In 2021, a state operating budget appropriation was awarded to Clark County “for the purpose of designing the process for developing a long-term plan to restore and maintain the health of Vancouver Lake… as well as designing an institutional structure to take responsibility for the plan’s implementation in a financially sustainable manner,” which resulted in the Vancouver Lake Management Plan project.
Clark County selected Herrera Environmental Consultants to build on existing work done on Vancouver Lake by developing an adaptive Vancouver Lake Management Plan (VLMP) for immediate action to manage harmful algal blooms and aquatic noxious weeds, with a structure for future development of management actions to address other lake issues. In August 2022, Herrera hosted a public webinar about the VLMP project (see meeting materials below).
In September 2022, Herrera prepared the VLMP Work Plan for the project. The Work Plan described how to involve a variety of stakeholders in outlining a management strategy, and address plan development, entity responsibilities, action timelines, and potential funding sources for plan implementation.
In partnership with LimnoTech, Kearns & West, and AquaTechnex, Herrera then prepared the draft VLMP by gathering input from key stakeholders and the public, analyzing historical data, identifying goals and objectives, creating a lake water quality and hydrologic model, developing potential management scenarios, and evaluating the effectiveness of those methods for managing harmful algae blooms and noxious weeds in the lake.
The draft VLMP, published in June 2023, includes the following main components for the adaptive management of Vancouver Lake:
- Executive Summary
- Introduction and Background of the project, watershed, and lake ecosystem
- Project Description for the present LMP development project
- Harmful Algae Bloom (HAB) Management Methods Evaluation
- Noxious Weed Management Methods Evaluation
- Additional Lake Issues identified
- Recommended Management Plan for HABs and Noxious Weeds
- Stakeholder Involvement Plan for the implementation of management solutions
- Funding Plan for the implementation of management solutions
- Roles and Responsibilities for the suggested management and funding structure
- Adaptive Management framework for ongoing management of Vancouver Lake
Public review of this draft VLMP is highly encouraged and comments are valued. Public comment submissions will be reviewed and included in an Appendix to the final VLMP for consideration in future decision making and VLMP adaptations. To view or download a copy of the draft VLMP, click the “Draft VLMP – June 2023” button above. To submit comments, click the button below, which will direct you to the comment submission form. Comment submissions are due by 5 pm on Wednesday, August 2, 2023.
Clark County Council Work Session
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 / 9 am
Herrera presented the draft Vancouver Lake Management Plan in this public presentation.
Vancouver Lake Management Public Webinar
Tuesday, August 30, 2022 / 6-8 pm
Thank you to all who joined the Zoom webinar to learn more about the Vancouver Lake Management Project and Work Plan. The meeting provided a high-level overview of the Vancouver Lake Management Project proposed approach, an opportunity for input and feedback on the work plan, and discussed next steps for staying engaged.
