Friends, Family and Community

We’re excited to invite you to this year’s Fourth of July parade on Lake Steilacoom — a fun and festive tradition celebrating our nations independence right here on the water!

Event details-

Date: Friday, July 4, 2025

Time: Parade begins at 11:00 AM SHARP. Please plan on assembling 15 minutes prior so we can get organized.

Location: Lake Steilacoom — We will gather at the south side of the bridge then parade in a counter clockwise flow. We’ve had trouble in the past with boats straggling and disconnecting with the group, so please try to keep pace as we make our way around the lake, encouraging each other to celebrate our independence!

Bring your boat, kayaks, Sea-Doo, or just cheer from shore! All are encouraged to decorate their watercraft in one or none of the categories being judged. (Haha) whether you participating in the parade or just coming to enjoy the view, it’s always a great time for families, friends, and neighbors to all come together!

Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:

Most patriotic

Best decorated (any theme)

Highest energy (be careful with this one)

New for this year will be this category

Best decorated home

Please note. Due to the narrow and shallow restriction of the passage from the north basin to the ice (public boat ramp lagoon) many boats may choose not to enter this area. If you live in that area, please phone a friend and see if you could be an observer from their dock, or better yet, come out with your decorated boat and have fun in the parade.

Looking forward to celebrating this amazing community with all of you on the fourth!

Warm summer vibes!

 

A survey of the lake was just concluded and it appears there is some algae growth emerging on the South basin shoreline. In an effort to work towards clearer water for the 4th, NW Aquatic Management is planning on treating this Thursday, June 26th in that area only. The product will be Hydrothol 191.

Notifications will not be posted lake wide so please don’t expect to see one on your dock if you are outside of the area being treated. Again, please turn off your landscape irrigation systems if you draw water from the lake until 48 hours after treatment.

Notice of Treatment

Lake wide, the weeds are not as pronounced as it has been in the past several years. It should be noted that there are several areas with significant issues. They have been noted and the areas has been sent to NW Aquatic Management for special attention.

Weed treatment with Diaquat will begin on Monday June 16 and conclude on Tuesday the 17th. if you irrigate using water from the lake, please refrain from irrigating for a minimum of 48 hours, as Diaquat can be deadly to your landscaping.

You may experience dead weeds breaking off and wind-rowing towards the shorelines. This is a normal occurrence after treatment and unfortunately, nothing can be done to eliminate this action.

Lastly, many emails and calls have been received noting problem areas. That information has been passed along for attention. Please know that this treatment may not completely address all weeds and additional treatment in localized areas may require future attention. We appreciate your understanding as we work through this process.

Notice –

Since the reports of the reduced phosphorous levels have improved with the iron treatments last year, we will once again start the treatments.

Treatment of coarse granular iron will start tomorrow May 9th and conclude in one day. There are NO restrictions for swimming or irrigation with this application of iron.

In the third week of May we will commence with 20 acres of Floridone herbicide treatment in the Evergreen Lagoon and certain portions of the south basin. This treatment is allowable with our permit during this window. Another notice will be issues prior to the exact treatment date. Keep an eye out if you irrigate from the lake as it may affect your grass and plants, negatively. There are no swimming restrictions with this treatment.

This treatment should make for great water quality for the upcoming holiday days.

Santa is on the way. He will be rounding the lake starting at 11:00 AM. Head to to your decks and docks to wave him on!Merry Christmas Everyone!

It’s that time of year again. While the lake has receded due to lack of rainfall and what rainfall that came, went to fill aquifers before coming to our lake, we are now required by law to ensure adequate water flow to Chambers Creek. Therefore the dam stop logs will be slowly be removed throughout the month of October, resulting in the winter low lake level being achieved by the end of the month. If you are not planning on keeping your boat in the water throughout the winter, it is suggested that you pull your boat our of the lake prior to the low lake levels making it difficult to use any of the boat ramps.

Notice –

The lake has held up exceptionally well for an additional two weeks beyond when we normally treat, especially considering the extreme heat we have been experiencing and the rising water temperatures. However, we are experiencing a growth in the southern basin of filamentous algae and some limited weed growth as well.

Treatment will begin as early as 7/17 and complete within 2 days. Please keep in mind that algae turns a whitish color as it dies and may windrow against the shorelines, depending on where you live. 

For those of you who have noticed a drop in the water levels, this is similar to what was experienced last year. We have less water flowing in from the creeks and the subterranean inflow at the south basin. Due to the reduced inflow and our requirement to keep water flowing for the Chambers Creek fish hatchery, the levels will continue to drop until rainfalls rejuvenate the creeks.

This treatment should make for great water quality for the upcoming hot days.

Get ready for the amazing Lake Steilacoom Independence Day Boat Parade We will be congregating at 11:45 at the location shown on the attached image. This is different than prior years so please note the new location. We will listen for organizer Brad Border’s announcement, then head out to circumnavigate the lake.  Prizes, of course. Once again, Tom Peterson from the Lakewood Original House of Donuts will be donating great donut prizes. They will be for the following best of show in these categories: BEST SPIRIT BEST DECORATED MOST PATRIOTIC New for this year is another category…BEST SPECTATOR PARTICIPATION. So gussy up your yards and be ready to cheer the boat floats on! Dress up, decorate and get your noise makers out, be the ones to WIN! Take a look at the map to see the starting point and figure it will take over an hour to round the lake so you can be out at the appropriate time with your bells and whistles. HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE 4TH!

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there.

On Monday June 17th, weed survey and treatment with Diaquat will begin and last through Tuesday the 18th. You will see a “nurse” boat anchored at various areas around the lake which will provide assistance to the boat applying the Diaquat. This treatment is for the weed growth in the lake.

If you irrigate with water from the lake, please turn off your systems until Thursday the 20th.

The following is a new requirement for treatment notices for treatments in 2024.

Business and Residential Notice

This notice is delivered to residents and businesses that are within the treatment zone or within 1⁄4 mile of a treatment zone.

Distribution Date: 15 April 2024

Steilacoom Lake waters and shoreline will/may be treated MULTIPLE times with aquatic herbicide and algaecides between the dates of 25 April 2024 and 30 September 2024. All days/weeks WILL NOT incur treatment. Shoreline Notifications will be posted prior to or days of treatment.

Product(s) planned for use: Fluridone, Tribune, Aquathol K, Imazapyr, 24D, Flumigard, Hydrothol and ZV Iron Active ingredient(s): Fluridone, Diquat Dibromide, Dipotassium Salt of Endothall, Isopropylamine salt of

Imazapyr, Dimethylanine Salt of 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid, Flumioxazin and Mono-Salt of Endothall

Plants/Algae targeted: Any Noxious vegetation throughout the waterbody along with nuisance vegetation including Large Leaf Pondweed, Watershield and water lily. Algae will be controlled throughout the year to reduce the chances of harmful algae blooms.

Location of treatment(s): Different locations around the lake will be treated for vegetation. Iron will be strategically applied throughout the waterbody to reduce the phosphorous load. Algae may be treated throughout the whole waterbody if required.

The applicator will post signs in the treated and potentially affected areas no more than 48 hours prior to treatment. The signs will describe any water use restrictions or advisories.

If you are withdrawing water for potable or domestic water use, livestock watering, or irrigation, and have no alternate water source, please contact Northwest Aquatic MANAGEMENT at info@nwaqua.com or calling (360) 890-2854 to arrange an alternate water supply.

If you want additional notification prior to treatment, or have further questions, please contact me using the information above.

This herbicide treatment is regulated under a permit issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology. Permit No. WAG994057