My reward to myself after my dentist appointment is to drive 5 minutes down the street to a delightful little park on Lake Washington.
Two birds were having a romantic moment together, bobbing their heads up and down, up and down, and under the water in unison together. Swimming circles with each other. Bobbing heads up and down.
A small fishing boat was nearby. I could see why … lots of splishing and splashing of fish everywhere! I wondered if the people in the boat were catching many?
It’s always fun to watch the sea planes take off! I wonder where they are headed? San Juans maybe?
Peace and calm … at the end of the pier.
Wait a minute … the last time I was here there were rows of pilings sticking up out of the water just off the pier.
They’re gone! Completely submerged!
How is that possible??
Lake Washington’s water level shouldn’t rise and fall with the tides, like the Puget Sound does. It’s completely separated by the locks.
I did a quick Google search and discovered that the water levels of Lake Washington do indeed rise and fall. Who knew!
The water levels of the lake are managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. In the wintertime the water levels of the lake are kept about 2 feet higher than in the summer. This is to accommodate for lower rainfall during the summer, so that adequate water flow can be maintained through the locks and fish ladders.
I also learned that the lake levels are not flat across the lake. The level up at the northern end of the lake (where I was) are typically higher than at the locks, due to wind and water movement.
Thanks Google! I felt very educated!
Here you can see the pilings sticking up out of the water last October. (when I came to the park after my last dentist apt)
And here you can see the exact same view this Spring. The pilings are gone!
As I sat and enjoyed the view several people with their dogs came by and sat for a bit on the nearby benches. A couple of girlfriends came and had an enthusiastic conversation on the next bench over! An Au Pair Nanny with two small children strolled by … and the little girl was quick to also notice that the pilings were gone!
Thank you God for peace and calm at the end of a pier!
Thank you God for springtime joys!
Thank you God for springtime at the lake!
