A workgroup made up of local and tribal government representatives working to find a path forward on long-term planning for Capitol Lake/Deschutes estuary will meet from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, March 25 at the 1500 Jefferson Street building in Olympia.

The agenda for the March 25 meeting includes a briefing on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process and on the workgroup's implementation plan for coordinating their work in 2016. There will also be an update on the public feedback gathered at a March 9 public open house and through the Department of Enterprise Services Capitol Lake webpage.

The March 25 meeting agenda is posted on the workgroup webpage.

The 2015 Legislature directed (see page 55, section Sec. 1095) Enterprise Services to make progress on reaching an agreement about the long-term management of Capitol Lake. The department manages the 260-acre reservoir known as Capitol Lake as part of the 486-acre Capitol Campus.

Enterprise Services invited representatives from the Squaxin Island Tribe, cities of Olympia and Tumwater, Thurston County and the Port of Olympia to form a workgroup to assist the department with the legislative directive.

The Legislature wants the state and workgroup to explore many issues, including:

• Identification of hybrid approaches for managing the lake.
• A sustainable funding plan for future management alternatives.
• A shared governance structure to manage implementation of an immediate plan and oversee the water body over the long-term.

Enterprise Services must develop a report that summarizes the work done by the workgroup and submit it to the Legislature by Jan. 1, 2017.

Learn more about Capitol Lake management issues.

No public comment will be taken at the March 25 meeting. The next public open house where comment will be taken is tentatively scheduled for mid-April.

What: Capitol Lake/Deschutes estuary meeting
When: Friday, March 25, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Where: 1500 Jefferson Street building, room 2208

The 1500 Jefferson Street building is located between 14th Avenue and Maple Park Avenue in Olympia, just south of the roundabout. Get directions.

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