Headwaters

Launched in 1994, King County’s Lake Stewardship Program partners with community volunteers to track and report on the health of King County’s small lakes. These lake stewards are a vital source of historical knowledge and trusted connectors who link their neighbors and broader lake communities with expertise and resources from King County and other agencies.

With support from Science Section water quality scientists Chris Knutson and Wafa Tafesh, nearly 80 volunteers across King County are caring for 42 lakes and the people who rely on them for swimming, fishing, boating, and gathering. Check out the video below to meet some of the amazing people (and pets) behind this long-running program!

The citizen science behind the Lake Stewardship Program

The Lake Stewardship Program monitors changes in lake conditions over time. Our water quality scientists and a network of volunteers track water clarity, temperature, nutrient levels, algae and bacteria, and recreation activity around each lake. This information helps us inform communities about hazards like toxic algae blooms, identify emerging environmental concerns, and support long-term decisions to keep lakes safe, accessible, and thriving.

To gather so much data, volunteer lake stewards sample twice each month from May through October. By boat or board, they head to the deepest point of their assigned lake. Then they collect water samples, check the water clarity and temperature, and take notes on activity around the lake. The King County Environmental Laboratory processes the samples and our water quality scientists analyze and report on the data.

Throughout the year, King County staff provide volunteers training, guidance, and technical support for issues at their lakes. When communities have questions about nutrients, water levels, beavers, invasive plants, or bacteria and algae, lake stewards and King County experts are ready to help.

“All the people who live near and on the lake who paddle, fish, float, relax… who love the bats, osprey, kingfishers, otters, bullfrogs, turtles, great blue herons, dragonflies, and many migratory birds… this is what makes this lake special. I’m a lake steward to help protect all this and connect with my community.”

-Ann, volunteer lake steward at Echo Lake

The ripple effects of long-term collaboration

This dedicated network of volunteers helps us understand what’s happening across dozens of lakes over long periods of time. That in turn paints a clearer picture of regional water quality trends and potential new research directions.

By working side‑by‑side with King County residents, the Lake Stewardship Program strengthens community connections, increases awareness of people’s impacts on water quality, and supports a shared commitment to caring for our local lakes.

To all Lake Stewardship volunteers, past and present: Thank you for your partnership, insights, and time.

“There’s always something wonderful happening on the lake. The first thing you do when you live on a lake is you look outside to see what’s happening.”

-David, volunteer lake steward at Ames Lake

Visit the King County Lake Stewardship Program page to know more about how the program works, review monitoring reports, explore educational resources, or learn about becoming a volunteer lake steward yourself.