Minor turbidity increases can cause significant reductions in lake productivity, and produce sublethal effects in salmonids that could reduce their fitness and survival. Acute exposure to high turbidity can be lethal for salmonids. Boating is not an environmentally benign activity. Potential impacts range from spreading exotic species of plants and plankton to physical injury or death to fish. The artificial water level regime maintained in Lake Washington for operation of the Ballard locks during boating season may inhibit the establishment of emergent vegetation along the shoreline.
Emergent vegetation can be an effective barrier for attenuation of wave energy.
Same questions for lawn-care products. With these answers and questions, we have a framework for directing our future research efforts, and for determining our regulatory responsibilities. These recommendations reflect a conservative approach based on the significant findings and uncertainties identified in the literature review. The dependence on quality shoreline habitat of sensitive juvenile salmonids and the continual onslaught on the quality of that habitat within an urbanizing watershed was juxtaposed throughout the literature reviewed for this report. The ultimate goal of regulatory personnel charged with protecting ESA-listed salmonid species, or other fish species, should be the protection of that species critical habitat.