Other News
Apr 11, 2024: Community Meeting: Sea Level Rise Adaptation for Outer Bay and Agate Beach Areas on Lopez Island
Mar 11, 2024: Queers in Unexpected Places: Searching for (and Finding) Gender and Sexual Non-Conformity in the Rural and Early PNW
Mar 7, 2024: DRAFT Richardson Marsh Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Dec 5, 2023: County Council Member Jane Fuller and Senator Liz Lovelett to Host Public Meeting on Lopez
Nov 3, 2023: County and Town Send Open Letter to State Officials Regarding Impacts of Poor Ferry Service
Sep 29, 2023: Conservation Land Bank Announces Special Meeting to Discuss Watmough Bay Preserve Addition
Sep 14, 2023: The mobile dental van is coming to Lopez! // ¡La camioneta dental móvil ya llega a López!
Aug 22, 2023: San Juan County Adopts 32-Hour Work Week in the Name of Fiscal Health, Recruitment, and Islander Wellness
May 25, 2023: Recap of Lopez Neighborhood Meeting Regarding the Relocation of Public Works Facilities
May 23, 2023: District 3 Councilmember Jane Fuller Opens Office on Lopez and Hosts Community Conversation
Apr 17, 2023: Give Lopez Starts April 17th - A two week fundraiser benefiting 15 Lopez Island Non-Profits
Sep 22, 2022: Interim Watmough Preserve Addition Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Hummel Lake boat ramp work continues
Feb 28, 2024
By Kwiaht
Weed control, restored lakeshore access and replanting are underway again at the state fishing access on Hummel Lake, and you can help! Watch Lopez Rocks for calls for volunteers, and announcement of public events.
As winter winds down and a little bit of spring peeks through, Kwiaht and the Lopez Youth Conservation Corps have resumed clearing invasive blackberry brush, English ivy, and Scotch broom from the WDFW fishing access site at the corner of Center and Hummel Lake roads. More of the original park is emerging from the bushes, and with it, more panoramic views of the lake.
Boats have been pulled from the flooded shoreline and stacked safely away from both the lake edge and ongoing brush clearing. We will soon begin replacing the blackberries with more manageable native shrubs and wildflowers that will attract and feed wildlife without obstructing restored views and lakeshore access. And the charming but deteriorating wooden kiosk for loaner life-jackets will soon be replaced by a weatherproof dock box. Thanks to George Willis for building the original kiosk, and to the Lopez Lions for their gift to help pay for the dock box and new safety signage and gear!
What’s next? Watch for spring and summer events, ranging from planting parties to natural history and boater safety. Perhaps we can also get some help obtaining another picnic table to two?
Here’s one date to put on your calendar: Earth Day, April 22, 1:00 pm, we will combine a planting party with talks and displays on the native plants and wildlife of the lake, and refreshments. Don’t miss it!
Important information for boaters!
On the whole, we have been impressed by how little trash we have had to remove from the site. Thank you to everyone that has enjoyed Hummel Lake and packed out their trash!
Unfortunately, boats left at the landing often drift away, and some have sunk or washed up on privately owned lakeshores. We can do better at storing boats securely, and ensuring that they don’t just become trash or, even worse, safety issues.
If you plan to leave your kayak, canoe or dinghy at the boat ramp, please mark it with your name and a phone number. The state maintenance crew removed several derelict boats last summer, and in future they may remove boats regardless of their condition, if they cannot identify and contact the owners.
Boats have been pulled from the flooded shoreline and stacked safely away from both the lake edge and ongoing brush clearing. We will soon begin replacing the blackberries with more manageable native shrubs and wildflowers that will attract and feed wildlife without obstructing restored views and lakeshore access. And the charming but deteriorating wooden kiosk for loaner life-jackets will soon be replaced by a weatherproof dock box. Thanks to George Willis for building the original kiosk, and to the Lopez Lions for their gift to help pay for the dock box and new safety signage and gear!
What’s next? Watch for spring and summer events, ranging from planting parties to natural history and boater safety. Perhaps we can also get some help obtaining another picnic table to two?
Here’s one date to put on your calendar: Earth Day, April 22, 1:00 pm, we will combine a planting party with talks and displays on the native plants and wildlife of the lake, and refreshments. Don’t miss it!
Important information for boaters!
On the whole, we have been impressed by how little trash we have had to remove from the site. Thank you to everyone that has enjoyed Hummel Lake and packed out their trash!
Unfortunately, boats left at the landing often drift away, and some have sunk or washed up on privately owned lakeshores. We can do better at storing boats securely, and ensuring that they don’t just become trash or, even worse, safety issues.
If you plan to leave your kayak, canoe or dinghy at the boat ramp, please mark it with your name and a phone number. The state maintenance crew removed several derelict boats last summer, and in future they may remove boats regardless of their condition, if they cannot identify and contact the owners.
Lopez youth tackle blackberry brush at the Hummel Lake boat ramp