Pink Fluoresent Dog on the Loose - Lacamas Creek Warning

Pink Fluorescent Dog on the Loose - Lacamas Creek Warning

One of my favorite running trails is Heritage Trail in Camas which leads to Lacamas Lake where we let Mac, our white Golden Retriever, swim. He's fun to run with because the trail is bordered in large part, by Lacamas Creek. He plunges in, swims against the current, hops back out, then runs to the next spot where he can jump back in again. He does this all the way to the lake.

Imagine our surprise if we had not read the paper this morning – today, the stream will change color – as in fluorescent red! I’m trying to imagine what Mac would look like emerging from the creek a whole new color – like wow, psychedelic pink! And imagine the surprise for other runners and hikers to see a pink fluorescent dog on the loose.

The red color will come from a dye that water quality researchers are releasing into the watershed. According to the Department of Ecology, the dye is environmentally harmless, but allows researchers to measure water speed and flow in different parts of the creek. The study will help them learn more about the factors that contribute to water quality issues along the creek.

Watersheds – which eventually flow into our water supply - are subjected to all kinds of pollution – not just the industrial pollution we read about. Many times it’s simply run off from suburban lawns and gardens that are over-fertilized. Something to consider when you’re trying to go green with your grass – a little goes a long way.

So unfortunately, we won’t be letting Mac swim in Lacamas Creek for a while – even if the red dye is for a green cause. It’s enough work trying to hose him off when he’s muddy, so I’m not sure what it would take to get him back to his normal color. The paper says we can expect the red dye to last for the next three days. How do you clean a pink fluorescent dog?