Brief closure at King County’s Dockton Park docks as state works to eradicate invasive marine species

They’ve got a funny name, but no one is laughing about the discovery of invasive sea squirts at King County’s Dockton Park.

In fact, the park’s docks on Quartermaster Harbor will be closed to all access for nearly two weeks in February when experts from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will work to eradicate the sea squirts from the area before the fast-growing organisms wreak havoc with the native flora and fauna.

Dockton Park piers will be closed Feb. 11-15, and again from Feb. 19-22 while the removal effort is under way. WDFW staff will hand pick and scrape the mushy marine life from the piers, then wrap the docks and plastic and treat the infected surfaces with a mild acetic acid that will kill the invasive growths.

Invasive sea squirts, which are also known as tunicates, have no natural predators in Puget Sound. They reproduce quickly and can crowd out or kill local native marine species, including valuable shellfish beds.

“As stewards of King County’s natural environment, it is important that we both attempt to limit the entry of invasive species and then if they do get in, deal with species such as these non-native tunicates as quickly and effectively as possible,” said Dr. Randy Shuman, Science and Technical Support Section Manager for the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks’ Water and Land Resources Division.

King County's 20.5-acre Dockton Park features a moorage facility, picnic site, beach and natural area that attract people from all over the region. The park is at 9500 SW Dock St., Vashon. More park information is available at www.metrokc.gov/parks/. More information on invasive tunicates is available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/ans/identify/html/index.php?species=didemnum_lahillei.

King County Parks - Your Big Backyard - offers more than 25,000 acres of parks and natural lands, including such regional treasures as Marymoor Park and Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, 175 miles of regional trails, plus pools and a world-class aquatic center. By cultivating strong relationships with non-profit, corporate and community partners, King County Parks enhances park amenities while reducing costs. Learn more at www.metrokc.gov/parks/.