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What's
inside...
Launch
into spring
Be
"bear aware"
Will spring
rains stop a summer drought?
Ask Dr. Lakenstein
Knocking back
noxious weeds
Diversity
at the water's edge
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 Lake Steward
The
newsletter of the WLR
Lake Stewardship Program
Vol. 8, No. 2 Spring 2001
King
County Boating Regulations
Launch into
spring
Spring brings out a whole flotilla
of new boaters to King County's lakes and rivers. To ensure a
fun, safe day on the water, pack a little knowledge about boating
and safety regulations along with the water toys.
In King County, boating activities are largely regulated through
the King County Code under Section 12.44. This section specifies
speed regulations, lake specific boating restrictions, equipment
requirements, and other related information. Washington state
marine laws also affect King County boaters. In the Revised Code
of Washington (RCW) Chapter 79A.60, Regulations of Recreation
Vessels, boater information such as the requirements for personal
floatation devices can be found.
Establishing Regulations
Each lake is unique, subsequently so are their boating regulations.
These regulations were established through individual ordinances
passed by the Metropolitan King County Council. To establish
a boating regulation on a lake requires the support of your Councilmember
who would sponsor the legislative process for establishing specific
regulations at your lake. To contact your Councilmember, call
(206) 296-1000 or log-on at King
County Council's web site.
Personal Flotation Devices
When it comes to safety, all lakes in King County follow the
same basic rules. Before getting on the water, make sure you
have your
personal flotation device (PFD). All PFDs must meet or exceed
design standards set by the United States Coast Guard. Additionally,
a PFD must be available, of appropriate size, and in serviceable
condition for each person on board. A new life jacket law went
into effect July 25, 1999. It stipulates that children 12 years
old and younger must wear a PFD whenever the vessel is underway.
Children also are required to have a life jacket on when on an
open deck or cockpit of any vessel less than 19 feet.
Personal Watercraft
The U.S. Coast Guard classifies personal watercraft (such as
jet skis) as Class A inboard boats. Pursuant to this, King County
Code holds jet skis operation to the same basic rules and requirements
as any other powerboat:
- Sailboats (and other non-motorized
watercraft), commercial vessels, and fishing boats always have
the right of way.
- Operators of jet skis must be
at least 14 years old, and all operators and riders must wear
PFDs.
- Operation is prohibited from
sunset until sunrise.
Also be aware that more and more
lakes throughout the state are passing additional rules regarding
jet skies and their hours of operation. New restrictions on personal
watercraft typically will be posted at public boat launches and
other public areas.
Speed Limits
Generally, no motor powered watercraft can be operated on any lake in excess of eight miles per hour. Exceptions to this speed limit are specified for lakes Meridian, Sammamish, Sawyer, and Washington where a more diverse set of uses may occur (e.g., transportation, hydro-racing). For all lakes in Washington, boaters are required to keep their vessels under control at all times and should never endanger the safety of others or harm property and wildlife. Additionally, skippers are responsible for damage caused by their vessels' wakes. For more information on state boating regulations, go to http://www.rco.wa.gov/default.asp on the Web or contact the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission at (800) 233-0321.
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Backyard
Wildlife
Be "bear-aware"
A multitude of animals live in
rural King County including black bears. Washington black bears
actually come in many colors, from black to brown to even a reddish-blond
color. Black bears do not get very large, averaging only two
to three feet tall from the shoulder and approximately 130 pounds
for females and up to 225 pounds for males. Still, seeing one
in your backyard can be unnerving if not downright scary. By
remaining calm and following a few simple safety rules, you will
likely avoid harm and will have a wonderful sight to behold.
Black bears are omnivorous, meaning they will eat just about anything--grasses, berries, nuts, fruits, insects, fish and small mammals, even carrion (dead animals). In residential areas they will also eat pet food, garbage, and birdseed. Based on reported sightings, bears are more likely to be in neighborhoods near forested areas from late May through July. If you do see a bear, stay calm, stand tall, wave your arms, and talk to identify yourself as a human. Move away from the bear but do not run; go indoors if you can. Give the bear plenty of room and an escape route. Black bears are typically non-aggressive and tend to avoid people. However, if frightened, they may become less predictable.
You can minimize your chances of encountering a bear in your
yard by removing your bird feeders and keeping garbage cans and
pet food indoors. Birds will do quite well during the summer
months without the bird feeders, and they will return to your
yard when you put the feeders back up in the fall. For more information,
contact King County's Wildlife Program at (206) 296-7266.
