Warning remains for Vancouver Lake
VANCOUVER — Clark County Public Health has lifted the advisories at Lacamas and Round lakes in Camas. The blooms of cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, at the lakes dissipated over the weekend and are no longer present at either lake.
The caution and warning signs posted at the lakes are being removed. However, algae blooms may return as conditions change. Public Health encourages people swimming and recreating in the lakes to watch for floating blue-green-colored scum and avoid direct contact with water in those areas. The public can report algae blooms on the Public Health website.
While conditions improved in Camas, the warning remains in place at Vancouver Lake. Blue-green algae blooms are still present at the Burnt Bridge Creek inlet and the flushing channel near the swim beach. Last week, test results revealed elevated levels of cyanotoxins in the water at Vancouver Lake. Cyanotoxins can be harmful to people, especially young children, and deadly for small pets that drink the water.
Public Health is advising people to avoid direct contact with all water in Vancouver Lake. Health officials recommend:
- No swimming, water skiing, paddle boarding, kayaking or canoeing.
- No drinking lake water.
- No water contact for animals.
- Cleaning fish well and discarding organs.
- Avoiding areas of scum when using motorized boats.
Public Health staff collected water samples from Vancouver Lake on Monday to determine if toxins are still in the water. Results should be available Wednesday. Public Health may downgrade the advisory at the lake from warning to caution if toxins are no longer present. As long as algae are present, toxin levels could increase as conditions at the lake change.
Public Health has been monitoring cyanobacteria blooms at Vancouver Lake since June 12. Public Health will continue to monitor the lake and take weekly water samples to test toxin levels as long as the blooms are present.
Additional information about blue-green algae and current advisories are posted on the Public Health public beach website.
Information provided by Clark Co. WA Communications.
