Volunteer watershed group urges county help to stop Silver Lake’s decline, proposes dredging and management

Jeff Curry, chair of the Silver Lake Watershed Advisory Council and a Toutle Fire commissioner, asked county leaders for help preserving Silver Lake’s recreational and economic value. "We've done a lot of testing. It's all been done by volunteers," he said, and added that volunteer data show the lake’s shoreline muck and low depths are worsening.

Curry outlined approaches the group has considered, including dredging to increase depth and create flow, removing carp to reduce phosphorus resuspension, and recruiting a nonprofit or county‑funded lake manager to pursue grants. He said a consultant assessment would likely cost "50 to $100,000" and that some grant programs require multiple documented toxic‑algae events before funding becomes available, a threshold the council has struggled to meet during intermittent blooms.

Curry described local impacts: boat ramps are becoming unusable, docks are stranded in muck, and fishing and tourism are affected. He proposed a phased plan starting with targeted dredging (a channel from Sucker Creek to the outlet) and repeated maintenance rather than a one‑time removal of sediments. He also raised the possibility of partnering with the Corps, Department of Ecology, Fish and Wildlife or a county‑chartered management entity to access technical assistance and funding.

Commissioners acknowledged the problem and offered to pass along contacts and consider options; one commissioner said he would provide leads on county park creation and funding sources. No formal commitment or funding decision was made during the meeting.

What’s next: The watershed group requested guidance on county support and whether the board could identify a staff contact or intermediary to help pursue grants and a feasibility study.