What’s going on around Capitol Lake this week? Biologists collecting data for estuary
If you take a stroll around Capitol Lake this week, you may notice biologists working along the shoreline.
According to the state Department of Enterprise Services, the data they’re collecting will help contractors assess the state of the vegetation and habitat around the lake.
DES spokesperson Kara Klotz said the fieldwork that’s taking place through Friday, Nov. 15, is being done to help identify boundaries of the natural wetland as well. The work includes collecting small soil samples.
The pedestrian path along Deschutes Parkway and the lake is open during the work.
According to DES, the crew’s findings will help move estuary restoration to the next stage of design and will provide some of the information needed to apply for project permits.
DES expects design work to continue through at least the end of 2026. The agency has begun working with consultants to coordinate with regulatory agencies around the permitting requirements for the project. Klotz said work on seeking permits will mostly happen in 2025 and 2026.
There are 24 permits or agency approvals the group is seeking, according to the project Environmental Impact Statement.
A few weeks ago, Tumwater City Council member Angela Jefferson asked project representatives what will happen to the swan populations and other animals that call the lake home, either seasonally or year round, once estuary restoration begins.
Klotz said overall, their analysis shows that estuary restoration will have a substantial, beneficial effect on shorebirds and wading birds. Restoration will have a moderate beneficial effect on marine shellfish and waterfowl, and some benefits would be seen for raptors and songbirds.
The lake used to be a hotspot for bats as well, and tours used to be given around the lake to give people the chance to spot them. Klotz said literature suggests that none of the local bat species use the lake exclusively, and instead forage in diverse habitats across the region.
She said it’s difficult to assess the overall impact on bats because of data gaps in understanding their current use of Capitol Lake, but the estuarine environment will have significant, unavoidable impacts on the Yuma myotis and little brown bats at the Woodard Bay trestle colony because of the size of the colony.
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