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inside"
Lake
Monitors Report
Will spring rains
stop a summer drought?
Low winter precipitation totals in the Northwest are still causing drought concerns despite recent April showers. The regional climate station at Sea-Tac Airport reported 433 millimeters (mm) total of precipitation between October 1, 2000 and March 31, 2001. That is only 59 percent of the 1948-2000 historical average of 734mm for those six months. Since 76 percent of our annual rainfall typically takes place between October and March, there is little opportunity during the coming summer to add significantly to the annual rainfall total for this water year.The current drought conditions are reflected in the low precipitation totals reported by King County volunteer lake monitors. All volunteers reported less rainfall in the winter months of 2001 than 2000 and substantially less than 1999 (Figure 1). In fact, the region received the least winter rainfall in 2001 and the most in 1999 for the seven-year period that volunteers have been monitoring King County lakes.
Overall, lakes Joy, Marcel, and Margaret totaled the most rainfall during the three winter periods between 1999 and 2001. All three lakes are in the northeast corner of the county, close to the Cascade foothills. Lakes Boren, Meridian, and Neilson received the least rainfall in 2001 between October and March. These three lakes are distributed throughout the county. Ames, Langlois, and Walker lakes are new to the program and do not have complete data for this winter.
Summer Drought
Less rainfall usually translates into lower summer lake levels.
Low levels combined with sunny weather and concentrated nutrients
in the lake water may lead to more algae on some county lakes
this summer. In terms of water supply, most residents in King
County will probably not see mandatory water rationing this summer.
Exceptions include Covington, Kent, and Sammamish which are suffering
from development demands on already stressed aquifers. Residents
in the Kent area have been told that yard watering will be restricted
this summer. Other utilities, such as Seattle Public Utilities,
are asking customers to voluntarily conserve water use by ten
percent. Electricity conservation is also important since much
of our supply is hydroelectric power generated from stream flow.
Conservation
Things you can do to conserve water include watering lawns in the early morning or late evening and limiting any lawn watering to once a week. Another alternative is to let your lawn go golden for the summer, the ultimate water conservationmeasure. Avoid pressure washing to clean buildings, sidewalks, or driveways and wash your car at a facility that recycles their water. Finally, try using cold water for the laundry and wash clothes and dishes in the evening after peak electrical use. Simple changes like these can make a big difference if everyone conserves.
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inside"
Ask
Dr. Lakenstein
 Will
this winter's below average rainfall affect water quality in
my lake this summer?
--High and Dry
Dear H&D:
So far, our precipitation totals are about 50 percent below normal
for the water year (October 2000 to September 2001). As a lakeside
resident, you can probably expect to see lower summer lake levels
then previous years. Additionally, with below average rainfall
this winter, groundwater levels have not been replenished. Normally,
groundwater supports stream flows and subsurface inflows to the
lake during drier summer months. We can expect reduced groundwater
flows to lakes and streams this year.
As far as water quality goes, we may see more algal growth in
our lakes. This growth is likely to occur in shallow lakes and
shoreline areas that warm up sooner and have plenty of light
available for generating plant growth. Lack of significant winter
rainfall will also affect water quality in lakes where dilution
of nutrient-rich inflows might have otherwise occurred. On the
other hand, the lack of intense storms reduced erosion and transport
of nutrients, partially offsetting some of the effects associated
with less than normal rainfall.
We do know that eventually, as our weather patterns return to
normal, we can expect water quality and lake levels to return
to patterns found in previous years.
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inside"
King
County at Work
Knocking
back noxious weeds
The mission of eliminating or
minimizing the degrading impact of invasive noxious weeds becomes
bigger every year. These weeds clog our waterways and overtake
native plant species. They are a threat to farmlands and wildlife.
On the frontline of this war against these invaders stands the
King County Noxious Weed Control Program.
What are Noxious Weeds?
Noxious weeds are legally defined by State Law (Chapter 17.10
RCW) as plants that once established, are highly destructive,
competitive, or difficult to control. Noxious weeds and other
invasive species pose an increasing threat to the integrity of
croplands and natural  ecosystems. A leading cause of
species endangerment under the Endangered Species Act, noxious
and invasive species cost the U.S. economy an estimated $123
billion annually. Only complete habitat destruction (such as
through development) poses a bigger threat to native species.
