Get a sneak peek at the future of Capitol Lake and a restored Deschutes River estuary

For decades, Olympia's Capitol Lake has stagnated and stunk, locked behind a dam that cuts the Deschutes River off from the ebb and flow of Budd Bay's tides. In the coming years, all of that will change - and this week, residents can get a guided tour offering a sneak peek at what a restored estuary will offer.

The educational public tour and open house, hosted by the Washington Department of Ecology, takes place at half-hour intervals from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 7 (including family-friendly options). The public can informally meet with the state's project team at the northeast end of Heritage Park, ask questions about existing conditions in the area, and take part in a guided walking tour along the lake while learning how Ecology will restore the estuary as part of the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project.

Capitol Lake was created in 1951, when the 5th Avenue Dam was built at the mouth of the Deschutes River. Sediment built up in the shallow lake, and algal blooms and invasive plants led to high temperatures, low oxygen, and poor water quality that also impacts Budd Inlet.

Removing the 5th Avenue Dam will reintroduce tidal flows to the Deschutes waterway. This action will also restore 260 acres of a historic estuary habitat. Restoring the area to an estuary will help migratory fish in the Deschutes River watershed and South Puget Sound. These fish - including Chinook salmon - depend on estuarine habitat for juvenile rearing and foraging before migrating to the sea.

The state's project team has worked with many groups to inform the project design. They include the Squaxin Island Tribe, City of Olympia, City of Tumwater, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The team has also included input from the public and a community sounding board.

After construction of the Deschutes Estuary restoration, an interlocal agreement will guide how the project features are maintained and provide long-term funding related to sediment management in the area. The state negotiated this agreement with parties including the City of Olympia, City of Tumwater, Port of Olympia, Thurston County, Squaxin Island Tribe, State of Washington, and LOTT Clean Water Alliance. The interlocal agreement includes shared funding to dredge the sediment in navigational parts of West Bay, which supports a vibrant and working Olympia waterfront.

Learn more about the project on Ecology's Deschutes Estuary Project page and subscribe to future project updates through Ecology's site.

When: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Saturday, March 7, 2026.

Where: North end of Heritage Park (south of the intersection of 5th Avenue SW and Sylvester St SW)

Do you need to RSVP? No RSVP required. All are welcome and you don't need to do anything beforehand to attend.

The 1.2-mile tour will start at Heritage Park and travel around the east side of the North Basin, with a roundtrip time of approximately one hour. Tours leave every 30 minutes, starting at 10:05 a.m. The last tour leaves at 2:05 p.m. Please dress for the weather.

We will offer shorter, family-friendly tours (0.5 miles) at 10:35 a.m. and 12:35 p.m., which last just over 30 minutes. You can find out more about the project at the event station in Heritage Park.

Where do you park? You can find parking information on the City of Olympia's website. The north parking lot is reserved for ADA and priority parking. The marina parking lot is closed to the public.

Learn more about this event through our online flyer.