HASSO HERING

A perspective from Oregon’s mid-Willamette Valley

Plan set to clean Wavely Lake this summer

Written May 25th, 2023 by Hasso Hering

Waverly Lake on May 23, 2023. In the background, the Pacific Boulevard bridge and the work of spray-paint vandals.

The growth of aquatic plants in Waverly Lake is getting an early start this spring. An effort to prevent vegetation from covering most of the lake will be made this summer.

In response to last year’s complaints about the sad shape of this lake at the northern gateway to Albany, the city’s Parks Department came up with a plan to get rid of algae and other growth this year.

On May 10, the city council approved the department’s request for authority to make a deal with Aquatic Harvesting LLC, a company based in Centralia, Wash.

According to the plan, the company will use its special equipment to scour the lake of the ugly surface material. It will also install aeration equipment and a fountain that should keep the water from getting too stagnant. The city estimates the “budget impact,” presumably meaning the cost, at $60,000.

After looking at the lake this week from the path skirting its west end, I asked the parks department about the timing of the cleanup plan. “We haven’t heard exactly when they are coming,” maintenance manager Rick Barnett responded. “The vegetation has to be growing pretty abundantly when they do the work. I am guessing July.”

At the moment the west-end path at Waverly Lake is closed because of a huge sewer project, a phase in the reconstruction of the Cox Creek Interceptor, which is being enlarged to serve the growing part of Albany east of I-5.

I don’t know when that path will reopen to the public. When it does, it would be nice if the lake was once again clear. (hh)





3 responses to “Plan set to clean Wavely Lake this summer”

  1. Anony Mouse says:

    It’s nice to hear that the city taking action against an age-old problem that happens every year.

    However, this plan sounds like a one-off solution without much community involvement other than taxpayer money.

    Maybe a better solution is to nurture an ongoing partnership between city government, citizen volunteers, and educators to monitor and prevent the problem. Not just with this “lake”, but all bodies of water within the city that are susceptible to bloom.

    Everyone will learn in the process and you can quit writing about this scummy issue.

  2. Charlie says:

    Is there any update on this? The pond is looking pretty gross. I just read where they plan to put the duck back in the pond. It’s going to be surrounded by slime.

    Thanks

  3. michael quinn says:

    QUESTION, SERIOUSLY, can anyone say whether or not the algae bloom is caused by possible sewer leaks that are being fixed

 

 
HH Today: A perspective from Oregon’s mid-Willamette Valley
Albany Albany City Council Albany council Albany downtown Albany Fire Department Albany housing Albany parks Albany Planning Commission Albany police Albany Post Office Albany Public Works Albany riverfront Albany schools Albany Station Albany streets Albany traffic Albany urban renewal apartments ARA Benton County bicycling bike lanes Bowman Park Bryant Park Calapooia River CARA climate change COVID-19 Cox Creek Cox Creek path Crocker Lane cumberland church cycling Dave Clark Path DEQ downtown Albany Edgewater Village Highway 20 homeless housing Interstate 5 land use Linn County Millersburg Monteith Riverpark North Albany ODOT Oregon coast Oregon legislature Pacific Power Portland & Western Queen Avenue Republic Services Riverside Drive Santiam Canal Scott Lepman Talking Water Gardens The Banks Tom Cordier Union Pacific urban renewal Water Avenue Waterfront Project Waverly Lake Willamette River


Copyright 2022. All Rights Reserved. Hasso Hering.
Website Serviced by Santiam Communications
Hasso Hering