Black Lake (Washington)
| Black Lake | |
|---|---|
 Black Lake in August 2023 | |
| Location | Near Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater |
| Coordinates | 46°59′32.5″N 122°58′40.86″W / 46.992361°N 122.9780167°W[1] |
| Type | Lake |
| River sources | Black River |
| Ocean/sea sources | Pacific Ocean |
| Surface area | 573.7 acres (232.2 ha) |
| Average depth | 19 feet (5.8 m) |
| Max. depth | 29 feet (8.8 m) |
| Water volume | 11,000 acre-feet (14,000,000 m3) |
| Shore length1 | 6 miles (9.7 km) |
| Surface elevation | 130 ft (40 m) |
| Settlements | |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Black Lake is a lake located 4 miles (6.4 km) southwest of Olympia, Washington.[1][2] With a surface area of 570 acres (2.3 km2) and total volume of 11,000 acre-feet (14,000,000 m3), it is one of the largest lakes in Thurston County.[3]
The lake has two outflows via Black River, and drains southwest into the Chehalis River, thence to Gray's Harbor and the Pacific Ocean; and Percival Creek, which drains northeast into Capitol Lake, Budd Inlet and the Puget Sound.[4]
The lake's mean depth is 19 feet (5.8 m), with a maximum depth of 29 feet (8.8 m), and it has approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) of shoreline.[3]
Black Lake was so named on account of the dark character of its water.[5]
History
One of the first settlers of the area was William Oaks Thompson[6] (a.k.a. Black Lake Thompson),[7] arriving from Cincinnati and setting up a home on the west shore of the lake in 1852.[8][9] Thompson went on to develop the first road to Tumwater, a trail to Bush Prairie, and operated a scow ferry across the lake for travelers to Gate, Grand Mound, and Mima Prairie.[10]
In 1922, Black Lake Ditch was created to connect Black River to Percival Creek,[3][4][11] which was estimated to lower the lake's water level by at least 5 feet (1.5 m)[12] and drained agricultural parcels south of the lake.[13]
Ecology
The lake is considered eutrophic and requires ongoing herbicide treatment, including the use of aluminium sulfate, glyphosate, imazapyr, triclopyr, and diquat dibromide.[14]
Beaver dams on protected wildlife reserve parcels south of the lake restrict discharge and raise water levels by up to 4 feet (1.2 m), requiring regular county maintenance.[15] Invasive plant species such as fragrant waterlily and yellow flag iris also restrict stream flow.[3]
The principal submersed species is the native water nymph; non-native eurasian watermilfoil was largely eradicated in 2006.[3]
Filtered runoff gathered at Yauger Park water retention ponds in West Olympia is released into Black Lake Ditch. The naturally cleaned waters run from Percival Creek to Capitol Lake and eventually into the Salish Sea.[16]
In 2021, a survey of local pollution discovered three streams which introduced effluent from nearby septic systems into the lake. Thurston County officials inspected more than 500 parcels which drain to the lake; 200 septic systems in the area were overdue on required maintenance.[15]
In September 2000, a significant algae bloom of Aphanizomenon and/or Anabaena cyanobacteria covered the western portion of the lake, restricting recreation activity. Smaller blooms took place in 1992 and 1994, and again in October 2011. In September 2011, microcystin was discovered at the lake, at a concentration requiring an advisory to avoid contact with lake water;[3] and again in 2021.[17]
Recreation
The lake's freshwater beach is accessible through Kenneydell Park, which offers a public dock, picnic and swimming areas.[18]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Black Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ "Lowland lakes". Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "Black Lake Integrated Aquatic Vegetation Management Plan" (PDF). The Black Lake Special District. August 2012. pp. iii, 2, 3, 5. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ a b "Black River / Chehalis Watershed". Capitol Land Trust. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
- ^ "Thurston County Place Names: A Heritage Guide" (PDF). Thurston County Historical Commission. 1992. p. 6. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
- ^ "Washington Territory Donation Land Claim Patents, 1851-1903 - Thompson - William - Oaks". Washington State Archives. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ "City and Country". Washington Standard. July 23, 1909. p. 3. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ "Thurston County Pioneers - William O. Thompson". Washington Rural Heritage. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ "Deaths of Past Week - William O. Thompson". Washington Standard. August 17, 1917. p. 8. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ Markham, John (March 31, 1998). Memories, Oral history of the Black Lake area, Thurston County, Washington, USA, ca. 1850 to 1950. p. 2.
- ^ "Black Lake Basin Study". Thurston County. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
- ^ "Percival Creek Gets Water Flow from Black Lake". Washington Standard. Washington State Library. April 8, 1921. p. 6. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ "Black River Unit protects fragile and unique natural habitats and their wildlife". Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
- ^ "Black Lake Special District; Public Notice" (PDF). Olympia, WA: Black Lake Special District. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ Susan McCleary; Jessica Sandoval; Max Lambert; Claire Kerwin (Summer 2024). "Salamanders, Stormwater, and Skateboards: The Ecological Marvel of Yauger Park". Salish Magazine. No. 24. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
- ^ Mathis, Meredith (October 21, 2021). "Toxic Algae Health Advisory in Effect for Black Lake". Thurston County, Washington. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ "Kenneydell Park". Thurston County. Retrieved June 30, 2025.