Lacamas Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lacamas Creek |
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Lower Falls
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Location of the mouth of Lacamas Creek in Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington (state) |
| County | Clark |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Confluence of the creek's east and west forks Camp Bonneville 365 ft (111 m) 45°41′54″N 122°24′09″W / 45.69833°N 122.40250°W |
| River mouth | Washougal River Camas 16 ft (4.9 m) 45°35′13″N 122°23′32″W / 45.58694°N 122.39222°W |
| Length | 12.5 mi (20.1 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 67 sq mi (170 km2) |
Lacamas Creek is a stream located in Clark County, Washington, in the United States. It flows for about 12.5 miles (20.1 km). The creek starts near Camp Bonneville and makes its way to Lacamas Lake and Round Lake in Camas. Eventually, it empties into the Washougal River.
The creek gets its name from the native camas plant. This plant has beautiful blue flowers and was an important food source for Native Americans. Many smaller streams feed Lacamas Creek. The five largest ones are Matney Creek, Shanghai Creek, Fifth Plain Creek, China Ditch, and Dwyer Creek.
Scientists believe that Lacamas Creek once flowed in a different direction. It likely used to go west through the Burnt Bridge Creek channel. This changed because of the Missoula Floods. These were huge floods that happened long ago, carrying a lot of dirt and rocks. This material created a large fan-shaped deposit, which pushed the creek into its current path towards Lacamas Lake.
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Understanding the Lacamas Creek Area
The area that Lacamas Creek drains is called its watershed or basin. This basin covers about 67 square miles (170 km²). Imagine all the land where rain and snow eventually flow into Lacamas Creek; that's its watershed.
Land Use in the Watershed
About 41 percent of the land in the Lacamas Creek watershed is covered by forests. The rest of the land has been developed by people in different ways. The areas closest to where the creek starts are mostly natural and undeveloped. As you get closer to where the creek ends, near Camas, there is more development.
About 35 percent of the watershed is made up of farm fields, pastures, and areas with shrubs or bare earth. The remaining parts of the watershed are used for homes, businesses, and factories.
Water Quality in the Creek
The quality of the water in Lacamas Creek changes along its path. In the forested areas near its source, the water is considered "good." However, as the creek flows closer to Camas, the water quality becomes "fair."
Some parts of the watershed have artificial channels, like China Ditch. These channels were dug as early as the 1890s. Their purpose was to drain wetlands (areas of land that are often wet, like swamps or marshes) for farming. They also supplied water to mills in Camas. Unfortunately, removing these wetlands has caused problems. During heavy rains, more water rushes into the creek, leading to faster currents. This can cause the creek banks to wear away (erosion) and increase flooding in low-lying areas.
Water Quality in Lacamas and Round Lakes
Lacamas Lake and Round Lake are connected by a short channel. The water quality in both lakes is considered "fair." Over time, a lot of dirt and other materials have settled at the bottom of these lakes. This process is called sedimentation. The rate of sedimentation has increased a lot since the early 1800s.
Because of this, both lakes are now "eutrophic." This means they have too many nutrients, like those found in fertilizers, soil, and waste from people and animals. These extra nutrients cause large growths of algae and other water plants. When these plants die and break down, they use up a lot of the oxygen in the lakes. This makes it very difficult for fish and other aquatic animals to survive.
Fun Activities at Lacamas Creek
Lacamas Creek and its connected lakes offer many chances for outdoor fun.
Recreational Activities on the Lakes
You can enjoy various activities on Lacamas and Round lakes. These include:
- Boating
- Swimming
- Water skiing
- Picnicking
- Biking
- Fishing
Trails and Parks
The Lacamas Heritage Trail is a great place for a walk or bike ride. It is about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long and runs along the shore of Lacamas Lake.
At Lacamas Park, near Round Lake, there is a 6-mile (9.7 km) trail system. This trail connects to beautiful waterfalls on the lower parts of the creek.
Fishing in Round Lake
If you enjoy fishing, Round Lake is a good spot. It is regularly stocked with different types of fish, including:
