Capitol Lake History

See our Contacts & Links page for several historical archive references.

2011

State Legislature allots $200,000 to assess what permits and costs would be for a minor dredging project

HB1938 "Regarding the management of Capitol Lake"
- March - Bill "dies" before vote in House Capital Budget Committee
- February - Approved 6-4 vote - State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee

2010

CLIPA White Paper released - July 2010

2009

November - Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee receives briefing

September - CLAMP Steering Committee made recommendation to Wa General Admin Director

Alternatives reviewed, CLAMP recommends estuary over lake restoration

May - FOWW and OYC Position Papers released

2007

Wa General Administration installs grass and basic utilities at Heritage Park

2006

Wa General Admin completes the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial overlooking Heritage Park

Wa General Admin repairs the Heritage Park Hillside Trail

2004

Wa General Admin repairs Marathon Park and Capitol Lake Interpretive Center

Wa General Admin treats the lake for Eurasian water milfoil

Wa State Dept of Transportation replants the wetland mitigation site in the Middle Basin

2003

Wa State Dept of Transportation repairs earthquake damage to Deschutes Parkway

Olympia rebuilds the 4th Avenue Bridge

State Capitol Committee authorizes the Deschutes Estuary Feasibility Study, part of CLAMP 10-Year Plan

2002

Wa General Admin and Olympia coordinate street improvements to 5th Avenue, Heritage Fountain, Water Street and 7th Avenue

State Capitol Committee adopts the Capitol Lake Adaptive Management Plan (CLAMP) 2003-2013, without the Deschutes Estuary Feasibility Study management objective

Capitol Lake Adaptive Management - "A vision for the Next 10 years" is completed with 14 objectives including an "estuary feasibility study". Plan adopted by State Capitol Committee EXCEPT the estuary study

2001

Nisqually Earthquake damages Deschutes Parkway, shoreline parks, and the 4th Avenue Bridge

Wa General Admin buries county time capsules in Heritage Park at the Eastern Washington Butte

1999

Wa General Admin constructs Heritage Park - Arc of Statehood in the North Basin and creates a wetland mitigation site at the de-watering basin in the Middle Basin

Wa General Admin adopts Capitol Lake Adaptive Management Plan (CLAMP) for 1999-2001

Environmental Impact Statement completed and filed at same time as CLAMP report. Plan is first direct investigation of estuary alternatives. EIS examines 5 alternatives: Lake/River Wetland with and without sediment trap (maintaining North Basin), Lake, Estuary, and Lake/Estuary.

1997

Capitol Lake Management Plan Steering Committee formed.

1996

Olympia constructs Heritage Park Fountain

Gridlock develops over GA efforts to gain permits for construction of Heritage Park and maintenance dredging of Middle Basin and Percival Cove. WA GA decides not to force issue but organizes a task force to address the management deadlock. First indication of Estuary movement.

1994

"Collins" report concludes that maintenance sediment removal of Capitol Lake is expected to be a long-term, ongoing need.

Wa General Admin acquires land for Heritage Park from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad

1991

State Capitol Committee adopts the Heritage Park Master Plan

1988

Capitol Lake Restoration: Committee Report and Proposed Action Plan is completed by inter-agency task force calling for "maintenance dredging on a planned and regular basis".

Wa Dept Fish & Wildlife adds net pens to Percival Cove

1986

Wa General Admin constructs Capitol Lake Interpretive Center

Wa General Admin dredges Middle Basin.
Approximately 57,000 cubic feet of sediment was dredged.

1985

Olympia closes the Capitol Lake Park swimming area

1984

First Women's Marathon Trials end at Marathon Park

1983

1983-1992Wa State Dept Transportation widens Interstate 5 and rebuilds the Highway 101 Interchange

1979

Dredge spoils are used to create Tumwater Historical Park, and to create dike and de-watering basin at future Capitol Lake Interpretive Center site

Wa General Admin dredges South Basin and Middle Basin. Approximately 250,000 cubic feet of sediment was dredged.

1975

Wa General Admin initiates "Save A Beautiful Lake" Program.
The program calls for dredging sediment.

1974

1952-1974 An estimated 660,000 cubic feet of sediment has accumulated in the lake.

1971

Wa Dept Fish & Wildlife begins to raise salmon in Percival Cove

1969

Wa General Administration creates shoreline park in North Basin later renamed "Marathon Park"

1965

Wa General Administration rebuilds Deschutes Parkway after damage from the earthquake

1964

Olympia constructs Capitol Lake Park with swimming area

1958

Olympia connects 5th Avenue at Deschutes Parkway to West Olympia

1957

1957-1958 Wa State Dept of Transportation constructs the Interstate 5 and Highway 101 Interchange

1954

Wa. Dept Fish & Wildlife constructs fish ladders at Tumwater Falls and on Percival Creek

1952

Olympia constructs the first waste-water treatment facility on Puget Sound.

1951

Corps of Engineers constructs Capitol Lake dam, 5th Avenue, and Deschutes Parkway.
- Capitol Lake is formed.

1948

State authorized construction of Capitol Lake

1938

Legislature authorizes creation of Capitol Lake

1937

State initiates actions to create Capitol Lake

1929

Northern Pacific Railroad rebuilds trestle

1920

Olympia constructs concrete 4th Avenue Bridge

1912

Wilder & White revise the original Capitol Campus Plan

1911

Wilder & White plan for the Capitol Campus completed. The plan envisions a reflective body of water fronting the Capitol building group.

1906

Leopold Schmidt constructs the Olympia Brewery near Tumwater Falls

1891

Northern Pacific Railroad (later Burlington Northern Santa Fe) crosses Budd Inlet at the base of the future West Campus

1855

Edmund Sylvester donates 12 acres on Budd Inlet for the Washington State Capitol