Surface Water Management Division

Lake Howard

Lake Howard is located in the Seven Lakes area north of the Tulalip Reservation.  The lake is 26 acres and has an average depth of 8.8 meters.  The watershed is about 265 acres and is 15% developed.  There is a public boat launch at the northwest end of the lake.  Gas powered boats are not permitted.

A new pilot project is starting at Lake Howard that will help to protect and improve the water quality.  Lake Howard was chosen because the lake is showing trends of  declining water quality.   The project goal is to reverse those trends by working with the residents that live near Lake Howard to reduce pollution coming into the lake.  

Right now we are still in the planning phase of the program.  However, we have held a community meeting and conducted a survey of lake residents.  This information is posted below.  More events and resources will be coming your way in 2012.   To find out more about what you can do now visit our Healthy Lakes pages.

Volunteers present their monitoring data at the community meeting

Community Meeting Presentations

The project is just beginning and we started off with a recent Lake Howard community meeting.  If you missed the meeting and want to find out more you can download the presentations or contact us (Info below).  We are hoping to also have audio and/or video of the meeting added soon.  

• Toxic algae - background & health risks
• Lake water quality history - How did we get here?
• What can we do to help the lake? - Next Steps

 

Community Survey Results

In December of 2011, the Washington State University extension conducated a telephone survey of lake community residents at both Lake Howard and Lake Ki.  The purpose was to hear what lake residents had to say about lake water quality as well as the potential options to reduce pollution.   The information will be used to create an outreach program that reduces pollution and works well with lake residents. 

• Lake Community Survey - Final Report from WSU Extension

 

Water Quality Information

Summary

Lake Howard has high water clarity, moderate aquatic plants, and low phosphorus in the upper waters.  However, the lake has high phosphorus levels in the bottom waters and regular algal blooms.  Therefore, the lake appears to be at risk of future declines in water quality unless nutrient runoff from land development in the surrounding watershed is controlled.

 

Reports

A comprehensive Snohomish County State of the Lakes Report was produced in 2003 and includes a specific section on Lake Howard.   Individual lake updates to this report are provided each year as new data are collected.  

•  State of the Lakes Report (2003)   
•  Annual Monitoring Report Update (2010)

 

Data

Snohomish County Surface Water Management (SWM) together with volunteer lake-monitors have been collecting water quality data for Lake Howard since 1994.  Current and historical lake water quality data are available online in SWM's interactive Water Quality Database.

Lake Howard Toxic Algae Monitoring

Lake Howard experienced a toxic algae bloom in late 2011.  The following are links to  information on the sampling results as well as frequently asked questions about the bloom

• 2011 Lake Howard Toxic Algae Testing Results

Lake Howard Maps

• Bathymetric Map - this map shows contour lines of equal depth similar to a topographic map.  Public access sites are also indicated on each map when applicable.
• Aerial Photo - 2007 aerial photos of the lake with relevant features such as public access sites and nearby roads. 

• Watershed Map - this map shows the boundary of the Lake Howard watershed.  A watershed is the land area that drains into the lake. 

   

Lake Howard Resources

• Keeping Your Lake Healthy
• Become a Volunteer Lake-Monitor
• Understanding Healthy Lake Ecology (437 kb PDF download) 
• Common Lake Concerns

Contact

Gene Williams, Senior Planner, 425-388-3464 extension 4563

Marisa Burghdoff, Water Quality Analyst, 425-388-3464 extension 4639