Weather permitting, scientists from the Washington Department of Ecology will release a harmless fluorescent dye into Lacamas Creek and its tributaries tonight and the evenings of Wednesday and Thursday.
The harmless dye helps researchers track the speed of the stream flow. It dissipates quickly and should be gone by morning.
“We want residents along the creek to know that they shouldn’t worry if they see a reddish, fluorescent color in the creek in next few days,” said Brett Raunig, a water cleanup coordinator with Ecology who is managing the project.
“Research has shown the dye doesn’t affect human, fish or wildlife health in any way at the very low concentrations we use, and it is commonly used for this type of scientific study,” Raunig said.
The research is part of Ecology’s efforts to define and correct the creek’s water quality problems. Lacamas Creek fails water quality standards for fecal coliform bacteria, temperature, dissolved oxygen levels as well as being too acidic and too alkaline in different locations.