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Echo-Shoreline Lake

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Vital Statistics

Watershed Area 288 acres
Lake surface area 12 acres
Maximum depth 30 feet
Mean depth Not Available
Public Park Yes
Boat Ramp car top
Fish Present stocked rainbow

Overview

Volunteer monitoring began at Echo Lake in 2001 and continued from 2003 through 2008. The data indicate that this city lake (Shoreline) is very lightly colored and is high in primary productivity (eutrophic) with fair water quality. More data are needed for trend analysis, but productivity appears to be steady over time.

Profile data indicate thermal stratification is stable through summer, and sedimentary phosphorus release adds to deep water concentrations. Nitrogen to phosphorus ratios dip below 20:1 in late summer through fall, which favors bluegreens over other algae, and they have been identified as common in the lake.

Echo Lake has no public access boat ramp, but car top boats may be launched from the city park. Residents should keep a watch on aquatic plants growing nearshore to catch early infestations of noxious aquatic weeds.

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Maps

bathymetric map lake watershed map
This bathymetric map shows contour lines of equal depth, similar to a topographic map would for mountains and valleys This map shows the area of the watershed relative to the area of the lake. Generally speaking, the larger a watershed is relative to a lake, the greater the influence land use practices on lake water quality

Click image to enlarge

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Water Quality Data  

Through a combination of efforts by volunteer lake monitors and King County staff, data relating to physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the lake have been collected for most lakes. The King County Lake Stewardship Program analyzes data to track long-term water quality trends in small lakes in western King County.

View or Download Data
Use this tool to view or download data from the lake in tabular format. You can define date ranges and select which parameters to view or download.

Chart Data
Use the charting tool to look at graphs showing single parameters for a single water year at a time.

Five year water quality trends
A common method of tracking water quality trends in lakes is by calculating the “trophic state index” (TSI) (Carlson, 1977). TSI indicators predict the biological productivity of the lake based on water clarity (Secchi) and concentrations of total phosphorus (TP) and chlorophyll a (Chlor).

The average of these three TSI indicators during the growing season can be used to place lakes in one of three broad categories:
<40 = oligotrophic (low productivity),
40 to 50 = mesotrophic (moderate productivity)
>50 = eutrophic (highly productive).

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Related Links



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For questions about the Lake Stewardship Program or the contents of this page, please contact Sally Abella, 206-296-8382.

For questions about the
Water and Land Resources Web Site,
please contact
Fred Bentler, webmaster.

Updated: August 8, 2008

Related Information:

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