Capitol Lake drawdown will allow shoreline survey

As part of efforts to restore the Deschutes Estuary, water levels in Capitol Lake will be drawn down in late July 2026.

S tarting on July 19, the water gate on the 5^th Avenue Dam will be opened, allowing water to flow from the lake to Budd Inlet. A similar drawdown occurred in July 2024. The low water levels will allow the Deschutes Estuary Restoration project team to survey the shoreline and existing structures.

Once the work is complete, the Washington Department of Enterprise Services (DES), which controls the dam, will close the water gate, allowing the Deschutes River flows to refill Capitol Lake. Water will again cover the lakebed within a few days, but DES expects it could take until July 31 for the lake to fully refill.

The drawdown and survey are part of the ongoing efforts to restore the tidal estuary that connected the Deschutes River and Budd Inlet prior to the construction of the dam in the 1950s. The Washington Department of Ecology is leading the project, working closely with the Squaxin Island Tribe, the Washington Department of Fishand Wildlife, and DES throughout the estuary restoration design process.

During the drawdown, the pedestrian path around Deschutes Parkway and Capitol Lake will remain open. However, visitors should not go out onto the exposed sediment, because the lake remains closed. The project team will decontaminate any gear that is used within the basin to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, particularly the New Zealand mudsnail.

To stay updated on the project and future public involvement opportunities, subscribe to the project newsletter or visit DeschutesEstuaryProject.org.