Published July 11 2013
The swimming areas at Meydenbauer and Clyde beach parks will be closed on Monday, July 15, as a precaution while the city, in conjunction with private property owners, applies herbicide to control invasive milfoil blooms. The swimming area at Newcastle Beach Park will be closed Wednesday, July 17, when adjacent property owners there apply herbicide for milfoil.
Though the swimming areas will be closed, the parks will remain open.
At Meydenbauer Beach Park (419 98th Ave. NE) and Clyde Beach Park (9415 Lake Washington Blvd.) the swimming areas will be off-limits for 24 hours, 7 a.m. on Monday to 7 a.m., Tuesday. At Newcastle Beach Park (4400 Lake Washington Blvd. SE) the swimming area will be closed from 7 a.m., Wednesday, to 7 a.m., Thursday.
According to the state Department of Ecology, milfoil is considered to be the most problematic plant in Washington. Milfoil can drastically alter a water body's ecology, robbing it of oxygen by preventing the wind from mixing the oxygenated surface waters to deeper water. The dense mats of vegetation can also increase the sedimentation rate by trapping sediments. Ecology has more information about milfoil.
Signs will be posted on-site regarding the swimming area closures. For questions about the milfoil treatment, call Rick Bailey at 425-452-6885.