Is Capitol Lake polluted?
The lake has some water quality problems, but it is not contaminated with industrial pollutants or toxic chemicals. The Thurston County Environmental Health Division monitors the lake from May through October and reports that oxygen levels in the water are normal throughout most of the year, but can be higher than normal during brief periods in the summer. The agency also says there have been no toxic algae blooms in the lake. The lake is off limits to swimming because of fecal coliform bacteria. The water is murky because of the sediment and algae. Much of the litter found along the lakes shoreline comes from upstream.
