News Health advisory lifted for Lacamas Lake, surrounding creeks
Clark County Public Health officials have completely lifted an advisory warning people and their pets to avoid contact with water in Lacamas Lake, Lacamas Creek and Dwyer Creek. Sampling by the city of Camas indicates the water no longer poses a health threat.
On Feb. 26, Public Health issued an advisory to avoid water contact in and around Lacamas Lake following a sewage spill in the 4700 block of Northwest Pacific Rim Boulevard.
On March 4, that advisory was lifted for Lacamas Lake and Dwyer Creek, but remained in place for a mile-long stretch of Lacamas Creek until March 10.
According to Chuck Harman of Clark County Public Health, the spill was discovered on the afternoon of Feb. 25, at approximately 4 p.m. The leak was reported to the Department of Ecology by the City of Camas, and was repaired the next day.
According to Harman, a backup in part of a main sewer line caused a leak in a pipe. It spilled sewage out into a parking lot and then into the surface water of Dwyer Creek and Lacamas Creek.
The total amount of time the sewage line was leaking has not been determined, but Harman said initial estimates indicate that it released 100 gallons per minute.
