Port of Olympia commission votes 2-1 to formally support state’s plan for Capitol Lake

The Port of Olympia Commission voted 2-1 on Monday to endorse the state’s plan to allow Capitol Lake to revert to an estuary.

The long-term management plan for the Deschutes Estuary, which includes the area now occupied by the man-made lake, calls for the Fifth Avenue dam to be removed so saltwater would flow into the lake area and mix with the Deschutes River water, and water would rise and fall with the tides.

Commissioners Amy Evans Harding and Bob Iyall voted in favor of the project, while Commissioner Joe Downing, who previously said he would not be in support of such a move, voted against it.

Supporting the project means the port will sign a letter that has been signed by other jurisdictions that favor the estuary project, including the city of Olympia and Squaxin Island Tribe.

However, port commissioners learned the letter has already been sent and funding for the design and permitting of the Capitol Lake plan has been secured.

Based on that information, Downing asked: Why bother signing the letter now?

“It’s a moot point,” he said.

Evans Harding and Iyall disagreed.

Evans Harding said signing the letter clearly demonstrates the port’s commitment to transparent collaboration on the project.

“I don’t view the letter being a moot point,” Iyall added. “I do think it’s important for the port to show support for the project and I think the stronger the statement we can make, the better.”

Olympia Mayor Cheryl Selby and Squaxin Island Tribe representative Ray Peters urged the commission to support the estuary plan for Capitol Lake.

“On behalf of the city council, I encourage the port commission to formally support the results of the unbiased and legally sound state Environmental Impact Statement and to declare the restoration of the Deschutes Estuary as the preferred alternative,” Selby said.

The state had considered two other alternatives before landing on an estuary: a managed lake and a hybrid of lake and estuary.

Peters said the port’s advocacy on the topic has been “noticeably absent.” By voting in favor of the state’s plan for Capitol Lake, it would “lift and clear the fog” in the eyes of the public.

Although Downing voted against signing the letter, he did join Evans Harding and Iyall in voting in favor of drafting a broader estuary-related resolution that would include the port’s efforts to clean up Budd Inlet.

Evans Harding said the resolution would acknowledge “support for our Budd Inlet cleanup project, the restoration of the Deschutes Estuary and long-term sustainable preservation of our working waterfront occurring together.”