Getting the Word Out
The 2001 King County Noxious Weed List contains the names of
93 species from the State Noxious Weed List that are considered
to be of concern or a priority for eventual eradication in King
County. New to the list as a "Weed of Concern" is English
ivy (Hedera helix), a popular groundcover, which left unchecked
can overrun native plants and even choke full grown trees. The
King County Noxious Weed Control Program is responsible for getting
the word out on English ivy and the many other invasive species
that have been introduced to the Northwest as ornamental garden
and aquarium plants. Noxious weeds are also introduced through
wildflower seed mixes, and agricultural crops.
The Keys to Success
Prevention, education, and technical assistance continue to be
the keys to the Program's success. Staffers are especially busy
in the summer months working with landowners, businesses, and
other agencies keeping current sites controlled and guarding
against new infestations. Over the last few years, increased
funding for the Program has produced greater results. With additional
staff, the Program has been able to increase field survey, public
education, and technical assistance efforts throughout the County.
The Battle's Not Over Yet
Additional weed infestations continue to be identified each year
by staffers. Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), purple
loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)
sites occur in the greatest numbers and control efforts continue
to increase for these and other weed species each year. To find
our more about identifying, removing, and controlling noxious
weeds, please call (206) 296-0290. More information can also
be found at the Noxious
Weed Control Program web site.
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inside"
Lake
Ecology
Diversity
at the water's edge
King County lakes come in many
different sizes, shapes, depths, and of course, water quality.
Regardless of these characteristics, shorelines are the most
biologically diverse and functionally important areas associated
with lakes. Transitions between the lake and adjacent upland
and terrestrial ecosystems, shorelines provide conditions favorable
to rearing fish, as well as habitat for birds, mammals, and others
vertebrates. A lake's shore is also important to animals with
biphasic life cycles (those having two distinct life phases:
an aquatic larval stage and a terrestrial or semiaquatic adult
stage.) Examples include aquatic insects such as caddisflies
and dragonflies, and pond-breeding amphibians such as frogs,
toads, and salamanders.
The Littoral Zone
The shallow shoreline area, known as the littoral zone, accounts
for much of the wildlife diversity seen at lakes. The wide variety
of emergent plants such as grasses, herbs, rushes, and sedges
in this zone provide the food and cover for an extensive aquatic
food web starting with microscopic zooplankton such as water
fleas and rotifers. Larger, yet relatively small animals called
macroinvertebrates also dwell here. Examples include the well-known
pond snail. In turn, a host of immature insects, notably dragonflies,
alderflies, and diving beetles feed on the smaller insects, snails,
worms, and larval amphibians.
The Role of Plants
Without the diversity of aquatic plants and invertebrates along
the lake shore, frogs and salamanders, turtles and snakes, waterbirds
and songbirds, and mammals including muskrats, otters, and deer
would not be found at lakes. For example, soft, thin-stemmed
emergent plants provide critical egg attachments sites for breeding
amphibians. Without these plants, eggs sink to the bottom where
they may suffocate from sedimentation or be eaten by predators.Aquatic
plants also provide cover for tadpoles and the larvae of many
amphibians and nearshore herbs and shrubs provide shady and cool
habitats for newly metamorphosed frogs and salamanders. Mallards,
American wigeon, northern pintail, and other waterfowl that visit
during their annual migrations or remain as breeding residents
throughout the year eat aquatic plants and their seeds. Mammals
such as voles, muskrats, and deer feed extensively on the succulent
grasses and rushes of lake shores. A whole host of critters,
from the western painted turtle, common and western terrestrial
garter snakes, rubber boas, to wood ducks, common Goldeneye,
and Great Blue and Green-backed herons prey upon the snails,
insects, tadpoles, and metamorphosed amphibians and small fish
among the emergent plants.
Vital Habitat
Riparian vegetation is also important as nesting, denning, and
rearing habitat for a great variety of songbirds and mammals.
Besides being close to water, vegetation found here is abundant
with insects and other small aquatic animal populations, a prime
food source for young songbirds and mammals. Recently, 90 bird
species, 19 native small mammal species, and six native pond-breeding
amphibian species were seen at 19 wetlands with open water and
vegetation similar to that found at natural lakes. Clearly, this
transition habitat from open water to upland forests represents
the greatest biological diversity when compared against other
ecosystems and highlights the importance of lakeshores and riparian
areas.
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