LL Buchanan Lake

Yakima, Washington

A lake with floating islands.

Barney's Island
Betty's Island-1
Betty's Island-2
Betty's Island-3
Betty's Island-4
Pebbles Island
Aerial Photos
Consulting
Neighbors
History
Swans
Birds
Trees
Trees-2
Trees-3
Lake
Links

Three Trumpeter Swan cygnets (young) on the lake a few years ago.

2009 May - Spring spiffy-up the shore and islands report - -

81 new sapling trees were planted around the lake shore this year. The list is on the Trees page under 2009. The survival rate for the annual planting of sapling trees in rocks is low, but the previous survivors are increasing in total number each year. The shore is starting to look like it is growing a variety of trees. Native trees were trimmed and brush was manicured to balance esthetics with wildlife habitat.

Nine new trees were planted on the floating islands, to replace those that did not survive their first year. 25 of the trees on Betty's Island survived their first year, since the weight of the soil added last year kept the bottom of the soil in contact with the water. In a hundred years the two Giant Sequoia might bully out the other trees, but that is why they are called Giant Sequoia. Better wire fence protection from the geese and beaver was added on the islands. The geese and beaver can roam the islands, but cannot nibble on the grass and trees anymore. The three islands each produced a gaggle of goose goslings again this year.

New thicker-wire fencing protection against beaver was put around EVERY deciduous tree on shore. This was the year of the beaver. They ate several of the previously planted trees that had inadequately thin wire fence protection. The beaver live in the adjacent Swan Pond, and come to the lake from the adjacent Yakima River.

The shore waterfowl nests produced more ducklings and goslings. A variety of wildlife enjoys the vegetative cover that facilitates their habitat, not trampled by people, but viewable from the adjacent elevated walking path.

Betty, on Betty's Island, insisted upon, and received, a new desk light, on account as most of her computer work is with the Dubai connection on the other side of the world where they work during the day over there. Had to use several extension cords to reach the island, and stretch them a bit, much like this story. So if you are driving by at night and see the light, wave. Her faded hat and shirt were upgraded, with spray paint. Well, the tree guy was not going to be seen out on an island taking off a female mannequin's shirt to put on a new one. The spray painted shirt looks good. So if you want to wear a new looking shirt, just spray paint the one you are wearing.

And that is the full annual spiffy-up the shore and islands report.

This website offers an ongoing account of a private gravel pit pond. Its shore is being affordably planted to an arboretum. The lake and shoreline waterfowl habitat are being enhanced. Floating islands drift around in the middle. The benefits are for waterfowl and trees. The effort is also for the visual enjoyment of people who drive by on the adjacent freeway, and walk by on the adjacent public foot path.

LL Buchanan Lake is a wholly private 60 acre lake located within the east side of Yakima Washington, along the Yakima River, at 2000 East Beech Street. It is Yakima's largest lake. Its unique nature and location adjacent to a beautiful city offers a superlative economic opportunity.

Yakima, located in sunny central Washington, is an irrigated valley of diverse agriculture, including a variety of fruits and fine wine grapes. The Yakima River valley divides the forested Cascade Mountain Range, with its glacier-clad mountains and high alpine lakes, from the agricultural fields and sage lands of the Columbia River Valley and eastern half of the State. The diversity of opportunity is magnificent.

Some number of years ago the lake area was rocky land with scrub trees and brambles, next to the Yakima River. LL Buchanan, one of Yakima's early businessmen, fed livestock there. The area where he fed waste fruit peelings, cores and seeds from canneries, including peach pits that kept spouting into trees, was later amusingly referenced as a peach orchard. A concrete company leased the land. The gravel was handy. Time went by. Yakima grew. A lot of concrete was made. The gravel pit got bigger. It got to be about 60 acres big and a hundred and twenty feet deep. That was all the bigger it could get, so they took out the last load of rocks and turned off the water pumps that were keeping out the water.

Nice lake.

Geese and ducks like it, a lot, especially its floating islands. Trumpeter swans resided on the lake awhile. Bald eagles are often in the area. A pair of ospreys nest at the lake. Herons, pelicans, cormorants, loons and other such birds enjoy the lake. Redwing Blackbirds, Goldfinches, and other small birds thrive in the vegetative habitat of two old settling ponds beside the lake. The fine folks in the Yakima Valley Audubon Society have a lot of great bird information for the area.

Beaver enjoy the lake and the willows, much to the apprehension of the better shoreline trees protected by wire fence skirts. Rabbits hop among the bushes. Mink, otter and other critters are occasionally seen.

