About Us
We are a group of Big Lake residents who are working to address the algae problem we experience most summers, and particularly last summer. As you know, the algae bloom made the lake unusable for long stretches of the season because water conditions were unsafe. When algae levels are high, Big Lake may not be safe for swimming, and pets and wildlife can become sick from exposure to the water.
Beyond the immediate health and safety concerns, ongoing algae problems also affect property values and long-term enjoyment of the lake. A lake that is regularly unsafe or closed becomes less usable and less desirable over time, which affects all of us — even those who aren’t on the water every day. It has happened to local lakes such as Lake Campbell in Anacortes. Lake Campbell was closed for 3 years. They raised funds for Aluminum Sulfate treatment in April 2025. The Lake was clear within a short amount of time (able to see the lake bottom which hadn’t been for many years), and became open and usable.
August 18, 2023 Lake Campbell Closed Due to Elevated Levels of Toxic Blue Green Algae
Lake Campbell in Skagit County is closed until further notice due to high Microcystin levels (toxic blue green algae). Public access through the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife boat launch on the north side of Lake Campbell is restricted until further notice. https://www.skagitcounty.net/Departments/Home/press/081823a.htm
The long-term solution involves county action, permits, and broader funding mechanisms, and those efforts are ongoing. There will be some LMD (Lake Management District) funding available through property assessments, however there will be no additional county funding this year. These processes move slowly, and we will apply for funding in the future.
What we can control as a community is whether money is available to pay for an initial year-one proven algae treatment. Without funds raised in advance, even if approvals come through, there would be no way to act in time. That’s why we’re asking the community to step up now. Please note that we will need 3-5 years of treatments, depending upon how the lake responds, so this is the initial treatment that will have some impact on reducing the algae bloom for this summer.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! - 501 (c) TAX DEDUCTIBLE!
Despite Big Lake being a tight community, we are spread out and not everyone lives at the lake. It is difficult to get in touch with everyone.
We need to spread the awareness of this and get 501(c) tax deductible donations ASAP. Please DONATE and TALK WITH NEIGHBORS to ensure everyone is aware of this initiative!