By Forks Forum Editor

Flooding at Lake Pleasant continues to frustrate residents and park users, with newly submitted photos shedding light on why the problem persists.

One image shows rocks that washed down a small stream from Tyee Ridge and spread along the banks of Lake Creek where it exits Lake Pleasant. A marked blue line on the photo indicates where the creek’s shoreline once was before the rocks were deposited. According to residents familiar with the lake’s history, this buildup has narrowed the creek channel and reduced its ability to carry water away from the lake during periods of heavy rain.

In years past, flooding at Lake Pleasant was often blamed on cedar logs and old boom logs that collected in the waterway. That debris has since been removed, and residents now say most flooding is the result of human neglect rather than natural causes.

Additional submitted photos show Clallam County Parks benches partially submerged and a dock drifting down Lake Creek, where it is expected to jam at a corner just below the bridge. Such obstructions can further restrict water flow, worsening flooding conditions upstream.

Residents report widespread concern over the situation, saying little action is taken unless private landowners attempt fixes themselves — often with the risk of legal consequences. Several said that fear of being sued by the state discourages individuals from addressing obvious blockages in the creek.

Permitting delays have also been cited as part of the problem. According to those familiar with recent repairs, it took Clallam County Parks nearly a year to obtain a permit to replace existing floats at Lake Pleasant that were damaged by recent flooding.

Benches sit submerged during recent flooding.

Benches sit submerged during recent flooding.