Port commission votes 2-1 to add Capitol Lake discussion to upcoming agenda
The Port of Olympia commission voted 2-1 on Monday to add a discussion about Capitol Lake to an April 24 meeting agenda, and then next week they will vote on whether to officially support the state’s plan to allow the man-made lake to revert to an estuary.
To allow the estuary to form, the Fifth Avenue dam would have to be removed so saltwater would flow into the lake area, and water would rise and fall with the tides.
A show of support would come in the form of a letter that has been signed by other jurisdictions, including the city of Olympia and Squaxin Island Tribe, Commissioner Amy Evans Harding said.
Evans Harding voted in favor of adding the Capitol Lake discussion to the agenda, saying it’s important for the port to be a good jurisdictional partner and to have clarity around the commission’s position on the estuary.
Commissioner Bob Iyall also voiced support for the topic to be included on the upcoming agenda.
The one dissenting voice was Commissioner Joe Downing’s. He said the removal of the dam could adversely effect the port’s operations and become expensive to address, and that the port should “not overtly encourage anything that would greatly add to the port’s overhead.”
He said the port is focused on creating economic opportunity and building community, and that the debate about Capitol Lake does neither of those things.
Downing also pointed out that the port has “steadfastly not taken a position on this issue.” He added that there are more serious issues, such as homelessness and housing — “money better spent on actual crises we are facing,” he said.
Although Monday’s discussion was framed by Evans Harding, it really began with Iyall in March when he called on the commission to support the estuary.
“I would like this commission to consider formally supporting the DES (state Department of Enterprise Services) project of removing the Fifth Avenue dam and returning Capitol Lake to an estuary,” he said.
He gave three reasons for his request, the first of which was that the port has a plan to clean up Budd Inlet, so it makes sense to support the estuary.
Port of Olympia’s Iyall asks commission to formally support Capitol Lake estuary plan
Port commissioner seeks to delay Capitol Lake vote, but others disagree
