The expression says it all. Dick Thurnau holds a jar of murky Hicks Lake water at the free Hicks Lake BBQ in White Center on Aug. 20. The BBQ is a chance for the community to learn about pollution problems with the lake and how they can help out. PLEASE CLICK THE PHOTO ABOVE FOR MORE PICTURES.
The Hicks Lake BBQ at Lakewood Park in White Center had a good turnout of people interested in a free lunch and information on the lake's pollution.
The main goal of the event was to gather signatures for a petition asking King County to provide funding for cleanup.
“We’re trying to get as many signatures as we can to send in to our King County Councilmembers to see if they won’t do something,” Friends of Hicks Lake member Dick Thurnau said at the picnic. “This lake’s been polluted for 40 some years now and I think it’s about time something is done about it.”
Thurnau send a letter to King County’s elected officials stating “Hicks Lake within Lakewood Park has a long history (since the 1960’s) of polluted unhealthy water. Many local residents call the lake a sewer and there is much documentation to verify. This problem needs resolution and the King County Council must hear our voice to have this facility become once again a usable recreational area for our Children, Students and Families and the health related issues.”
Friends of Hicks Lake has several recommendations to improve the area including additional parking stalls where the Park House once stood, returning the west parking lot to its original wetland state (to act as a natural filtration system for incoming water before it reaches the lake) and installing a water fountain aeration system to aerate the stagnant water “and provide a beautiful and much needed attraction for the Community and White Center.”
Thurnau said he was pleased with the turnout and signatures gathered to bring Hicks Lake pollution issues to King County’s attention.
