HELP DEFINE THE FUTURE OF THE
CAPITOL LAKE – DESCHUTES ESTUARY

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). 

An EIS supports informed decision making. 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.

The Draft EIS is available in the project library for download in full and by chapter. View a printed copy of the Draft EIS at six locations.

WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW?

Enterprise Services received more than 800 comments during the Draft EIS comment period that closed on August 29, 2021. All Draft EIS comments received during the extended, 62-day comment period will be published on the project website by early October. The Final EIS will include a comment response summary that documents comments and how they were addressed.  

Comments received will inform additional analysis and other work needed to deliver a Final EIS in 2022 and select a Preferred Alternative for long-term management of Capitol Lake – Deschutes Estuary.

TIMELINE FOR LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT PLANNING

Project timeline including Phase 1: Planning, Phase 2: Environmental Impact Statement, and Phase 3: Implementation. Public comment periods occur in Late 2018 during scoping and 2020 following release of the Draft EIS.

STAY UP TO DATE ON OUR PROGRESS

Please join our email list to receive project updates. We will also keep the website up to date as the project progresses!

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.