Inaction: The Invisible Pollutant

When Doing Nothing Does the Most Harm

Lake Lacamas made front page news yet again, this time highlighting a problem that has been growing under the surface for 30 long years: a failed biofilter. The warning advisory for Lacamas Lake persists, and the community's concern is reaching a boiling point. The real question is not about what has failed, but about what has been left undone.

The Neglect of A Simple Solution

The biofilter in question has been neglected since 1993. That’s three decades of decay, a once state-of-the-art system now overrun by overgrowth and sludge. In the article, Lacamas Shores’ HOA President referred to this as “benign neglect,” but others, including those who feel the direct consequences of this failure, might call it betrayal.

The city's response? They point elsewhere. They argue that the failed biofilter represents a "very, very, very small percentage of nutrients." And yet, it's still a significant contributor to the problem. Picture a leaky faucet in a house filled with issues. Though it might seem small, that leak still needs fixing.

The Invisible Enemy: Inaction

The ongoing situation with the biofilter isn’t just about water quality. It's a reflection of something much more insidious: a culture of inaction, a lack of trust, transparency, and integrity.

An easily identifiable problem, with a relatively affordable solution, has been totally ignored. The community's pleas have been met with silence, and inaction has become the prevailing response. Inaction, it seems, is easier than facing the problem.

What Can Be Done?

But we could address this today if we wanted to. The city could initiate a code interpretation to clarify the legal exemptions for the biofilter. They could issue a Stormwater Inspection Directive, as they do for other biofilters around town. They could even call the Department of Ecology and explore permitting the HOA to restore the biofilter.

The solutions are there, and yet they haven’t been implemented, and seemingly won't be.

Time for Change

I've spoken with hundreds of individuals who feel the neglect and lack of transparency are hurting our community and eroding trust in officials. It’s time to demand more, not just from our leaders but from ourselves. This is a problem we can solve together.

Let's be the change we seek. Let's move beyond the silent crisis and tackle the problems that have been ignored for far too long. Because Lacamas deserves nothing less. That's what the community has told me, and I will continue to be a messenger for that cause.

Let's make the invisible enemy of inaction visible, and let's do something about it once and for all.

❤️Ry

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BTW, since I’ve received several similar questions over the past few weeks I figured I’ll start the weekly mailbag.

What’s on your mind?

I’ll scan through and pick a few to answer tomorrow.

See you then.