County approves call for request for proposal for lake management district plan contractors

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) authorized the Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) Environmental Health Division to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Offutt and Pattison Lake Management Districts' (LMD) Integrated Aquatic Vegetation Management Plan (IAVMP) Development, and the Lawrence Lake Integrated Phosphorous Plan Development (IPMP).

At a meeting last March 5, PHSS Environmental Health Program Manager Stuart Whitford explained the details of the RFPs.

Offutt and Pattison Lake Management Districts' Integrated Aquatic Vegetation Management Plan Development

PHSS will hire a qualified aquatic specialist contractor to create two unique IAVMPs for each of Offut and Pattison lakes.

The Department of Ecology awarded a $30,000 grant to each project, and lake management district funds will pay for the balance of the project costs. The estimated cost is $145,000, with $75,000 for the Offut Lake project and $70,000 for Lake Pattison.

Residents from both lakes have recently formed LMDs after excessive weed growth and algae blooms have covered some areas over the past ten years. This results in lake residents and visitors being prevented from enjoying the lakes.

“The purpose of the plan is that when problem plant populations limit the uses of a water body, the solution lies in careful management or planning and finding a remedy to nuisance aquatic plants that is effective, ecologically sensitive, and economically feasible,” said Whitford.

The IAVMP will be developed using the results of the contractor’s thorough study of each lake.

Questions about this RFP are due at 4 p.m. PST on March 18, and Proposals are due at 4 p.m. PST on April 8th.

It is anticipated that the study will begin in May 2024 and the plan will be completed by December 31, 2024.

Lawrence Lake Integrated Phosphorous Plan Development

For Lawrence Lake, PHSS also seeks a qualified aquatic specialist to create a complete IPMP.

The Lake Lawrence Management District Steering Committee and Environmental Health are set to work together to develop the IMPMP.

The plan will set the most effective measures the Steering Committee will take to reduce the lake’s phosphorous and nitrogen levels. Algae blooms and aquatic weed growth will also be less severe if reduced.

Like the former projects, Ecology gave a $50,000 grant and up to $57,000 from lake management district fees. This project is planned to be completed by December 31, 2025.