Lake surveys are conducted by Offut Lake Management District volunteers during the weed growth cycle, normally in the mornings, between May and September each year. We use GPS to determine location, a weed pole to examine and identify weeds, (invasive, nuisance, and native aquatic, floating and terrestrial), dominance (density), and depth at the measurement site. Use this LINK to see a sample survey report.
The information gathered is recorded and:
- reported to the Lake Management District Steering Committee
- posted on our website
The website posting complies with:
- Thurston County’s Integrated Pesticide Management (IPM) guidance
- Thurston County’s “Prescription” LINK
- Washington State Department of Ecology’s Aquatic Plant and Algae Management (APAM) permit requirements LINK
- Notice of Intent (NOI) under the Aquatic Plant and Algae Management General Permit (APAM) LINK
We encourage everyone to learn more about the extensive measures taken to monitor, study, evaluate and make these important decisions.
Weed control options are digging/hand pulling, placement of weed barriers, harvesting, mechanical rotovating, diver dredging, education (https://www.youtube.com/@lakelawrence), and/or use of herbicides.
Herbicides are always the last option if all others have been used and found to be ineffective and/or inefficient. A “Prescription”, approved by the County, details the steps and action level thresholds that must be met in order for herbicides to be used. Use this LINK to see our the currently County-approved “Prescription” for Offut Lake, Pattison Lake, Long Lake and Lake Lawrence.
Come to our monthly OLMD meetings to learn more about the decision criteria. Our meetings are on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm. Occasionally the meeting date is adjusted due to scheduling problems. The dates and Zoom link are always on our home page. Here is the homepage LINK.
Join in on a Lake Survey
Contact our Steering Committee member, Rob Pogue, to participate in a Lake Survey. Rob can be reached by text at: 360-870-0959.
2026 OLMD Survey Dates: August 4th and September 8th
Please visit our DOCS page to view reports and studies and all our publicly available documents. LINK
