Lake Lucille facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Lucille |
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Lake Lucille
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 Lake Lucille
Location in Alaska
Lake Lucille
Location in North America
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| Location | Wasilla, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 61°34′29″N 149°28′17″W / 61.57472°N 149.47139°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 350 acres (140 ha) |
Lake Lucille is a beautiful lake covering about 350-acre (1.4 km2) in Wasilla, Alaska. It is located at 61°34′N 149°28′W / 61.567°N 149.467°W. Many people enjoy its views and use it for fun activities.
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Life at Lake Lucille
Most of the land around Lake Lucille is privately owned. Many homes have their own docks. People use these docks for swimming, boating, or even parking floatplanes. There is also a city park with a campground and a place to launch boats.
Protecting the Lake
Lake Lucille has faced some environmental challenges. Experts say that the lake has too much plant growth. This growth uses up the oxygen in the water. When oxygen levels get too low, many fish can die.
What Harms the Lake?
Two main things have caused these problems:
- Leaking Pipes: Old pipes carrying waste water can leak into the lake.
- Fertilizer Runoff: When it rains, fertilizers used on lawns can wash into the lake.
These things add too many nutrients to the water. This makes plants grow very fast.
Highway Runoff
Lake Lucille is very close to the Parks Highway. This is a big road that connects Fairbanks and Anchorage. Rain can wash harmful things from cars off the highway and into the lake. These include oil, antifreeze, and heavy metals. Stopping this runoff is important for keeping the lake healthy.
Lake Lucille's Health Status
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation first listed Lake Lucille as "impaired" in 1994. This means the lake's water quality was not good enough. Even after many years, the lake still has this same status.
Former Governor Sarah Palin's home overlooks Lake Lucille. She gave her resignation speech by the lake in July 2009.
