CAPITOL LAKE – DESCHUTES ESTUARY LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT
Long-term management strategies and actions are needed to address issues in the Capitol Lake – Deschutes Estuary project area. Neither short-term actions like dredging nor a long-term management alternative can be implemented without an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
The Draft EIS for the Capitol Lake – Deschutes Estuary Long-Term Management Project was issued on June 30, 2021. It evaluates potential changes to the environment that would result from long-term management of the waterbody as a Managed Lake, Estuary, or Hybrid. It also includes a No Action Alternative, as required by the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).
The Draft EIS was available for public comment (June 30 – August 29, 2021).
The Draft EIS provides a description of the long-term management alternatives and an impartial discussion of significant environmental impacts and benefits, as well as mitigation measures that would avoid or minimize adverse impacts or enhance environmental quality. It also supports informed decision making.
The Draft EIS is available in the project library for download in full and by chapter.
WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW?
In March 2022, following review of more than 850 comments on the Draft EIS, the EIS Project Team and Enterprise Services evaluated the alternatives against a range of technical criteria using the process outlined in Section 1.12 of the Draft EIS, and considered input from engaged stakeholders on the ability of each alternative to achieve long-term support (decision durability).
Following this evaluation, Enterprise Services identified the Estuary Alternative as the likely preferred alternative. This has allowed Enterprise Services to reconvene the Funding and Governance Work Group to advance a final shared funding and governance approach for the Estuary Alternative.
The EIS Project Team is working to update the technical analyses based on comments received on the Draft EIS and is preparing the Final EIS, which is anticipated to be issued in fall 2022.
Learn more about next steps, the likely preferred alternative, and funding and governance in these frequently asked questions.
TIMELINE FOR LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT PLANNING
STAY UP TO DATE ON OUR PROGRESS
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For questions about the project please email info@CapitolLakeDeschutesEstuaryEIS.org.
OTHER LANGUAGES OR ACCOMMODATIONS
To request information in other languages please email accessibility@des.wa.gov or (360) 407-8200.
Para solicitar información en otros idiomas, envíe un correo electrónico a accessibility@des.wa.gov or (360) 407-8200.
Để yêu cầu thông tin bằng các ngôn ngữ khác, vui lòng gửi email đến accessibility@des.wa.gov or (360) 407-8200.
News and Events
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Critical Next Steps Identified in Work toward Final EIS
LIKELY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE IDENTIFIED
Following careful evaluation, Enterprise Services identified the Estuary Alternative as the likely preferred alternative for the Capitol Lake – Deschutes …
Did You Know?
Enterprise Services identified the Estuary Alternative as the likely preferred alternative with the following information:
- The Draft EIS, published in summer 2021, which is the body of technical work that discloses potential impacts and benefits of the project
- Comments on the Draft EIS, which informed the range of additional technical work needed in the Final EIS and whether findings from the Draft EIS would change
- Input from engaged stakeholders on which alternative(s) could achieve long-term stakeholder support (referred to as Decision Durability)