Our Story

Unfortunate Origins

2019

Alarmed by the state of Lacamas Lake, a group of Camas residents forms the LWC in 2019.

Judit, a Camas resident, and her daughter got sick 48 hours after the annual lake clean up event at Lacamas Lake. During the event, the lake was under a warning for a toxic algae bloom. Judit experienced symptoms unlike any illness she'd ever experienced and feared for the health and safety of others recreating in our lakes.

Judit began reaching out to City staff to ask about available grants to fix our lakes. Thanks to her prodding, the City reached out to Clark County and found interest in the lake issue.

In early 2020, while the City of Camas and Clark County began their conversations about fixing our lakes, the initial group of five volunteers formed the Lacamas Watershed Council to focus on independent research and data collection.

2021

The Lacamas Watershed Council Becomes a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit

In 2021 The City of Camas starts developing a lake management plan and the Lacamas Watershed Council becomes a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

The City of Camas hired Geosyntec in 2021 to consult on the Lacamas Lake Management Plan. With plans for lake restoration underway, the Lacamas Watershed Council officially became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to support lake restoration efforts and to continue taking water quality data.

Community interest in the Lacamas Watershed Council grew and the organization began holding annual training events to teach volunteers how to use water monitoring equipment and how to engage the public with lake issues. As the volume of data grew, the Lacamas Watershed Council created a database and online dashboard so lake quality and public health data is easily accessible to the public. The Lacamas Watershed Council also began sharing our data with the City of Camas, Clark County, and outside consultants in support of the lake management plan.

Upper Watershed, Vancouver Lake, and Beyond

Using our status as an independent nonprofit to our advantage, the Lacamas Watershed Council expands our work to areas outside of the City of Camas' jurisdiction.

Recognizing that many sources of nutrient pollution come from outside the City of Camas, in 2024 the Lacamas Watershed Council decided to collect water quality data in the upper Lacamas watershed - beginning with a macroinvertebrate study in Matney Creek. In late 2025, the organization began collecting water samples and sending them to a lab to test for phosphorus levels. This crucial data helps us understand the sources of nutrients entering Lacamas Lake that cause toxic algae blooms.

Around the same time, the Lacamas Watershed Council provided equipment and training to a group of volunteers in Vancouver to set up a phytoplankton monitoring network in Vancouver Lake. This group became fully incorporated into the Lacamas Watershed Council in late 2025 with a representative joining our Board of Directors.

We recognize that there is still so much work to be done in order to achieve our mission of a safe, healthy, enjoyable lake with a robust lake management plan. We remain steadfast and committed to our mission and are enthusiastic about the work ahead. Thank you for being a part of our journey!

Now

Mission and Vision

Our mission is to improve and advocate for the safety, health, and recreational values of the Lacamas Creek Watershed with a focus on the lakes within the City of Camas. Our efforts are aimed at researching and implementing best practice solutions to improve water quality in our watershed and provide for the safe enjoyment of our streams and lakes.

In our vision, the Lacamas Watershed’s streams and lakes are safe, healthy and enjoyable with a robust lake management plan safeguarding the future.

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