Bibliography on Vancouver Lake Watershed, Including Burnt Bridge Creek, Flushing Channel, Lake River, and Salmon Creek: A History of Restoration Efforts for Vancouver Lake

Date of Award

3-5-2005

Document Type

Undergraduate Capstone Project

Degree Name

Master of Environmental Policy And Management

Organizational Unit

University College, Environmental Policy and Management

Disciplines

Environmental Policy And Management

First Advisor

William Robinson

Keywords

Annotated bibliography, Columbia River, Environmental quality, Groundwater, Lake renewal, Washington (State), History, Surface waters, Tributaries, Vancouver Lake, Environmental conditions, Bibliography, Water quality, Watershed management

Abstract

The causes for the demise of Vancouver Lake are numerous and most are known. Where we have been in the past can show the directions we might want to explore in the future. Past actions have only temporarily restored the lake to health. Some of this failure is a lack of funds to continue maintenance of the technical fixes put in place. The primary issue facing the Vancouver Lake Watershed Partnership is whether or not they should allow the lake to die and lose what many consider a major recreational resource. Many would argue that allowing the lake to silt up and become a wetlands suitable only for wildlife habitat is unacceptable. Groups such as the Vancouver Lake Sailing Club make credible arguments that the lake is valuable for purposes such as theirs. Members of other groups, and the general public retain fond memories of swimming in the lake and now bring their kids, or grandkids, to swim every summer. The question becomes one of cost/benefit analysis: how much are the responsible parties willing to spend to keep the lake open for sailing & swimming, and how much is too much to expend? Whatever fate is decided upon for Vancouver Lake, the rest of the watershed cannot be forgotten. Burnt Bridge Creek and Salmon Creek are still of questionable water quality. Lake River bears the brunt of this pollution by draining the lake as well as these polluted tributaries. It is eroding Bachelor Island and closing up its own outlet into the Columbia River. This bibliography serves as the history of previous efforts to restore Vancouver Lake to health. Other parts of the watershed such as Burnt Bridge Creek, Lake River and Salmon Creek are included as they contribute to the overall condition of Vancouver Lake.

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.

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