Clark County Public Health has issued a danger advisory for Vancouver Lake due to widespread harmful algal blooms producing elevated levels of cyanotoxins. 

Public Health issued the danger advisory after results from water samples collected on Monday revealed toxin levels above the thresholds recommended by the Washington Department of Health. Harmful algal blooms are currently present at several public access points to the lake, including the swim beach and the flushing channel. 

Public Health is advising against all recreating in… Read More

The Clark County Board of Health is seeking applicants for three volunteer positions on the Public Health Advisory Council. Selected applicants will fill three-year terms that begin Oct. 1, 2025 and end Sept. 30, 2028.

The positions represent the following professional and community groups:

• One position for a nurse working in Clark County.
• One position for a medical doctor practicing in Clark County.
• One position representing the Clark County Commission on Aging or aging community.

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Public Health has lifted its advisory at Vancouver Lake. Water samples collected from the lake show water quality has improved over the last two weeks and toxin levels are no longer elevated. 

The warning signs posted at the lake are being removed. While the toxin levels are no longer elevated, harmful algae are still present in the lake. As long as algae are present, toxin levels could increase as conditions at the lake change. 

Public Health encourages people swimming and recreating in Vancouver Lake to… Read More

Vancouver, Wash. – The results of a one-day heat mapping project conducted in Clark County last summer show that heat is not distributed evenly across the county. Some areas of the county experience hotter temperatures and that can cause some communities and families to be more impacted by excessive heat and can worsen health inequities.

“People who live in historically disinvested neighborhoods, who have limited access to resources like air conditioning and green space, and those with other health issues are all at greater risk for impacts from extreme heat,” said… Read More

Clark County Public Health has issued a warning advisory at Vancouver Lake due to elevated levels of cyanotoxins from harmful algae. 

Results from water samples taken from Vancouver Lake on Monday, June 16 revealed toxin levels above the threshold levels recommended by the Washington Department of Health. Warning signs are being placed at public access points at the lake. 

A warning advisory is also in place at Lacamas Lake due to elevated toxin levels from harmful algae. The Lacamas Lake warning advisory has been in place since June 4… Read More

Clark County Public Health has issued a warning advisory at Lacamas Lake due to elevated levels of cyanotoxins from harmful algae. 

Results from water samples taken from Lacamas Lake on Monday, June 2, 2025 revealed toxin levels above the threshold levels recommended by the Washington Department of Health. Warning signs are being placed at public access points at the lake. 

Cyanotoxins can be harmful to people, especially young children, and deadly for small pets that drink the water. While the warning advisory is in place, Public… Read More

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. 

Clark County Public Health first learned about the… Read More

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.

Public Health urges people of all ages to follow these tips… Read More

Clark County is partnering with Washington State Department of Ecology on a campaign that aims to make the use of reusable beverage containers a cultural norm. 

The Bring Your Own Cup campaign launches statewide on May 5 and runs through May 31. The campaign encourages residents to reduce waste from single-use cups by instead opting for reusable beverage containers. Americans use nearly one trillion… Read More

The Clark County Council is seeking applicants for a volunteer position on the Solid Waste Advisory Commission. 

The council is accepting applications for the position representing Southwest Clark County. Applicants for this position must live south of 179th Street and west of State Highway 503 or the extension thereof. The council will appoint the selected applicant to serve a three-year term that begins July 1, 2025.

The Solid Waste Advisory Commission holds quarterly meetings at 6 pm on the first Thursday of February, May, August, and… Read More