SNOHOMISH — The fate of Blackmans Lake may unfold like a “choose your own adventure” novel, and it is up to the community to decide which path to take.
Concerns about pollution, invasive plants and problems with
waterfowl are a few issues that prompted rounds of recent water quality testing to help assess the lake’s health.
The new group Friends of Blackmans Lake has three months of test results data to share with the public at its inaugural meeting, Monday, Feb. 25 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Harvey Room of Snohomish Fire District 4, 1525 Ave. D.
There, Snohomish High School students who belong to the Junior
Sportsmen’s Club will present their findings, said science teacher Louie Boggeri. Group co-founder Dave Spencer said the aim right now is to collect and deliver information on the health of the lake to the community.
Developing a baseline could take a year of testing, some group members say. Decades of prior government testing results are publicly available but Spencer prefers to establish current, centralized
records.
Once the numbers are revealed, organizers will invite people to
join the group and possibly contribute membership dues toward
buying the high school its own $980 testing kit so it can continue
regular testing.
The students tested the lake’s pH level, temperature, turbidityher worries about pollution embodied by “fluorescent green algae, thick and swirling,” that accumulates on the lake.
Spencer is less concerned.
“I swim in it all the time,” he says, and has never had a problem.
But all members agree on their love for the lake and desire to steward it for the use of the community, their children and grandchildren.
The action plan is murkier than a year ago when sportsman Bob Roush said he was told by an official that the lake rehabilitation could take six years. He countered, saying a two-year fix was the goal, but projects such as removing invasive lily pads and deterring waterfowl from amassing at the lake are on hold as the new group gets going.
Those projects could conceivably be completed this year according to Roush, but would require the group’s agreement.
Organizers agree that larger projects, such as potentially dredging the lake, would face financial obstacles. Roush estimates the cost could run to a few million dollars. The Friends envision multiple possible funding mechanisms, from private-public partnerships to state and federal grants. But for now, the talk is all preliminary and its uncertain what work may be needed to ensure the lake is healthy.
It will be up to committed residents to decide, with words, work and funds, how to proceed.
While the direction of the work at the lake is somewhat up in the air, it seems one outgrowth of the project will be the raising of the next generation of scientist sportsmen.
When they’re not testing or preparing the public presentation, the 11 male high school students have been seen on field trips on the lake, practicing their fishing.
Ditzenberger hopes soon some females will join their testing efforts.
