Water Quality and Lake Health

Lake Kayak is a manmade lake (impounded) and because of this it is extremely important that community members are vigilant in order to maintain the health of the lake.  

Chemicals (from lawn/weed treatment/oil spills) and animal waste will contribute to higher phosphorus levels, which are damaging to the lake.

Help Clean up the Lake and Park Anytime!  Please donate your time to help keep the park cleaned up and protect trees from the voracious beavers --   Clear the strangling berry vines from all our conifer trees, transplant trees, or clear garbage from the lake or park.

Keep an eye out for Toxic Algae Blooms in the summer- it is harmful for dogs and humans.

Report any concerns to the County, they may ask you to collect a sample to submit for testing.  www.lakes.surfacewater.info      

Call Marisa Burghdoff - (425) 388- 3464 ext 4639  Water Quality Analyst - Surface Water Management

Maintaining a natural lake edge with native plants, grasses and vegetation is ideal for lake health and providing protective cover for nesting birds and mammals.   Do not use fertilizers, weedkillers or any chemical treatment near the lake edge or in any proximity to the lake or streams. 

https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/pdfs/Western_Garden_Wise.pdf

Seeing those big blobs of jelly???  

They are a sign of good health in the lake.

Invasive Plants -- Keep an eye out in the summer for invasive plants and help to clear them from the lake       

Aquatic plants- learn how to help control invasive plants in the lake 

See the photo chart below to assist in identification for invasive plants

Here are 2 links for further help identifying these tricky plants from communication with the County after we submitted some samples for identification:      

 "The milfoil sample appears to be a native milfoil  called Myriophyllum hippuroides or western milfoil.  You can find more information about it at the link below. It is similar to Eurasian, but has slightly fewer leaflets.  It is most distinguished by the top portions that often stick out of the water.   Even though it is native, this year in particular it seems to be more robust or noticeable – you are the third volunteer to submit a sample of this plant this year – when typically it goes unnoticed.    

http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php?Genus=Myriophyllum&Species=hippuroides       

The elodea sample you sent also appears to be common elodea (or American waterweed) – Elodea canadensis.  It can easily be confused with Brazilian, but the common typically has three leaflets per whorl – which is consistent with the sample you provided.   See the link for the King County webpage about how to tell the difference.  It can also be confused with hydrilla – which we hope to never see around here."      http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/lakes/plants/weed-identification/brazilian-elodea.aspx

EXCITING NEWS!!!     David and Stephanie  community members has volunteered to re-start the lake water quality monitoring program.  We are getting training in May and sampling will start this summer. For now, Snohomish County can include us in the tracking for our lake health, adding to decades of data we have already gathered. 

  Any more volunteers that are interested, please contact Molly.

   Data from Lake Kayak is included in the Lake Report Read the latest Lake Report from the County   

  www.snohomishcountywa.gov/1126/Volunteer-Lake-Monitoring