South End freshwater lakes are in danger, but not from foul-smelling algae or increased beaver dam-building.
It’s all about money.
Kye Iris, regional lands manager for the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Island County Parks Director Steve Marks gave 50 residents and the South Whidbey Parks & Recreation board the bad news at Bayview Community Hall on Wednesday. Access to three prime South Whidbey freshwater lakes, they said, may be restricted due to lack of funds.
The state’s 25-year maintenance-and-operations contract with the county expires next month for Goss and Lone lakes in Langley, and in February for Deer Lake in Clinton.
“Unless we find some agency willing to take responsibility, the lakes will revert to a more primitive state,” Iris said.
“Swimming in Goss Lake would be restricted, the picnic tables would be moved elsewhere and the restrooms closed.”
Iris also noted that water quality would suffer without continued maintenance.
She added that her department’s budget has been cut $30 million and was already running lean. Iris oversees 200 parks in several counties, ranging from full-service facilities to end-of-trail turnarounds.
Marx said that he is unable to keep the lakes at their current level of upkeep because his department’s budget has been slashed.
County Commissioner Helen Price Johnson reinforced the economic reality.
“For a number of years to come, the county will not be able to provide the same level of service for the lakes,” she said.
“This is an opportune time to shift responsibility to the park district,” she added. “We need to address the situation, and soon.”
Iris and Marx said they are willing to negotiate an agreement should the parks board be receptive to taking on the responsibility responsibility of picking up trash, emptying portable restrooms, sweeping, cutting vegetation and other essential tasks.
“Basically, I’m asking if you would take them over,” Marx said. “I have three full-time people to cover the county’s 34 parks, and the budget has been halved this year.”
Neither agency is offering financial assistance. Under the proposal now on the table, the state would continue to own the properties and regulate use of the lakes.
Park Commissioner Linda Kast said South End taxpayers might be tapped to help pay for maintenance and operations of the properties if the parks district takes over.
“Taking on the lakes and other properties, with no compensation, may require us to ask the taxpayers for a levy increase,” she said. “We need to know what folks want, and that’s why I’m so pleased at tonight’s turnout.”
Though Marx — who took over parks barely six weeks ago — didn’t have a financial breakdown on how much the county spends now, park director Terri Arnold said that the important thing to know is how much money the district will need to maintain those properties to the district’s standards.
“A rough estimate is $170,000 to go mobile, including new hires, trucks, mowers, time, fuel and fertilizer,” Arnold said.
Parks Commissioner Don Wood said the board has to examine what’s best for the district and its taxpayers.
“It seems there’s a lot of baggage in the details and, with no funds coming with any of these proposals, we have to proceed carefully before making any decisions,” Wood said.
Jeff VanDerford can be reached at 221-5300 or jvanderford@southwhidbey
record.com.
