Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County residents and dog owners who recreate in the Columbia River and along its shorelines should be on the lookout for a newly reported type of harmful algae that caused the death of a dog in October.
Benthic algae mats are typically attached to riverbeds or lakebeds, but pieces of the mats can detach and float on the surface of the waterbody or wash ashore. The algae mats can contain toxins that can make people and pets sick and can be fatal to pets.
The County Lands Management division of Clark County Public Works will begin a forest health thinning project at Spud Mountain this summer. Approximately 30% of the forest will be selectively thinned to improve forest health. Timber harvested from the site will supply local markets and generate modest revenue. That revenue will be reinvested in stewardship activities and ongoing forest management operations.
Clark County is seeking public comment on the Parks and Nature Capital Improvement Plan. The proposed six-year plan includes major maintenance projects, recreation enhancements at existing parks, and the development of new parks. Projects in the plan address needs identified in the 2022 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan, which was created with input from the community and adopted by the Clark County Council in April 2022.
New projects and programs in the proposed Parks Capital Improvement Plan include:
At 2 pm on Monday, June 9, the Clark County Elections Office will conduct logic and accuracy tests of the programming of the accessible voting units and the programming that is used to tabulate ballots for the Aug. 5, Primary and Special Election.
The tests will be held at the Elections Office, 1408 Franklin St. These tests are required under Washington state law before every election. Members of the news media, candidates, jurisdictions with measures on the ballot and the public are invited to attend these tests.
The Clark County Elections Office will be closed to business all day Friday, June 6, due to construction activities related to the remodel of the building. The Elections Office will reopen Monday, June 9.
The Elections Office regular hours are 8 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday. The office is located at 1408 Franklin St.
Many election resources are available on the county’s website at clarkvotes.org.
With the arrival of warm weather, Clark County Public Health is reminding people to take caution in and around water – especially area lakes and rivers. In spring and early summer, lakes and rivers in Southwest Washington are still cold, and water may be moving quickly.
“Even as temperatures outside get warmer, lakes and rivers are still cold enough to shock and immobilize even the strongest swimmers,” said Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County health officer and Public Health director.
The Clark County Youth House is hosting an art show on Thursday, June 5, from 5 to 8 pm.
The event, Canvas Your Calmness: A Youth House Art Show About Healing Told Through Art, features young artists who are supported by and volunteer at the Youth House. The art show will be at the Youth House, 1012 Esther St. It is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided.
Clark County Public Works reminds local drivers that summer is the season for road preservation projects. Several methods are used to preserve roadway surfaces and to protect the county’s transportation infrastructure. Work to apply cape seal, slurry seal, chip seal and hot mix asphalt can cause traffic delays and road closures.
The Clark County Council is seeking community members with expertise in or experience with people with intellectual/developmental disabilities to serve on the Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board.
The 10-member advisory board makes recommendations to the Clark County Council relating to developmental disabilities services and assists in the development and maintenance of a comprehensive plan. The board provides community leadership on the improvement of efficiency and effectiveness of community developmental disabilities programs.
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) recently awarded the Clark County Auditor’s Office with the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the fiscal year that ended Dec. 31, 2023. The GFOA also announced that the Auditor’s Office received the Award for Outstanding Achievement for its Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR).
