Return to Department of Ecology website | Report an environmental issue

Explore bacteria data on our Lacamas Creek Watershed interactive data dashboard

See the latest data at the Lacamas Creek water quality station 

What is the Lacamas Creek Partnership for Clean Water?

The Lacamas Creek Watershed is on Washington state's polluted waters list for warm water temperatures, bacteria, dissolved oxygen, and pH impairments, which drives the need to develop a Water Cleanup Plan. To develop this plan, the Lacamas Creek Partnership will work collaboratively with local, state, federal, and tribal governments, non-profits, watershed groups, and private landowners to develop and implement a Water Cleanup Plan, focused on implementation of best management practices (BMPs) for water quality. The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) leads the Lacamas Creek Partnership for Clean Water. Supporting partners are Clark County, City of Camas, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Clark Conservation District, and the United State Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA NRCS).

Learn more about the Lacamas Creek Partnership for Clean Water by viewing the FAQ Sheet.

Timeline for Lacamas Creek Partnership: 2021- 2027

• 2021 – Begin water quality monitoring and data collection.
• 2024 – Source Assessment Report identifying critical areas for water quality improvement completed.
• 2026 - 2027 Complete Advanced Restoration Plan
• 2027 – Additional implementation actions, focused on implementation of water quality BMPs.

Lacamas Creek Watershed Monitoring Results

Ecology collected bacteria samples across the Lacamas Creek Watershed to find sources of pollution and to evaluate how bacteria levels have changed since 2010. This monitoring was completed in the summer of 2021 from June to October. Explore these results via the Lacamas Creek Source Assessment dashboard.

Ecology also collected water quality samples and measurements at Lacamas Creek right above Lacamas Lake. This monitoring includes sampling for bacteria and nutrients (e.g. phosphorus) from October 2020 to September 2022. See water quality data at our Lacamas Creek Ambient Station.

Publications

• Lacamas Source Assessment 2024
• Lacamas Creek Bacteria, Temperature, and Nutrients Source Assessment Quality Assurance Project Plan 2021 
• Lacamas Creek Fecal Coliform, Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen, and pH Total Maximum Daily Load: Water Quality Study Design (Quality Assurance Project Plan), 2013 
• Surface-Water/Groundwater Interactions and Near-Stream Groundwater Quality, Lacamas Creek, Clark County, 2013 

Meeting Materials 

• May 5, 2021
  Presentation to Lacamas Watershed Council 
  • Presentation - Overview of Lacamas Creek Partnership and Water Cleanup Plan 
  • Transcript - Overview of Lacamas Creek Partnership and Water Cleanup Plan 
  • Presentation- Overview of Lacamas Creek Source Assessment
  • Q&A- Questions and Answers for Lacamas Watershed Council
    
    
• April 16, 2021
  First Lacamas Creek Coordination Meeting for agency staff.
  • Agenda
  • Meeting Summary
  • FAQ Sheet
  • Presentation - Lacamas Creek Partnership and Water Cleanup Plan
  • Presentation - Lacamas Creek Source Assessment
  • Request for Qualifications - City of Camas Lake Management Plan
  • Algae Education and Outreach - Clark County Public Health 
  • Lake Cyanobacteria Management Plan Template - Department of Ecology
  • Lake Cyanobacteria Management Plan Guidance - Department of Ecology
  • News Article - There is concern all three lakes will continue to degrade’ City of Camas, state's Ecology take first steps toward cleaning Lacamas, Round and Fallen Leaf lakes, 67-square-mile Lacamas Creek watershed

Questions?

• Nathan Woods  natw461@ECY.WA.GOV
  Contact Nathan for questions about the Lacamas Creek Partnership