Resident urges new leadership and nonchemical options after Thurston County lake manager leaves

Brett Trowbridge, a Pattison Lake resident, told the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 7 that the recent resignation of the county staff member who managed multiple lake projects threatens continuity of long-running lake management efforts.

Trowbridge said the staff member, identified in his remarks as "Mr. Gelder," had been overseeing four lake projects and was regarded by some residents as effective. He said earlier staff changes left lake steering committees with more influence over treatment decisions, which on his lake led to repeated application of glyphosate to littoral vegetation.

Trowbridge argued glyphosate and similar pesticides worsen algal problems by killing surface plants, which then sink, decompose and release nitrogen and phosphorus into the water column. He urged the county to avoid pesticides in the McAlester Springs geosensitive area (the southern portion of his lake, south of the railroad trestle) and instead use mechanical removal—harvesting and removing weed material—or bottom screening to keep nutrients from re-entering the lake.

The county manager later told commissioners staff had met with Public Health and Environmental Health before Gelder’s departure and that the county is developing a bridge plan for continuity. The manager said the county plans to fill the assistant county manager position and will include a member of environmental health who has been working closely with Gelder to provide continuity of support to lake management districts.

Trowbridge’s remarks came during the public comment portion of the Jan. 7 meeting and were followed by the county manager’s update on staffing and interim arrangements. No formal action was recorded that day to change lake pesticide policy or to name a replacement for Gelder; the county manager described ongoing planning but did not provide a timeline for hiring.