Lake Sawyer Water Temperatures - Hot

With August temperatures among the highest we have seen for an extended period, being able to go for a swim or jump in the lake has offered great relief from the heat.  The Lake Sawyer boat launch and Regional Park have both been well used during this period.  How hot has it been?  Bob and Janie Edelman maintain a local weather station - most helpful if you want to know the answer to these questions (LakeSawyerWeather.com).  Following is the graphic posted today showing both ambient air temperature and lake water temperature measured one meter below the surface.

At over 80 degrees, that's almost bath tub hot.  

How do current lake water temperatures compare with history?  It's getting hotter.

Data Source:  King County 

The above chart shows water temperatures measured 1 meter below the surface dating back to 1993.  As you can see, the trend is up.  This does not bode well for water quality and local fisheries.  If surface water temperatures are rising, what about at 8 meters and 15 meters below the surface?

Data source:  King County

Sampling for temperature at 1, 8 and 15 meters below the surface are typically done twice a year , once in May and once in August.  Data for August 2018 has not yet been posted.  Please excuse the chart labeling showing November for each year.  The correct labels would be May and August (blame my lack of charting skills in excel for the mislabling).

Unfortunately, we are seeing spikes in water temperatures at 8 meters below the surface now too.  This is not good for salmon and steelhead spawning through Lake Sawyer and on to Ravensdale Creek and Rock Creek.  If you have done any hiking into the Green River gorge, you might note the signs that have been posted by Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife.  Steelhead fishing this year is limited to catch and release only.  Water temperatures were apparently too high at the hatchery resulting in low survival rates for hatchery stock.  Trends would seem to indicate that this problem can only get worse.

Comments

[David]

I don't buy King County's data. This area of science is too politicized and agenda-driven. There's been far too much fraud. It is readily apparent that all levels of government in this state is infested with partisan hacks, and they have no credibility. It's tragic if they ultimately turn out to be right, but then again if they were right and they knew it they wouldn't resort to pushing phony science.

[Craig Goodwin]

I don't agree with you David. The people taking the samples are not political hacks, they are volunteers, many of whom live on the lake. And for those of us who have lived on the lake a long time (37 years in my case), I can tell you with some authority that the lake is getting warmer and warmer.