The site of houses at two separate times in the past, today it is part of Mountlake Terrace's Ballinger Park.

[5] In 1914, Ballinger began selling plots along the lake's western shore with the intention of establishing a residential development.

One of the most significant problems contributing to its poor state was algae growth arising from phosphorus pollution, which resulted in hypoxia.

Two years later, a hypolimnetic aeration system was installed to introduce oxygen from the air to the lower strata of the lake.

[3] Lake Ballinger experienced a major flood of over six feet above its normal elevation on New Year's Day 1997, damaging several waterfront homes.

A similar incident occurred in December 2007, flooding three homes and causing sewage contamination from three separate leaks.

Fecal coliform levels are elevated due to the presence of domestic pets and large numbers of geese, a problem addressed with the practice of egg addling.