Meeting reminder: Capitol Lake Executive Workgroup meeting and public presentations to be held May 27

The Capitol Lake/Deschutes Estuary Executive Workgroup will hold its next regular meeting regarding the long-term management of Capitol Lake on Friday, May 27, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the presentation room of the 1500 Jefferson building located at 1500 Jefferson St. S.E., Olympia.

The May 27 meeting will focus on screening criteria that could serve as the methodology for reviewing best available science regarding Capitol Lake water quality and habitat issues. A complete agenda is posted on the Capitol Lake meetings webpage.

The executive workgroup was created after the 2015 Legislature directed the Department of Enterprise Services to make progress toward reaching an agreement about the long-term management of the lake. Completed in 1951, Enterprise Services manages the 260-acre reservoir known as Capitol Lake as part of the 486-acre Capitol Campus.

Besides Enterprise Services, other workgroup members represent the cities of Olympia and Tumwater, Squaxin Island Tribe, Port of Olympia and Thurston County.

Presentations from the public scheduled for May 27 and June 24 meetings

During the May 27 and June 24 executive workgroup meetings, local citizens are slated to make presentations offering differing viewpoints about the history of Capitol Lake and the Deschutes estuary.

The public presentations will be conducted in the same room as the executive workgroup sessions but will occur noon to 2 p.m.

Enterprise Services is actively engaging the public to reach a broad community agreement regarding the long-term management of Capitol Lake. For a list of presenters and their topics, go to Enterprise Services Capitol Lake website – see the blue-colored box on the right-hand side of the webpage.

Next community input meeting June 1

In addition to the May 27 and June 24 executive workgroup meetings, Enterprise Services will be conducting a community input meeting on Wednesday, June 1:

  • What: Community input meeting about information and input regarding methodology for best available science
  • When: Wednesday, June 1, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
  • Where: Presentation Room, 1500 Jefferson St. S.E., Olympia

Monthly community survey

In addition, Enterprise Services is currently seeking community input on the criteria that could serve as the methodology for reviewing best available science regarding water quality and habitat issues at Capitol Lake. The public can provide their input by completing the online survey on the Capitol Lake webpage. This survey is open through June 2.

Directions to 1500 Jefferson

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

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