Capitol Lake’s Big Water Change | Seattle News

Capitol Lake’s water level just dropped — and it’s not just for show. On July 19, they opened the 5th Avenue Dam gate as part of a major restoration push to revive the Deschutes River’s natural flow to Budd Inlet, something that hasn’t happened in 70 years. The goal? Replace the aging bridge with a sleek, modern landmark while improving walkability, biking, and driving. They’re already 60% done with design, aiming for full plans by June 2027 — with construction likely to start soon and take six years. The old bridge stays open, and while the exposed lakebed is off-limits due to contaminants like the New Zealand mudsnail, pedestrian paths remain safe to use. This is a long game — but the estuary’s comeback is well underway. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/c965a0a34ac1740c