OLYMPIA, Wash. — After years of studies, public hearings, and debate, work began this month to restore a portion of Olympia’s Capitol campus to its natural state by removing a dam.
After nearly 75 years, Capitol Lake will be turned back into an estuary.
Ann Larson, the State Department of Enterprise Service's project director, said the project will take more than 10 years and could cost an estimated $150-$250 million.
A dam has controlled water flow into and out of the area where the Deschutes River meets Puget Sound since the 1950s.
Architects designed a lake to act as a reflecting pond in their original landscaping plans for the Capitol campus.
But over the decades, the water became polluted, infested with invasive species, and has been restricted to recreational use since 2009.
Supporters said restoring the area would reduce flood risks in downtown Olympia and result in cleaner water for salmon and orca recovery and recreation.
Plans include ramps for non-motor-powered boats and kayaks.
”When I was a kid, we actually swam in this lake. I wouldn’t even let my dog be in this lake now,” said Kris Peters, chair of the Squaxin Island Tribe, whose traditional lands were on the Capitol Lake property.
The tribe was one of several organizations, including the City of Olympia, Thurston County, and the Port of Olympia that supported the move to restore the area to an estuary.
Peters said the state created the problem and needs to fix it.
”This is sacred to us,” said Peters, “It was destroyed so we could create a mirror pond for our politicians to look at.”
Larson said the state has applied for federal grants to cover $100 million of the costs.
The initial work, sampling soils around the area where the bridge will be built, is being paid for with $7 million from the state’s Climate Commitment Act, said Larson.
Voters have the opportunity to overturn that act if an initiative qualifies for the 2024 ballot. Initiative backers say the act has increased fuel prices.
Gov. Jay Inslee said the lake project would not happen without the act’s funding.
”The Climate Commitment Act is simultaneously giving us cleaner air, free bus rides for people, and a small investment to start this project so we can keep our salmon and keep Olympia from flooding," said Inslee.