Pass Lake

Jim in Anacortes · Sep 17, 2022

Drove by the lake yesterday. Totally closed due to algae. The parking lot is now open but the lake is not. The sinkhole was sectioned off, but the parking lot was open. In years past, I have seen the green water,.... dogs emerging comically covered in green slime. But trout fishing was still allowed and the fish were still biting. At this time it seems that the trout in Pass Lake have been given a "time out". This irks me as an angler, but my heart sings thinking of all those brown trout that are now living life without the threat of anglers like me.

Eastside · Oct 5, 2022

Still closed today. We are in Oak Harbor and I drove there to check.

Tim L · Oct 5, 2022

Can also look it up here:

Washington State Toxic Algae

www.nwtoxicalgae.org

Cliff · Oct 5, 2022

I used to fish Pass only at night, and only in October after it had "turned over".

Wanative · Oct 5, 2022

This an email from the Park manager I received yesterday.

Stonedfish · Oct 5, 2022

Fred,
Any reason that you know of as to why they send the sample down to King Co rather then having Island Co test it?
SF

Eastside · Oct 6, 2022

Tim Lockhart said:
Can also look it up here:

Washington State Toxic Algae

Washington State Toxic Algae

www.nwtoxicalgae.org

Thanks, I bookmarked that site. Have another lake that I’m going to try.

Josh · Oct 6, 2022

Jim in Anacortes said:
dogs emerging comically covered in green slime.

Isn't that stuff supposed to be super bad for dogs? The blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms? I'm pretty sure it can cause seizures and death.

Buzzy · Oct 6, 2022

Wanative said:
This an email from the Park manager I received yesterday. View attachment 35509

It’s probably just me:
“Toxic smell is still high” means what, exactly? Farts can be pretty toxic.

And “as long as the recreational levels are high it will remain closed”. Huh? Isn’t recreational access the purpose of a state park?

I guess I am missing the intent.

Eastside · Oct 6, 2022

Josh said:
Isn't that stuff supposed to be super bad for dogs? The blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms? I'm pretty sure it can cause seizures and death.

Yes, that happened on the Columbia River in the Tri Cities several years ago. A couple of dogs died.

Bambooflyguy · Oct 6, 2022

Other lakes with BG are open but my guess is that since it’s in a state park, legal/insurance issues......

Stonedfish · Oct 6, 2022

Buzzy said:
And “as long as the recreational levels are high it will remain closed”.

Or......since it is closed, how can recreational levels be high?
SF

Josh · Oct 6, 2022

I suspect that it means, as long as there are tons of people at deception pass, rosario beach, etc with their children and pets and whatnot, they want it to stay closed to minimize risk to idiots who can't read signs (and their dogs/kids). I highly suspect there'd be a hell of a lawsuit if they knew it wad a dangerous alge bloom, let it stay open, and some kid got really sick (or worse, died).

_WW_ · Oct 6, 2022

Josh said:
I suspect that it means, as long as there are tons of people at deception pass, rosario beach, etc with their children and pets and whatnot, they want it to stay closed to minimize risk to idiots who can't read signs (and their dogs/kids). I highly suspect there'd be a hell of a lawsuit if they knew it wad a dangerous alge bloom, let it stay open, and some kid got really sick (or worse, died).

Right! They should just set off on a mountain excursion with nothing but the shirts on their backs.

Eastside · Oct 6, 2022

Josh said:
I suspect that it means, as long as there are tons of people at deception pass, rosario beach, etc with their children and pets and whatnot, they want it to stay closed to minimize risk to idiots who can't read signs (and their dogs/kids). I highly suspect there'd be a hell of a lawsuit if they knew it wad a dangerous alge bloom, let it stay open, and some kid got really sick (or worse, died).

Yesterday when I checked Pass, I also drove into Deception Pass park. There were five vehicles in the parking lot.

Stonedfish · Oct 6, 2022

Josh said:
I suspect that it means, as long as there are tons of people at deception pass, rosario beach, etc with their children and pets and whatnot, they want it to stay closed to minimize risk to idiots who can't read signs (and their dogs/kids). I highly suspect there'd be a hell of a lawsuit if they knew it wad a dangerous alge bloom, let it stay open, and some kid got really sick (or worse, died).

It is the most visited state park, so that makes sense.
I guess they'll have to wait for a lull from the idiots visiting it before they ever consider opening the lake back up.

SF

Josh · Oct 6, 2022

I'm not saying it's right or wrong. I just have a dim view of how smart many of my fellow humans are. And I can see why the parks dept might feel the same way.

Tim L · Oct 6, 2022

FWIW, if I can find life after Pass, anyone can. 100's of lakes across WA full of trout.

Jim in Anacortes · Oct 6, 2022

I've been avoiding Pass Lake. When the sinkhole closed the parking lot, but the lake was still open, I thought to myself, this is not going to end well. The parking along HWY 20 is sketchy as hell. Add to that kayaks, stand up boards, kids , dogs, and the agro traffic of drunk tourist and semi trucks... and it just seemed like a place to avoid. When the algae is gone, I will likely hit that lake with a renewed appreciation.,,, Just before the sinkhole, I am certain that I had Pass Lake all figured out. (sarcasm).