Lacamas Creek
{{Distinguish|Lackamas Creek}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Lacamas Creek
| name_native =
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| image = Lacamas Creek, looking downstream, October 2020.jpg
| image_caption = Lower Falls
| map =
| map_size = 300
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| pushpin_map = Washington#USA
| pushpin_map_size = 300
| pushpin_map_caption= Location of the mouth of Lacamas Creek in Washington
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = United States
| subdivision_type2 = State
| subdivision_name2 = Washington (state)
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| subdivision_type4 = County
| subdivision_name4 = Clark
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| length = {{convert|12.5|mi|km|abbr=on}}
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| source1 = Confluence of the creek's east and west forks
| source1_location = Camp Bonneville
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|45|41|54|N|122|24|09|W|display=inline}}{{cite web | work = Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) | publisher = United States Geological Survey | date = September 10, 1979 | url ={{Gnis3|1521811}} | title = Lacamas Creek|accessdate=January 18, 2013}}
| source1_elevation = {{convert|365|ft|abbr=on}}Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
| mouth = Washougal River
| mouth_location = Camas
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|45|35|13|N|122|23|32|W|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|16|ft|abbr=on}}
| progression =
| river_system =
| basin_size = {{convert|67|sqmi|abbr=on}}{{cite web|title=Lacamas Creek Watershed|url=http://64.4.176.28/water-resources/documents/Stream%20Health%20Report/Lacamas.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928172434/http://64.4.176.28/water-resources/documents/Stream%20Health%20Report/Lacamas.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 28, 2007|format=PDF|publisher=Clark County|accessdate=January 18, 2013}}
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Lacamas Creek is in Clark County, Washington, United States, and flows about {{convert|12.5|mi|km}} from headwaters near Camp Bonneville to Lacamas Lake and Round Lake in Camas, and eventually into the Washougal River. Its name is derived from that of the native camas plant.{{cite book|last=Meany|first=Edmond S.|title=Origin of Washington geographic names|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015027074981;view=1up;seq=152|year=1923|publisher=University of Washington Press|location=Seattle|page=136}} Lacamas Creek is fed by numerous streams, but the five largest tributaries are Matney Creek, Shanghai Creek, Fifth Plain Creek, China Ditch, and Dwyer Creek.
Geologists believe that the creek once flowed westward through the Burnt Bridge Creek channel. This changed when the Missoula Floods deposited an alluvial fan that diverted the flow into the Lacamas Lake trough.{{cite web|last=Evarts|first=Russell C.|title=Geologic Map of the Lacamas Creek Quadrangle, Clark County, Washington|url=http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/2006/2924/LacamasCrk_text.pdf|publisher=United States Geological Survey|year=2006|format=PDF|page=11|accessdate=January 19, 2013 }}
Watershed and water quality
Lacamas Creek drains a basin of {{convert|67|mi2|km2}}. About 41 percent of the basin is forested, while the rest is developed to one degree or another. The least developed land is near the headwaters, while the most developed is near the mouth. Farm fields, pastures, shrublands, and bare earth cover about 35 percent of the watershed. Residential, commercial, and industrial uses account for most of the rest.
Water quality along the creek varies from "good" in the forest to "fair" along the lower reaches near Camas. The watershed's artificial channels such as China Ditch have water of "very poor" quality. These were dug as early as the 1890s to drain wetlands for farming and to supply water to mills in Camas. Eliminating wetlands has increased runoff surges during heavy rains, eroded streambanks, and increased lowland flooding.
Lacamas and Round lakes, connected by a short channel, have water of "fair" quality. The sedimentation rate of the lakes has increased eightfold since the beginning of the 19th century. As a result, both lakes are eutrophic, containing many nutrients found in fertilizer, soil, and waste from people and animals. Blooms of algae and other aquatic plants supported by the nutrients deplete the oxygen in the lakes and make it hard for fish to survive.
Recreation
Activities on Lacamas and Round lakes include boating, swimming, water skiing, picnicking, biking, and fishing.{{cite web|title=Lacamas Park Trail |url=http://www.cityofvancouver.us/parks-recreation/parks_trails/trails/pdfs/lacamasparktrail.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Vancouver–Clark Parks & Recreation Department |accessdate=January 19, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227132550/http://www.cityofvancouver.us/parks-recreation/parks_trails/trails/pdfs/lacamasparktrail.pdf |archivedate=February 27, 2012 }} Lacamas Heritage Trail, {{convert|3.5|mi|km}} long, runs along the shore of Lacamas Lake.{{cite web|title=Lacamas Heritage Trail (3.5 Miles) |url=http://www.cityofvancouver.us/parks-recreation/parks_trails/trails/lacamas_trail.asp |publisher=Vancouver–Clark Parks & Recreation Department |accessdate=January 19, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317110429/http://www.cityofvancouver.us/parks-recreation/parks_trails/trails/lacamas_trail.asp |archivedate=March 17, 2013 }} A {{convert|6|mi|km|adj=on}} trail system at Lacamas Park at Round Lake connects to waterfalls on the lower reaches of the creek. Round Lake is stocked with bluegill, bass, and perch.
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150906130917/http://www.clark.wa.gov/environment/stormwater/streamhealth/documents/2010_WatershedReport.pdf 2010 Clark County Stream Health Report] with Map of Lacamas Creek Watershed by Clark County Washington Department of Environmental Services
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Category:Rivers of Washington (state)