Washington State Department of Ecology
(A longer version of this story appeared in the fall/winter 2024 issue of the Washington Native Plant Society’s journal Douglasia. Thanks to them for permission to reprint this material here.)
When I started my job a few years ago at the Washington State Department of Ecology, I came across some old educational materials tucked away among the folders at my new desk. One was a bumper sticker that says, “Stop spreading milfoil around!” I really like this bumper sticker. It’s bright yellow, it has a little STOP sign, a nice line drawing, and a very clear message. Unfortunately, despite how nice this bumper sticker is, milfoil (Myriophyllum spp.), specifically the invasive Eurasian watermilfoil (M. spicatum), did spread around. A lot. And it is still spreading.
