A Fresh Look On A Stagnant Problem : Longview City Council Discuses Lake Cleanliness

By Travis Bright.

From local radio stations, to editorials in the Daily News, thoughts of sanitizing Lake Sacagawea have been stirring mixed opinions with the citizens of Longview.

“It would give the community a place to relax and swim for free, and is safer than the river,” said Ray Nugent 11.

Swimming in Lake Sacajawea has been banned since 1973, because it has failed to meet health standards. Longview City Council is now considering plans to change the water source to raise the water quality so it will be suitable to swim in.

The plan was established after six people drowned in the Columbia River this summer. Lake Sacajawea would be a much safer alternative because there are no tides or currents.

 The most favorable plan includes switching the water supply from the Cowlitz River to underground wells at the Mint Farm Industrial Park.

Changing the water supply would accomplish two things: a more reliable source of water than the Cowlitz, and the lake would be much cleaner.

The estimated cost is $100,000. But for the lake to be open to swimming, it would cost an extra $23,000 for laboratory tests on the water quality.

“It would be a wise choice for Longview to consider cleaning the lake,” said Jeffrey Ashford 10.

Many are in favor of the lake being re-opened for swimming. It would be a very inexpensive source of entertainment for Longview citizens, and it has the potential to bring in revenue by attracting people from neighboring cities and having them spend money in Longview.

While some are in favor of the plan, it seems even more oppose it, and feel this is the wrong time to be putting resources into the lake.

“With the economy the way it is, money should be given to schools to make up for the budget cuts, not used for something that could be done later down the road,” said Anthony Ballew 10.

 A lot of people think you would develop some sort of flesh eating disease if you were to swim in the lake, and their opinions set in stone. The primary reason the lake looks so dirty is because of runoff water from storm drains and various species of animals that pollute the water.

“If the lake was clean, I would probably swim in it and people would probably still be disgusted,” said RAL state swimmer Collin Meharg 11.