(2025-09-17 )Lake Health Update:
As noted in our last update, we have had a lab test the lake and do an analysis of where we are at. In summary, our phosphorus level is 3~5 times higher than it should be, and this is providing substantial nutrients for the growth of algae. Our algae is the blue-green Planktonic algae that routinely can be toxic. Our lake is one step from worst case. The lab results are attached for download - please go to "THE HOA" tab at the top of the page, and you will find the report in the downloadable file listing.
To help further understand these test results, and mitigation/control methods, we spoke at length with the lake water quality experts at the lab. Based on the fact that the algae seems to be dying off due to the lower sunlight levels, and reduced temperatures, the most cost effective solution is to wait a bit longer, and skip the process/expense of algaecide, which has some risk to fish populations, and treat the lake with Eutrosorb G, a material that is not toxic to humans or fish, and binds the phosphorus so that it cannot be consumed by algae. According to the SePRO aquatic technical specialist for the Northwest, this is the most effective method to dramatically reduce our algae (starve it) and get the lake back to good health.
Now that we have a clear understanding of the exact biology and condition of the lake, we are getting the specific quotations from a licensed applicator to apply the Eutrosorb G phosphor binder, as well as the cost of the Eutrosorb G material itself. To drive down the phosphor level in the lake, it will take multiple applications. We are planning for the first application in early November, when we expect the algae level to be low (so we can bind the free phosphor, as well as the phosphor released by the algae as it dies off) so we can bind as much phosphor as possible. Then, in March we will test the water again, and treat again, to further drive down the phosphor nutrient availability. Each time we treat, the following treatment will use less Eutrosorb G binder, and our costs will be lower.
Although the actual lab tests of the water will drive our actual treatment plan, it is estimated that it will take about 4 treatments at 6 month intervals to get the lake back to health, then after that monitoring and maintenance treatment will be much lower cost in terms of binder, and we expect to have board/staff members qualified as applicators so we can self-apply.
Once we have the detailed costing, we will update this information.
(2025-08-22) Lake Health Update: As a follow-on to the initial report below, please find this update....
As we noted in our initial report below, we have been working feverishly to develop a near and long-term financially viable solution for our algae situation. Based on recent discussions with a number of experts, here is where we believe we are at:
- Over the years, we have applied herbicide to reduce the amount of plant growth at the water’s edge. The idea was that this would reduce the amount of nutrients that algae needs to grow (phosphorus). In general this worked, but the nutrients available still slowly rose, and once it hit a critical level, instead of the patches of filamentous algae we had before, we now have Planktonic algae.
- We are sending out the water samples to a laboratory for analysis, to identify the exact strain of Planktonic algae we have. Once we know the strain, we will be able to determine the exact treatment which is known science. Luckily, the treatment does not poison the water, harm people or kill fish. The treatment is the application of a liquid chemical that binds with the phosphorus molecule, and makes it inedible to the algae. The algae starves and dies. We will know within about two weeks the exact strain, as well as the specific formulation for the binder chemical, then we will price the binder, and licensed applicator who can apply it. As long as this is within our reasonable budget envelope, we should be treating fairly soon (within a month), and will start to see an improvement in the water quality. This is expected to become an annual treatment, and no other treatments or remediation should be necessary.
- This exact process was used on Kitsap Lake, and today the water is clear and nice.
- Also in our discussions with the industry experts, each one of them noted that adding oxygen to the water column does not actually kill algae. It may make the water healthier for fish and plant life, but oxygen does not kill algae. And, for a lake of our size, to ensure even oxygen dispersion, we would need to install 20~30 bubblers in the water. Each of the experts said if we think bubblers work in a large lake like ours to kill algae, ask for the proof and interview other lake operators. They said we will find the oxygen did not kill algae.
- We will keep you posted step-by-step through this process, and we hope to have our lake back to sparkling clean as fast as possible.
(2025-07-23) Recent Lake Algae Bloom: Recently there have been a number of questions regarding the health of Palmer Lake, and this overview will hopefully answer your questions.
Palmer Lake existed as a small swampy body of water for many years before the community was developed. As part of developing what is now known as Palmer Lake Beach Club (PLBC), the lake was improved and the ability to add water from a well owned by PLBC was also added. Palmer Lake is the private property owned by PLBC, and under the Covenants and Bylaws of PLBC, it exists for the benefit of the owners of lots in Plat 1 and 2 of Palmer Lake subdivision. The owners are called members, and only owners can be members. Today the lake has an average depth of 20’, and a surface area of 13.64 acres. A detailed lake basin analysis has been posted to the “The HOA” tab of this website for download.
In the late 1990’s, the drainage swale that connected an overflow drain pipe from the lake, into a private property at the south end of the lake became inoperable – because the swale became filled in. The property is now owned by a different owner, but during that time, the County considered enforcement action against that previous owner but ultimately declined to do so. This resulted in the lake not draining and becoming stagnant, and algae forming.
Algae forms under specific conditions. Slow or stagnant water (algae is rarely present in streams and rivers in significant concentrations) is the first general condition. Then you need nutrients, such as run-off from septic fields and lawns, excessive vegetation that decomposes, fish, duck and other wildlife excrement for the algae to grow on. Third, you need lower oxygen levels in the water. When all three of these factors exist, you get algae.
