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Board hears report that low lake levels clogged American Lake boat launch; residents urge monitoring not management
Summary
A board member said the fire department became stuck at the American Lake Park boat launch amid low lake levels; the American Lake Improvement Club urged monitoring of levels and asked the county to stop removing weir boards, and staff said repairs to a launch are planned pending council and ILA approvals.
At the start of the Lakewood Parks Advisory Board meeting, board member Janice Fingeth reported that the city—s fire department had difficulty removing a boat from the American Lake Park launch because lake levels are low.
"This afternoon, the boat launch at American Lake Park, the fire department got stuck there trying to get their boat out," Fingeth said, and said the club—s concern stems from county practices of removing weir boards around holiday weekends. Fingeth said the American Lake Improvement Club wants to monitor lake levels, not manage them: "We don't wanna manage it. We want to monitor it."
Board members and staff discussed authority and monitoring. Speakers noted the Corps of Engineers originally set lake elevation decades ago and that permits are tied to ordinary high-water mark determinations. A meeting participant said Pierce County told the club it would not continue removing boards and communicated that decision in a letter to stakeholders.
Staff later updated the board that repairs to a boat launch are being coordinated with Fish and Wildlife, pending council approval on Nov. 17 and execution of an interlocal agreement (ILA). The planned repair work — tentatively scheduled for December when lake levels are low — will pull planks, reestablish the base, add articulating mat, and reduce the abrupt drop-off that has led to power-loading washouts.
Why it matters: Low lake levels are affecting public safety and boat-launch usability and may require coordination among the city, Pierce County, the Lake Management District, and state or federal agencies. The American Lake Improvement Club and the Lake Management District emphasized they are treating invasive species and conducting water-quality monitoring but said they are not equipped to manage lake levels.
What the board asked staff to do: research authorities and coordination with Pierce County and the Army Corps of Engineers, continue monitoring and data collection (water level, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity) with Pierce County Conservation District and local homeowners, and notify the public when repairs are scheduled.
