Published July 9 2014
The swimming areas at Meydenbauer, Clyde and Newcastle beach parks will each be closed one day next week as a precaution while the city, in conjunction with private property owners, applies herbicide to control invasive milfoil blooms.
The swimming areas will be off-limits for 24 hours on the following days:
- 7 a.m., Tuesday, July 15, to 7 a.m., July 16, at Meydenbauer Beach Park, 419 98th Ave. NE and Clyde Beach Park, 9415 Lake Washington Blvd.; and
- 7 a.m., Wednesday, July 16, to 7 a.m., July 17, at Newcastle Beach Park, 4400 Lake Washington Blvd SE.
Though the swimming areas will be closed, the parks will remain open.
As in previous years, the city has received a permit from the state Department of Ecology to apply the milfoil treatment at the Bellevue Marina, which will affect the swimming area at Meydenbauer Beach Park. Newcastle and Clyde will be impacted by private applications from neighboring properties.
According to the Department of Ecology, milfoil is considered to be the most problematic plant in Washington. Milfoil can drastically alter a water body's ecology and rob oxygen from the water 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.
There will be no herbicide applied directly to the beach parks. The applications are being made to shoreline properties that are adjacent to these sites. Signs will be posted onsite regarding the swimming area closures. For questions about the milfoil treatment, call Rick Bailey at 425-452-6885. For more information about Bellevue Parks & Community Services, call 425-452-6885.