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Scenes from past FOGL milfoil cleanups.

FOGL WORK PARTY ON SATURDAY DEC. 8 TACKLED SHORELINE MILFOIL

Intrepid volunteers braved the weather at the FOGL Work Party Sat. Dec. 8 to rake a growing accumulation of milfoil that was being blown around by the wind and decomposing along the Green Lake shoreline, and stack it neatly at the shore, Working with rakes and pitch forks for a couple hours in the morning, the group got much of the accumulation out of the water and into piles for the park department to pick up and dispose of. Parks provided a collection of rakes and pitch forks, but many brought their own tools, rubber boots, gloves and the brave brought waders to work beyond the shoreline. They met in the west side parking lot near the Bathhouse Theater. FOGL Work Parties are held when there is a need for them. If you would like to participate, or have questions, call or email Garet Munger (206-524-4326.) Or just stop by when a work party is announced!

FOGL NOMINATED FOR DENNY AWARD

Friends of Green Lake was honored to be nominated for a 2012 Parks Department Denny Award for their outstanding volunteer stewardship of Green Lake Park. "We would not be able to do the work of this organization were it not for incredible volunteers like you who donate so much of your time and energy to Seattle Parks and Recreation," Christopher Williams, Acting Parks Dept Superintentdent, said. FOGL was nominated by Katie Gray, North Parks Manager. See the full text of her nomination here.

IMPROVING WATER CLARITY IN GREEN LAKE

Green Lake water clarity varies with the amount of suspended sediment (clays and silts) and/or plankton (microscopic plants and animals also known as algae) in the water, as seen below. Click the graph to for a larger version. See Monitoring page for more details.


FOGL has IRS approved tax-exempt status for environmental, scientific and educational activities.

NEWS ITEMS


Photo by Gayle Garman

TOXIC ALGAE AGAIN FOUND PRESENT IN GREEN LAKE

King County collected a sample from Green Lake on Wednesday February 27. Results from that sample are being reported at 7.1 ug/L microcystin. This is above the state guidance level of 6.0 ug/L and therefore prompts attention from King County Public Health and Seattle Parks.

Caution Signs Are
Posted at the Lake

Caution signs will be posted around the lake warning of the potential hazard from exposure to the algae. King County Department of Health and Seattle Park Department make the determination to post warning or closure signs at the lake. Signs can be removed when there has been a series of weekly tests below the guidance level.

Test results for many lakes including Green Lake are posted online. Go to the website and search for Green Lake to find Green Lake test results. If you have questions or comments or observations you can email FOGL President Garet Munger.

We urge you to join with other Friends of Green Lake at our monthly meetings as we learn more about algae and the lake. See meeting notices elsewhere on this page.

Algae blooms are notorious for being very patchy - high levels in one area and low levels in another close by area. Thus, health agencies always recommend avoiding any areas that have dense concentrations of scum. It is always good practice to keep dogs from entering and drinking the water where the green scum is present. Be especially careful if you notice there is a bright green scum on the water.

Report algae scum to Friends of Green Lake (206-524-4326). If you can, get a photo and identify the specific location. FOGL will collect a sample and take it to DNR for ID and testing.

You can also call Sally Abella of King County DNR directly at 206-296-8382.

GL EVENTS & MEETINGS

Friends of Green Lake FOGL meets at 7:00 PM on the fourth Tues each month: The Hearthstone Board Room, main floor 6720 E. Green Lake Way N NEXT MEETING TUESDAY MAY. 28, 2013 Green Lake Community Council - GLCC meets at 7:00 PM in The Hearthstone Chapel (address above) on the second Wednesday of odd no. months. Green Lake Community Council

TOPICS INCLUDED FOR MEETING MAY 28, 2013 Room opens for socializing and conversation at 6:45 PM Meeting comes to order at 7 PM with welcome and Introductions - Garet Munger, President Conversation with Katie Gray and Colleen Hackett about Seattle Park Department management and maintenance policies as they affect Green Lake water quality and shoreline habitat. Treasurer's Report - Gayle Garman Renewal of Volunteer Agreement between Friends of Green Lake and Seattle Parks and Recreation Department. - The volunteer agreement covers work party activities including habitat restoration and cleaning up milfoil along the shoreline. The current agreement has expired and should be renewed to cover volunteer work that may be undertaken by FOGL. Proposal for FOGL to fund phytoplankton analysis of water samples collected during summer of 2013. Drafting of letter to be sent to City Council regarding need to include funding for water quality treatment for Green Lake in Future Budgets. - City council will be considering putting a park department levy on the ballot in 2014. It becomes important that we inform the council and mayor and citizens of concerns regarding anticipated Green Lake water quality concerns. Summer 2013 FOGL activities? Adjourn at 9 PM Next Meeting June 25

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PO Box 30544, Seattle, WA 98113

Updated May 23, 2013

©2013 Ellen Hewitt

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