Lake Lucille
Encyclopedia
Lake Lucille is a 350 acres (1.4 km²) lake
within the municipal limits of Wasilla, Alaska
, located at 61°34′N 149°28′W.
Most of the lake shoreline is private property (i.e., not incorporated into the City of Wasilla),
and many residents have docks for swimming, boating, or docking floatplane
s. There is also a city park with a campground and boat launch. "Lake Lucille is basically a dead lake -- it can't support a fish population" according to Michelle Church, a local environmentalist. State environmental officials say that leaching sewer lines and fertilizer
runoff caused an explosion of plant growth in the lake, which sucked the oxygen out of the water and led to periodic fish kill
s.
Lake Lucille and Wasilla Lake are both immediately adjacent to the Parks Highway, the main route for travel between Fairbanks
and Anchorage. Controlling runoff from the six-lane highway is considered a key to saving the lakes in Wasilla. "Anything that comes off an automobile -- oil, antifreeze, de-icing agents, heavy metals -- all of that can run off into the lakes when it rains," observed Archie Giddings, Wasilla's public works director.
According to David Talbot
, founder of Salon
, Lake Lucille was listed as "impaired" in 1994 by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and in 2008 still carried the same descriptive label after twelve years of "Wasilla's frenzied development" under Mayor Sarah Palin
(Oct 1996 - Oct 2002) and her successor as mayor, Dianne Keller (Oct 2002 - Oct 2008).
The private home of former Governor Sarah Palin
overlooks Lake Lucille, and she gave her July 2009 resignation speech at its bank.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
within the municipal limits of Wasilla, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, located at 61°34′N 149°28′W.
Most of the lake shoreline is private property (i.e., not incorporated into the City of Wasilla),
and many residents have docks for swimming, boating, or docking floatplane
Floatplane
A floatplane is a type of seaplane, with slender pontoons mounted under the fuselage; only the floats of a floatplane normally come into contact with water, with the fuselage remaining above water...
s. There is also a city park with a campground and boat launch. "Lake Lucille is basically a dead lake -- it can't support a fish population" according to Michelle Church, a local environmentalist. State environmental officials say that leaching sewer lines and fertilizer
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. A recent assessment found that about 40 to 60% of crop yields are attributable to commercial fertilizer use...
runoff caused an explosion of plant growth in the lake, which sucked the oxygen out of the water and led to periodic fish kill
Fish kill
The term fish kill, known also as fish die-off and as fish mortality, is a localized die-off of fish populations which may also be associated with more generalised mortality of aquatic life...
s.
Lake Lucille and Wasilla Lake are both immediately adjacent to the Parks Highway, the main route for travel between Fairbanks
Fairbanks
Fairbanks may refer to:Places in the United States*Fairbanks, Alaska, city*Fairbanks, California, unincorporated community in El Dorado County*Fairbanks, Mendocino County, California, former settlement*Fairbanks, Indiana, unincorporated community...
and Anchorage. Controlling runoff from the six-lane highway is considered a key to saving the lakes in Wasilla. "Anything that comes off an automobile -- oil, antifreeze, de-icing agents, heavy metals -- all of that can run off into the lakes when it rains," observed Archie Giddings, Wasilla's public works director.
According to David Talbot
David Talbot
David Talbot is a progressive journalist, bestselling author and media entrepreneur. He was the founder and editor-in-chief of one of the first web magazines, Salon.com...
, founder of Salon
Salon.com
Salon.com, part of Salon Media Group , often just called Salon, is an online liberal magazine, with content updated each weekday. Salon was founded by David Talbot and launched on November 20, 1995. It was the internet's first online-only commercial publication. The magazine focuses on U.S...
, Lake Lucille was listed as "impaired" in 1994 by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and in 2008 still carried the same descriptive label after twelve years of "Wasilla's frenzied development" under Mayor Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
(Oct 1996 - Oct 2002) and her successor as mayor, Dianne Keller (Oct 2002 - Oct 2008).
The private home of former Governor Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
overlooks Lake Lucille, and she gave her July 2009 resignation speech at its bank.