Lake Management Plan

**Update 10/1/24**

Results from our September Quarterly testing shows the City's wells (7,8,10,11 and 12) are below the EPA limit for PFOS. All cities are expected to meet the new EPA PFOS requirements by 2025. For testing results, click here: https://engagecamas.com/11759/widgets/35434/documents/60055

*Update 7/16/24*

For the EutroSORB Product use guide, clickhere: https://engagecamas.com/11759/widgets/35434/documents/57400

Please be careful when using the water and know how to identify harmful algal blooms (https://clark.wa.gov/public-health/harmful-algal-blooms#bloom2).

Please note, Public Health visually inspects several public access points along the shore of the lake for algal blooms each week. A water sample is collected from the area with the densest algal bloom and tested for toxins. Laboratory limitations prevent Public Health from submitting more than one sample for testing each week. When toxin levels from the water sample are elevated, an advisory is issued for the entire lake to protect the health of people using the lake for recreation.

Toxin levels need to be below the threshold set by the state Department of Health for two consecutive weeks for the warning advisory to be removed.

*UPDATE* 3-21-24:

The City has developed a draft Lakes Management Plan that outlines actions to improve water quality in Lacamas, Fallen Leaf and Round lakes. This effort will address algae blooms, along with other water quality concerns that the City Council and public has identified as top priorities.

The draft Lakes Management Plan identifies “in-lake” actions to improve water quality in the lakes and recognizes the importance of current partnerships with Clark County, Washington State Department of Ecology and other agencies for carrying out recommended watershed-based strategies and actions. It is also likely that certain actions will be better suited through formalization of agreements with those public agencies and/or with additional partners such as nonprofit organizations, volunteer groups and other community associations or groups.

We recently completed water quality sampling and monitoring in the lakes to better understand what is causing poor water quality and to inform the development of potential management strategies. We’re using this data, along with public feedback we received last year, to help us choose strategies to improve the lakes’ water quality. You can read about what we did in Phase 1 here.

The water quality sampling results and preliminary recommendations for how to manage the lakes were shared with the community at our summer 2023 open house.

The draft Lakes Management Plan will be shared with the City Council at a special workshop on September 28^th. Check out the presentation and meeting agenda to learn more. Following the workshop with City Council, we will submit the draft Lakes Management Plan to the Washington State Department of Ecology for review in October. Simultaneously, the plan will be available for review and comment by the City’s stakeholders that played a key role in development of the plan. Upon receiving comments from all parties, the plan will be submitted to the Washington State Department of Ecology for approval.

Check out our FAQs to learn more about the timeline and contents of the draft Lake Management Plan.

Phase 2 Schedule (click to enlarge)

The City cannot do this alone – we need your help.

We are working with local and state agencies, nearby landowners, conservation groups, and other stakeholders to understand what is affecting the lakes’ water quality and find solutions that improve the lakes’ water quality.

You can help reduce the nutrients algae needs to bloom and grow by doing the following:

• Use less fertilizer, or none. If you do use fertilizer, use it only during dry weather. More info at Clark Conservation District.
• Use less pesticide, or none.
• Use recommended landscape practices.
• Control runoff and soil erosion.
• Pick up your pet’s waste and throw it away. (Pet waste has nutrients, plus bacteria that degrade water quality.)
• If you have a septic system and live near Lacamas Lake, get reimbursed up to $1,130 through the Poop Smart Clark program for inspecting and maintaining your system. Go to www.poopsmartclark.org to learn more.
• Respect all rules for using the lakes and nearby parks.
• Keep trash out of the lakes, off the shorelines and out of the parks.
• Before and after using any watercraft, remove and dispose of any aquatic plant fragments clinging to it.
• Don’t wash watercraft or vehicles near the lakes.

Learn more about other efforts in the Watershed from our valued partners. Visit the links below for more info!

Resources

• Current Advisories: https://clark.wa.gov/public-health/public-beaches
• Clark County Public Health Harmful Algal Blooms: https://clark.wa.gov/public-health/harmful-algal-blooms
• Ecology Lacamas Creek Watershed Partnership for Clean Water: https://www.ezview.wa.gov/site/alias__1962/37698/lacamas_creek_partnership_for_clean_water.aspx
• Septic System Reimbursements Through Poop Smart Clark: Go to www.poopsmartclark.org, email poopsmart@clarkcd.org, or call Carolyn Rice at (360) 859-4848 for more information.

Partnerships

• Lacamas Watershed Council: https://www.lacamaswatershed.org/
• Watershed Alliance of Southwest Washington: https://thewatershedalliance.org/
• Clark Conservation District: https://clarkcd.org