Friends of Green Lake is a group of lake users, from both within and beyond the Green Lake neighborhood, working to secure a healthy lake for wildlife and recreation.

We created our group, originally known as the Green Lake Restoration Committee, in the spring of 2003 as a sub-committee to the Green Lake Community Council. Toxic blooms of blue-green bacteria had caused the Seattle-King County Health Department closures of the lake in 1999 and 2002. Many lake users and local residents were concerned about the foul odor and the thick, green condition of the water. Following a talk about the water-quality of Green Lake by Kevin Stoops of the Seattle Parks Department, a group of Green Lake Community Council members formed the Lake Restoration Committee to do something positive for the lake. Fearing another closure that year, the committee considered the options available for improving water quality. After studying the Seattle Parks Department reports on Green Lake from 1990 and 1995, we concluded that the Department's recommendation for an alum treatment was the most cost effective choice for the immediate future.

During the summer and fall of 2003 we launched a successful campaign to secure the funding required for an alum treatment. Petitions presented in August to Mayor Greg Nickels and Seattle Parks Department Superintendent Kenneth Bounds included over 1,500 signatures of concerned citizens. After the Mayor included the alum funding in his budget in September, we launched a letter writing campaign to the Seattle City Council, urging them to preserve the Green Lake alum treatment in the budget. The funding was approved in November and we celebrated our efforts with a potluck party in December.

In early 2004 we changed our name to the Friends of Green Lake and are continuing as a sub-committee of the Green Lake Community Council.

Although the alum treatment will improve Green Lake's water quality for the near future, we are committed to securing long-term solutions.

Photos: Bradley Enghaus
North Seattle Herald-Outlook

Friends of Green Lake MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Friends of Green Lake is to work to ensure a healthy lake for wildlife and recreation for today and tomorrow.

What we do

Lobby for consistent and thoughtful lake management and stewardship.

Work with lake water management scientists, engineers and professionals to research and plan long-term solutions to Green Lake's water quality problems.

Encourage community involvement in issues regarding Green Lake's water quality.

Involve local teachers and students in lake science and monitoring.

Inform local media and the community about the lake's water quality issues.

Friends of Green Lake Officers

Chair: Gayle Garman

Vice Chair: Karen Schurr

Treasurer: Mary Lou Knox

Corresponding Secretary: Marcia Norman

Recording Secretary: Kris Fuller

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©2008 Friends of Green Lake
PO Box 30544, Seattle, WA 98113

Webmaster - Ellen Hewitt
Updated May 12, 2008