Popular Thurston County water access areas get much needed renovations

Anglers, boaters, paddlers, swimmers, and wildlife watchers can enjoy new facilities at two popular water access areas in Thurston County. Thanks to grant funding provided by the Recreation and Conservation Office, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) recently completed major renovation projects to install new ADA-accessible boat ramps, restrooms, and parking areas at Long Lake and Lake Lawrence.

Larry Phillips, Coastal Region Director for WDFW, cuts the ribbon to celebrate the grand reopening of the Long Lake Water Access Area in July 2020

Long Lake

Located about 5.5 miles from Olympia, Long Lake is a popular destination for fishing, water skiing, and swimming. Open for fishing year-round, Long Lake supports good opportunity to catch rainbow trout from nine to 11 inches. In addition to rainbow trout, anglers can fish for yellow perch, pumpkinseed sunfish, largemouth bass, rock bass, brown bullhead catfish, and common carp.

Improvements

· New launch ramp
· Gravel grading for overflow parking area
· Parking lot repaved and striped
· New stormwater rain garden
· Addition of ADA-accessible loading platform
· New vault toilet

Funding: $440,000 grant from the Recreation and Conservation Office

Long Lake Access Area in 2019 (left) compared to how it looks today after the renovation project (right).

Long Lake boat launch in 2019 (left) compared to new boat launch ramp (right).

New ADA-accessible loading platform (left) and restroom and parking area (right).

Lake Lawrence

Located in Thurston County near the cities of Yelm and Rainier, Lake Lawrence offers great opportunities for people to enjoy fishing, water skiing, wake boarding, boating for pleasure, and wildlife viewing. The lake is a great spot to fish for largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish, brown bullhead catfish, and stocked channel catfish. Stocked rainbow trout also provides good fishing opportunities.

Improvements

· New launch ramp and boarding float
· Improved parking orientation and paving
· New vault toilet
· Drainage and general landscape improvements

Thanks to the Puget Sound Anglers and other volunteers for their help to remove the old concrete ramp and put in the new ramp and ADA parking.

Funding: $550,000 grant from the Recreation and Conservation Office

Boat ramp in 2017 (left) compared to new boat ramp today (right).

Primitive parking area in 2017 (left) compared to paved and painted parking lot today (right).

Undeveloped parking area with graffiti on fencing (left) compared to new paved parking lot with ADA-accessible vault toilets (right).

Water access areas in Washington

WDFW manages hundreds of water access areas throughout the state, providing recreational access to the state’s lakes, rivers, and marine waters. A Discover Pass or Vehicle Access Pass is required at all WDFW recreation lands.

Find a water access area near you on WDFW’s website.