The depth of the lake maintains a cool thermal mass with a number of advantages, including the upper strata sustaining a clear, beautiful green-blue color, often mentioned by viewers.

The adjacent Swan Pond, with its beaver houses and beaver dams among the reeds, offers shallow water appreciated by the feeding waterfowl and nesting small birds. It is a natural wildlife gem viewable from the paved, higher foot path along the side of the pond.

Four small islands near the shore of the lake, and three artificial floating islands, enhance waterfowl nesting protection. The floating islands (Barney's Island, Pebbles Island and Betty's Island) drift around on long anchored tethers. They are each growing a small forest. Barney's Island is visible in the current GoogleEarth photo taken before the other two islands were launched. The Google Earth Panoramio option offers pictures of the islands.

To enhance the lake shore, varied seedling trees are being planted each year, to eventually complement the adjacent Yakima Area Arboretum. The tree planting and vegetation improvement projects benefit the visual esthetics and wildlife habitat. The current tree species list and photos are on the Trees page. The seedling trees are purchased from the good folks at Lawyer Nursery. The arboreal artistry of the LL and Laura Buchanan Lake Habitat is certain to make this one of Yakima's finest areas of the future.

The Yakima Area Arboretum is just across a waterway along the south end of the lake property. The Arboretum has a spacious lawn planted with two of each tree species which can grow in central Washington. With the shrubs, over 2,000 plant species grow at the arboretum. It is a science-based arboretum open to members and the general public. The Japanese garden, visitor center solarium and meeting room are often rented for weddings, events and meetings. It is one of the priority places to visit in Yakima. A Yakima resident would distinguish herself or himself by showing visitors the Arboretum, as a member. A city park is adjacent to the Arboretum.

The Yakima River flows along the east side of the lake, separated by a dike with a paved public foot path offering an elevated view of the lake and river. In view to the west, Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams are two gem-white, glacier-clad volcanoes in the Cascade Range. The web slave recommends them both. Put them on your must-climb list. The popular recreation path extends for several miles along the Yakima River. The dike is separated from the lake by a small flowing waterway. People using the footpath complement the view of the lake, its untrampled shore, its waterfowl, the other birds and animals, with more natural diversity than the environmentally sterilized parks to the north and south of the lake.

Barney's Island, Betty's Island and Pebbles Island have become a landmark (or watermark) of Yakima. Floating islands are fun. Other projects are planned.

Along the north shore of LL Buchanan Lake are twenty five acres of land and a six acre shallow pond area, in part available for new opportunities. It is leased by Central Premix Concrete Company, offering the latest products and processes. If you need concrete or gravel, you will appreciate the products and service of the Central Premix folks. They have made high standards a fun endeavor.

To the north are Sarge Hubbard Park, a hotel complex, a restaurant, the Washington Fruit Commission office building, a Wal-Mart store, and an auto dealership. The Oxford Inn and Oxford Suites overlook the river, and offer quality lodging for visitors to Yakima.

On the west side of the lake is Interstate 82. Across I-82, is the Yakima Sundome convention center, the Central Washington State fairgrounds, and downtown Yakima. I-82 offers convenient access to the Yakima Airport. Yakima is the hub area for central Washington. As well as points north, south and east, I-82 directly accesses highways to three passes over the beautiful Cascade Range, to the Seattle area and western Washington. Two of the passes have downhill skiing facilities.

I-82 also offers convenient access to the Yakima and Columbia valley vineyards and wineries. The ideal growing conditions for wine grapes involve the volcanic soils with abundant sun and irrigation water. With those ideal conditions and no dependency on the timing of rain, vintage years are an annually recurrent event. I recommend the magnificent wines of Tefft Cellars. The other Yakima Valley wineries are worthy of your consideration. You will find wines that match your palate's most favored preference. The unpretentious nature of friendly Yakima valley farmers and vintners puts the winery tours high on the list of reasons to visit the area. You will return, especially if you find Chukar's Cherries, in Prosser, in the lower Yakima Valley. They put dried cherries in chocolate, and make other such things. If you find a better candy, email the web slave. He wants some.

At some point in time, an upscale development will most likely utilize LL Buchanan Lake's unique array of property characteristics. Lease opportunities are available for a portion of the area.

Inquiries regarding this property may be made to Doug at Buchanan.ws (replace at with @).

LL Buchanan Trust wishes you the best in all things.

Barney's Island
Betty's Island-1
Betty's Island-2
Betty's Island-3
Betty's Island-4
Pebbles Island
Aerial Photos
Consulting
Neighbors
History
Swans
Birds
Trees
Trees-2
Trees-3
Lake
Links