Sustainability > ISCE > Wapato
ISCE: Wapato Lake
About the Lake Stewardship program
UW Tacoma has joined forces with the City of Tacoma, Metro Parks, and several other community groups, to facilitate community action at Wapato Lake. The goal of this project is to help enhance and protect Wapato Lake's water quality through monitoring, research, outreach and advocacy.
Monitoring & Research
Community members are sampling the lake on a bi-weekly basis in order to monitor water quality, water clarity, and waterfowl presence. The City of Tacoma and students at UW Tacoma analyze the water samples collected. Preliminary data from this effort is now available online by clicking here.
Join the efforts for Wapato lake monitoring today!
Outreach & Advocacy
The Friends of Wapato Lake group is involved in the following community outreach activities:
- Litter control
- Outreach and Public education, including "Wake Up for Wapato" events
There have been two "Wake Up for Wapato" events, which featured several community organizations dedicated to restoring and enhancing Tacoma's only urban lake. Public participation and support was evident at both events.
Getting Involved
Do you visit Wapato and wonder how you can help protect this beautiful park? There are countless ways to help, from simply picking up your pet's waste to informing others about the importance of not feeding the waterfowl. Here are simple, everyday ways of helping our local watershed:
-
Do not feed the waterfowl and let others know the detrimental role waterfowl excrement plays in the lake. More information
-
Pick up your pet's waste to ensure that additional bacteria and nutrients do not enter the lake
-
Eliminate phosphorus containing chemicals in your home like detergents and fertilizers. More information on "getting the P out" from WALPA
-
Ensure your septic system is in good working order
-
Use organic mulch and pesticide-free lawn care methods when possible
If you are ready to do even more, below are a few ways to get involved
- Friends of Wapato: Lake Stewardship Program
Volunteers are needed to sample the lake on a bi-weekly basis. UW Tacoma's volunteer coordinator, Kayomi, will meet you at the lake to show you how to sample properly. Contact Kayomi to sign up today!
.jpg)
- Friends of Wapato: CHIP-in!
CHIP-in! volunteers play an important role in the preservation of this treasured community asset. Specifically, volunteers are needed to assist with litter control and public education and outreach.
To find out more about these volunteer opportunities contact Julie Parascondola, 253-305-1060.
- Storm Drain Stenciling
Did you know that storm drains surrounding Wapato feed directly into the Lake? Volunteers interested in marking storm drains to educate people about the importance of keeping pollutants out of stormwater should contact Pierce Conservation District Stream Team’s Melissa Buckingham at (253) 845-2973 or melissab@piercecountycd.org.
Monitoring Calendar & Events
Partners in Service
The UW Tacoma wishes to acknowledge the grant support provided by the Green Partnership Fund, which is drawn from the Pierce Conservation District and administered by the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation. For more information, please visit www.gtcf.org or call 253-383-5622.
The following organizations have participated in past "Wake Up for Wapato" events:
- Chambers Clover Watershed Association
- City of Tacoma: Environmental Services and EnviroChallenger
- Metro Parks
- Pierce Conservation District: Stream Team
- Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
- Tahoma Audobon
- UW Tacoma's Institute for Service to the Community & Environment (ISCE)