This travel talk aims to explore the depths of Spanaway Lake. Toxic algae has been a concern for the public that visits these waters. For that reason, I decided to take a closer look at what is being done to prevent the growth of this harmful plant as well as determine if there is any effect to the ecosystem itself. Transcript: Hello, welcome to Spanaway Park. What brings you by? Are you here to enjoy the open field spaces? Have a picnic with family and friends? Or are you here to walk your dog along the trails beside the water? Maybe you are looking to go for a swim to cool off from the heat. Or you were bored at home looking for some fun so you made a quick Google search and this was the closest place to you. It doesn’t matter what you choose, because as one of many spaces provided by Pierce County, there are endless decisions to make.Situated next to cities like Tacoma, Parkland, Puyallup, Lakewood and military base, JBLM, this park is especially popular during the summer because of its lake access as well as the different recreational activities that are available. Even from the neighboring Lake Spanaway Golf Course, you can hear the joy of summer as locals and visitors enjoy the refreshing lake water, participate in water activities, and hide away in the nature shade from Washington’s beautiful evergreen trees.However, persisting for many decades, there has been a concerning deterrent murking in the waters of Spanaway Lake. During any season, you may be able to be traces of the algae as you are walking through the shoreline. Marking its territory in recent years, toxic algal blooms have raised concern for the health of visitors. Through enough exposure, this bluish-green mass can lead to nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Its presence has led to health advisories issued by Pierce County and has also halted water activity.During the fall and winter months from October through January, the park is given time to recuperate after peak season. The slow of activity also allows for the annual Fantasy Lights where people can walk or drive through the park to see vibrant Christmas lights and listen along to holiday classics. Gathering and having a good time is what brings people back to this place and it is a part of the culture Spanaway residents have established throughout the years. Take a look at the illustration of the layout of this beautiful park. Starting at Little Spanaway Lake and making our way to the North and South beaches, this tour explores what we can do to prevent the spread of toxic algae as well as methods to decrease its concentration. We will also look at the affects this organism has on the lives of people who frequent this park.