Waverly Lake was mostly clear of weeds in this view on the evening of July 23, 2025.
Most of Albany’s Waverly Lake looked remarkably clean one evening this week, which was a surprise after several sunny days with high temperatures between 80 and 90 degrees.
Only last week, on July 13, a Facebook group carried this comment: “Waverly lake/pond looks like a swamp again.”
And this on July 19: “I’m new to Oregon and the Albany area. Curious what is up with the water at Waverly Park? Is the city working to clean out what I call ‘pond scum’ or has it been like this for awhile now? It’s a beautiful area but the water sure takes away the appeal!”
When I rode around the lake on my bike on Wednesday evening, July 23, the algae or other kinds of seasonal plant growth was concentrated in the extreme east and west ends of the 10-acre lake. But the rest of the surface , which was most of it, was clear.
The Albany parks department has plans for lake maintenance this summer, and I wondered whether I had missed the return of the plant “harvesters” that scoured the lake in each of the last two years.
But no, I hadn’t missed anything, Parks Director Kim Lyddane told me.
“It is looking really good,” she said in an email. “Typically, we see the growth come more to the surface with warmer temps. We have not done anything different to the lake in the last few weeks and the harvester isn’t set to come until mid-August. I chalk it up to our efforts over the last few years making a difference (along with a cooler week last week).”
I don’t know about the “cooler” week. It seemed hot enough in the afternoons, with readings above 100 degrees on July 14 and 17. But on Wednesday evening it was nice to see the lake in better shape. (hh)
The east end of the lake was where algae growth was noticeable.
It is extremely cold at night with a 30 degree difference between day and night. Whether the polar vortex is the reason is beyond me so may be the climate change lovers can hit me.
I lived in Oregon since the 1950s (until 1981). There were plenty of highs in the 100s, typically late July and August (and our family did not have AC!) That is not a sign of global warming. That is a sign of weather as usual in the mid-Valley. Meanwhile, here in Scottsdale, we are having a slightly cooler than normal summer. And this despite the buildup of the city the past 50-60 years which creates a much larger heat island of concrete and buildings. So the nights will never get back to where they were 100 years ago with desert night-time cooling. That is what happens with larger cities
I wonder if it has anything to do with the lack of paddle boats this summer?
I must need new glasses…