|
|
Lost Lake Parcel Map
Lost Lake Air
- click picture to enlarge -
|
|
Lost Lake
Nature of Property: The 37-acre Lost Lake parcel consists of two areas: beach and uplands. The upland contains thickly understoried, mixed forest of second- and third-growth fir, madrona, and alder, approximately thirty to forty years old. Lost Lake sphagnum wetland is one of series of wetlands, the others being on nearby private property. These sphagnum wetlands are within a north-south tending mile-long trough of the same landslide block. The trough is defined by a high western ridge at the 300-foot contour and a lower eastern landslide deposit at the 130- to 150-foot contour. This easterly landslide deposit separates the wetland from the beach and fronts the property's sand-clay beach and adjacent tidelands.
The gently sloping beach with 1,330 feet of shoreline is composed of sand and clay with many freshwater seeps. The cliffs are heavily vegetated with signs of persistent sliding. As part of outer Quartermaster Harbor, its shore is adjacent to surf smelt and Pacific herring spawning grounds.
Rationale for Conservation:
1. Lost Lake itself is a sphagnum-bearing Class I wetland, one unit in a series of sphagnum wetlands
2. The mixed forest of fir/alder/madrone supports birdlife and shelters small mammals and deer. The understory of salal/evergreen and deciduous huckleberry/nettles/native blackberry/salmonberry provides cover and food for wildlife. The property is a continuation of a wildlife corridor from the south end of the island.
3. The shoreline supports eelgrass, geoducs, native littleneck clams, sand dollars, and rock and dungeness crab. The shallow tidelands invite shorebirds to forage, including Bonaparte gulls and herons. The shoreline also supports significant populations of wintering aquatic birds, including upwards of 3,000 western grebes. The steep, wooded cliffs create perches for eagles which have been seen on the site.
Location of Lost Lake: There is no formal public access to Lost Lake or its salt water beach. Lost Lake is located on southern Vashon Island and is east of, but not adjacent to, Vashon Highway SW, approximately between SW 266th Lane and SW 280th. The property's shoreline is south of Neill Point and across from Maury Island's Manzanita Beach. No trails exist between the shore and the upland Lost Lake wetland. The Land Trust and Vashon Parks do not maintain trails overland into Lost Lake. The community uses the upland as a continuation of a cross-island horse trail, as a hiking trail, and an education site.
Recreational Equipment, Inc.
Click here to visit the REI website
Recreational Equipment, Inc.
Click here to visit the REI website.
Click here to go to REI's website.
|