A couple of good web videos on this topic are https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj59ouOEgyEand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rdbOqCa41c&t=132s
In the years that followed the lack of drainage in the lake, algae began to build up, and the County (Tacoma Pierce County Health Department – TPCHD) through its testing program would close the lake occasionally due to the presence of toxic algae. Through these years, the number of times the lake would close in the summer slowly increased, and the maximum was approximately 7 times. And even if the lake did not close, the murkiness and level of non-toxic algae was unpleasant.
Over these years, PLBC treated the lake to reduce vegetation growth, and this improved lake water quality, but did not eliminate the algae issues and the slow build up and increased closures. Each year, the HOA spent between $2,500 and $3,000 on lake treatment.
In 2020, the Board of Directors of PLBC decided to take more aggressive action and rebuild the lake drainage system. This resulted in PLBC reaching agreement with the landowner on the south end of the lake, behind the PLBC offices, for an updated easement agreement. PLBC spent roughly $40,000 to install a new drainage system that went from the lake across the road, PLBC property and private property, for about 400’ that then drained down to little Palmer Lake, following the original drainage swale.
This new drain system had an immediate and dramatic improvement on lake health. Massive amounts of algae flowed out the drainage system and reduced the amount of algae in the lake. In 2022, the lake did not close once, and over the following years, while we received several algae caution notifications from TPCHD, we had almost no closures.
In 2023, our lake vegetation treatment company owner passed away, and we began to search for a replacement company. We were shocked to find that other companies were providing estimates of $12,000 - $20,000 per year to treat the lake. A massive increase that was not budgeted for. For reference, the annual cost increase of $17,000 at the high-end would mean a dues increase of $35.00 per year per lot. The Board, in it’s quest to be frugal, searched for other alternatives.
In 2024, the vegetation control treatment of the lake did not take place, due to cost. The Board was able to get a volunteer member who agreed to take the state training program, including testing, so that this volunteer could be a licensed applicator for PLBC, and we could just buy the treatment chemicals we had traditionally used, dropping our cost to the membership to less than $1,000 per year. You must be a licensed applicator to purchase the chemicals by state law. This member took training but ultimately did not pass the test (July 23rd, 2025) and then declined to move forward. Because we now don’t have a licensed applicator, we are working on the backup plan to bring in a company to treat the lake. Moving forward we have two new volunteers, but it will take time to get them certified. So now the Board is looking at immediate actions to be taken.
The way to control algae is to get water moving, reduce the nutrients, and increase the oxygen level in the water. The Board is focused on the lowest cost methods to accomplish this control, in order of priority:
Getting the water moving!
Today, we inject water at the south end of the lake during the summer, to keep the lake at the correct level. A controlled amount of this water continuously goes out the drain line, taking algae with it. But the drain is also at the south end of the lake, so there is less flow “across” the lake. PLBC has rough quotes to relocate the water injection system to the north beach, to increase the flow across the lake, and drive out more algae. Since we already pump the water, the cost is roughly $12,000 to $15,000 (route pipes across the lake bottom, install a “splash pad) at the north beach). This is a one-time cost, with little or no maintenance.
Reducing the nutrients!
We need to quickly treat to reduce the vegetation in the lake and potentially use direct methods to reduce the algae. We have a two-track plan for this – find an immediate treatment company until our new volunteers are licensed and treat immediately then transition to our new volunteers in 2026. We are soliciting proposals on an emergency basis to get the lake treated, but it will come at a higher-than-budgeted cost. We are also looking at some species of fish that eat vegetation, but there are some government agencies who note the increased excrement from these fish feeds algae, and some cannot survive in our cooler water temperatures.
Increasing the oxygen level!
If steps one and two do not dramatically reduce the algae, we may be forced to move to step three, which is installing continuously running air compressor systems on the north and south beaches to inject air into the water. This involves running underground electrical to a concrete pad, mounting compressors, and placing air lines in the lake to “bubblers” which will bubble air into the lake. We have quotes for $22,000 per compressor, not including power, concrete pad and security covers. Total cost is estimated to be more than $60,000, which is a dues assessment of roughly $120.00 per PLBC member. Compressors, since they will initially run almost continuously, and then will run for only certain hours per day, have a limited life span and will need to be replaced every few years and maintained. Using compressors will create a permanent and ongoing cost to the HOA and its members. Board and staff are researching to see if we can reduce the cost of these compressor systems and may have reduced cost estimates in the future.
There has been some commentary regarding using solar powered floating fountains to aerate the lake. Most literature notes that fountains do not work well in water depths over a few feet, they tend to oxygenate only the upper stratification of the water, and at our average 20’ depth would be ineffective.
Some members have advocated immediately installing compressors. The Board is concerned that this skips important steps one and two and is wasteful spending. Also, this level of expenditure would deplete almost half the PLBC cash reserve and would require a substantial dues increase in 2026 to replenish the funds. The membership would have to approve this expenditure, and dues increase in the October of 2025 or March of 2026 general member meetings. The Board does not have the authority to spend these funds without a vote of the general membership.
Your volunteer Board believes that we should proceed with steps in the order noted above, to be fiscally responsible with your money. We recognize that we would like to have an immediate resolution, but this is a tough problem and requires a lot of time and effort to resolve, as we have noted above. The Board will provide regular updates to this issue from time to time as we make progress, and of course you are free to come to the monthly Board meetings to ask questions as well.
