Ames Lake

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Ames Lake		Go to another lake:

Vital Statistics Overview Maps Water Quality Data Related Links

Vital Statistics

Watershed Area	1133 acres
Lake surface area	80 acres
Maximum depth	28 feet
Mean depth	18 feet
Public Park	N
Boat Ramp	N, no gas engines
Fish Present	NA

Volunteer monitoring began at Ames Lake in 2000 and continued through 2008, after which it was discontinued. The data indicated the lake was lightly colored and low to moderate in primary productivity (high oligotrophic to mesotrophic) with very good water quality. A possible increasing trend was observed over the years of measurement, but was not statistically strong.

While thermal stratification appeared to be stable through the summer, sedimentary phosphorus release was minimal from the sediments. Nitrogen to phosphorus ratios very rarely fell below 20:1, thus favoring algae other than bluegreens, which were scarce in the phytoplankton community.

Ames Lake does not have a public access boat ramp. However, residents should watch aquatic plant populations growing nearshore to catch early infestations of Eurasian milfoil, Brazilian elodea or other noxious aquatic weeds.

Maps


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

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).

Ames Lake

Vital Statistics

Overview

Maps

Water Quality Data

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