CHAMBERS LAKE -- THURSTON COUNTY: 1995

Chambers Lake is located three miles southeast of Olympia. It is also known as Big Chambers Lake, and was originally known as Russell Lake. Chambers Lake has no surface inlets, but is fed by stormwater and surface runoff. As a result, it varies in size. Chambers Lake drains via Little Chambers Lake to the Deschutes River.

Size (acres)                          60
Maximum Depth (feet)                   8
Mean Depth (feet)                      5
Lake Volume (acre-feet)              300
Drainage Area (square miles)        0.83
Altitude (feet)                      194
Shoreline Length (miles)             2.2

Contour Map

Source of morphometric data: Water Supply Bulletins 42, 43, and 57.


VOLUNTEER-COLLECTED SECCHI DATA
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Date      Temperature      Water      %Cloud Recent        Secchi Lake  
(Y/M/D)    (C)   (F)  pH   Color      Cover  Rain   Wind   (ft)   Ht(in) Abbrev. Comments
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
        STATION 1
95/05/15                                 0                  4.5     0.0  
95/07/04  21.7  71.1       Undefined    90   Light  Breezy  3.3   -10.0  water is a yellowish-brown. An increase in the
                                                                         domestic duck population--apparently from
                                                                         dropping off pets.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
   
LABORATORY RESULTS
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                    Total       Total                   Fecal Col. Bacteria  Turb-    Suspended Solids           
                    Phosphorus  Nitrogen   Chlorophyll  (colonies/100 mL)    idity    Total   Non-Volatile   Color  
Date         Strata (ug/L)      (mg/L)     (ug/L)       Site 1    Site 2     (NTU)    (mg/L)  (mg/L)         (Pt-Co)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
        STATION 1
95/05/15       E      27        0.66        6.0           19X        5X       1.1                                
95/05/15       H                                                                                                 
95/08/15       E      39        0.75        1.7                                                                  
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
E=epilimnion composite, H=hypolimnion composite.  Remarks codes: U = Below detection limits; J = Estimate.


SUMMARY OF VOLUNTEER SURVEY


There was no survey response for 1995.

FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ECOLOGY STAFF
The yellow-flowering water lily (Nuphar polysepalum) was the dominant macrophyte
(covering 50% of the lake) while the white-flowering water lily (Nymphaea odorata) was
present but in much fewer numbers.  


TROPHIC STATUS
Estimated Trophic State:                                 Eutrophic
Mean Trophic State Index (Secchi):                       59N* (Eutrophic)
Mean Trophic State Index (Total Phosphorus):             57 (Eutrophic)
Mean Trophic State Index (Chlorophyll a):                44 (Mesotrophic)

*The calculated TSI is an estimate.  The Secchi disk hit bottom (B), entered the weeds
(W), or there were too few valid readings (N), or the calculation was based on
qualified data (J), or TSIP was based on spring data (S).

SUMMARY AND EXPLANATION OF TROPHIC STATE ASSESSMENT
Chambers Lake exemplifies the typical eutrophic lake.  It is relatively shallow with
substantial nutrients and plant growth.  The Secchi readings would probably be
somewhat deeper if the lake did not have a dark brown tannin color to it.  The lake is
classified as eutrophic for 1995.  


COMMENTS FROM 93/06/01 AQUATIC PLANT SURVEY
Aquatic plants were surveyed at the public access and at one to three transects around
the lake.  A thorough survey was not made and the list below may be incomplete.

AQUATIC PLANT LIST  (This list may be from multiple years and sources.)
Brasenia schreberi (watershield)  Nymphaea sp. (water lily)

Data collected and provided by Washington Department of Ecology's Lake Monitoring Program (Maggie Bell-McKinnon, phone 360-407-6124).

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