Water Testing
monitoring the health of the lake.
Stay informed.
The ALCC keeps a close eye on the health of Ames Lake. Working with King County Lake Steward volunteer program, we keep track of water quality and algae blooms. We also monitor and manage invasive weeds, such as the fragrant water lily, and purple loosestrife.
Volunteers with the Lake Steward program monitor water level, temperature and turbidity year round. From April to October of each year, volunteers regularly collect water samples from Ames Lake, which are then tested by King County’s state-of-the-art lab in Seattle. They look at total phosphorous and nitrogen, chlorophyll and dissolved oxygen, as well as checking for E. coli.
All of us live in the watershed for Ames Lake, and we share the responsibility for keeping Ames Lake clean. Please let us know if you see anything unusual!
You can find the latest information on water testing and algae bloom results on the Ames Lake page on the King County website. Kingcounty.gov
You can see reports for the past three years at the bottom of this page: https://green2.kingcounty.gov/SmallLakes/LakePage.aspx?SiteID=3
Overall, the water quality in Ames Lake is considered very good. We are lucky to live next to such a healthy ecosystem, and to be able to participate in King County’s comprehensive program of water-quality monitoring at no cost to us other than the time of our volunteers.https://kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/wlr/sections-programs/environmental-lab.aspx
We post the annual water reports on this website when they become available. You can see reports for the past three years at the bottom of this page: https://green2.kingcounty.gov/SmallLakes/LakePage.aspx?SiteID=3
Overall, the water quality in Ames Lake is considered very good. We are lucky to be able to participate in King County’s comprehensive program of water-quality monitoring at no cost to us other than the time of our volunteers.
Keeping our lake safe and you informed.
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Algae is a normal part of the lake ecosystem. If you see a suspected algae bloom, which means a large amount of algal growth, please take a photo and send an email describing what you see to the Ames Lake Community Club Board, at alccneighbortoneighbor@gmail. We will check it out, and if necessary get a sample to the lab.
We have never had a toxic algae bloom on Ames Lake, but there is no way to know for sure if it’s toxic or not without testing. So please take an appropriate level of caution if you see a large amount of algae, and report it so it can be tested!
In general, for you and your pets:
Avoid contact with algae. Avoid swallowing water while swimming. Take a bath or shower with warm soapy water after coming into contact with the lake water.
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Best management practices for lakes
Algae blooms can come from excess nutrients in the water. You can help keep local lakes healthy by taking the following steps:
-Maintain your septic system
-Manage waterfowl
-Use recommended landscape practices
-Control runoff and soil erosion
-Reduce or eliminate use of fertilizers
-Properly dispose of pet wastes
-Wash vehicles away from the lake
-Reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides