Public use of Lawrence Lake near Yelm is now prohibited as the Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department issued an algae danger warning for the lake on Friday, November 22.
The health department advises the public to remain off the lake while the danger notice is in effect even if the lake becomes visibly clear of algae in the coming weeks as toxins.
A separate notice by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says that its public boat launch in Lake Lawrence will be closed for public use until December 22 due to the danger notice.
According to the results of a lab test of Lake Lawrence conducted on November 19, microcystin toxin levels were reported to be at 1,431 ug/L. According to the health department, microcystins are liver toxins and a possible human carcinogen that may also cause illness in pets and livestock.
Guidelines by the Department of Ecology recommend local health departments to issue a danger warning if the microcystins toxin levels exceed 2,000 ug/L. But since staff will not be able to test the lake next week due to upcoming holiday, the department has decided to upgrade to a danger notice.
Lake Lawrence has had a lake management district (LMD) that never had the funding to manage toxic algae for its 38 years of existence, according to an opinion piece by Barry Halverson, co-chair of the LMD.
Halverson told The JOLT that the district expires at the end of 2026 and must be renewed through a majority vote of its members.
District board members are contemplating the addition of toxic algae mitigation in their mission as they prepare to renew the district, but doing so would require the increase of LMD fees, according to Halverson.
3 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
wildnature
So, what has been added to the lake that caused this?
Tuesday, November 26 Report this
Regina Gallwas
Failing Septic systems is usually the culprit
Tuesday, November 26 Report this
bhalverson
It has nothing to do with failing septic systems as one of the commentors suggests. It has to do with the long history of the lake going back to the late 1800's. Would recommend anyone interested look at this 15 minute YouTube Video appropriately titled , "Death of a Lake". It is the history of Lake Lawrence. https://youtu.be/mwEmEK-xzIQ this next link is a YouTube Video, Titled: How to prevent a lake from dying" on what the Lake Lawrence Lake Management District has done over the past 38 years in attempts to fix historic problems: https://youtu.be/qxZqjmJPmlo . Then if you are still interested in what is being done to try and find a solution to the toxic algae problem here is a link a YouTube Video where a contractor, hired by the lake to find a solution talks about the study that started this past summer and runs through June 2026: https://youtu.be/uKbn0Ji6DFI
5 days ago Report this