Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Public Health has posted caution signs at Battle Ground Lake due to a bloom of cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae.

Public Health will collect water samples from the lake to determine if toxins are in the water. Results should be available later this week.

Public Health is advising people to avoid direct contact with lake water in areas of floating blue-green-colored scum. Blue-green algae produce toxins that can be harmful to people and deadly for small pets that drink the water.

Health officials are recommending:

Clark County Public Health announced its first case of novel coronavirus, COVID-19, late Friday night. Since then, Public Health has identified a small number of people who had close contact with the case. Those individuals have been notified and are now in quarantine, where they will remain for 14 days.

Public Health also received results for two additional pending tests. Those results were negative.

Unlike with confirmed measles cases, Public Health is not announcing public locations the COVID-19 case visited. COVID-19 is spread through close contact (within 6 feet) and… Read More

Clark County Public Health received its first positive test result for novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

The confirmed case is a male in his 70s. He has been in isolation, pending test results, and remains in isolation.

Public Health is working as quickly as possible to identify close contacts of the confirmed case. Close contacts, which could include family members and coworkers, will be instructed to stay home for 14 days after their last contact with the confirmed case.

Public Health will release additional information as it becomes available. No additional… Read More

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

The position represents Clark County at-large and is open to all residents. The three-year term begins as soon as the position is filled and ends Dec. 31, 2022.

Commission members act as representatives of their regions or stakeholder groups and advise the county council on solid waste issues, such as recycling, garbage collection, landfills, transfer stations and waste-reduction programs. Members also, at times, participate in solid waste-… Read More

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Public Health is seeking community members to serve on its Ethics Review Committee. The committee reviews actual and potential public health ethical dilemmas and provides recommendations to Public Health staff, management and community partners.

The committee is composed of community members and professionals from a variety of fields. The committee meets three times per year, with more meetings scheduled as needed, to understand and deliberate on ethical issues relating to public health policies, systems and operations.

Some examples of… Read More

Vancouver, Wash. – The garbage a community leaves behind tells a story – often saying more about the people than the items they keep. Clark County residents are invited to learn more about the stories told by waste, including historical trash unearthed at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, at a free event this month.

Dr. Douglas Wilson, chief archaeologist with the National Park Service at Fort Vancouver, will lead a discussion about garbology – the study of a community or culture by analyzing its waste. Wilson will discuss the differences between modern trash and historical… Read More

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Public Health is seeking nominations for the annual Public Health Community Award. The award recognizes both an individual and an organization in Clark County for outstanding contributions to promoting and protecting community health.

Nominations are due by 5 pm Friday, Feb. 28. Visit the Public Health website to submit a nomination online or download a nomination form to submit by mail.

“This award highlights the great contributions to public health by… Read More

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

One position represents Clark County at-large and is open to all residents. The other position represents Clark County agriculture. Applicants for the agriculture position should currently be involved in or have a background in one of the following areas:

• Farming and food processing
• Extension office, conservation district or other agricultural agency work
• Compost and agricultural debris facilities
• Other agricultural fields… Read More

The Clark County Council is requesting applications for two volunteer positions on the Mosquito Control District Board of Trustees.

Terms for the two at-large positions begin as soon as the positions are filled and run through Dec. 31, 2021.

The Board of Trustees oversees the work of the Clark County Mosquito Control District. The board establishes policy, manages expenditures and approves contracts for services. Clark County Public Health provides administrative services for the district.

The Board of Trustees is comprised of one member from each city or town in… Read More

Vancouver, Wash. – After the holiday festivities end, Clark County Public Health urges residents to recycle their Christmas trees, rather than sending them to the landfill.

Before trees are recycled, all lights, tinsel, wire, ornaments and stands must be removed. Flocked and artificial trees cannot be recycled and should be placed in the garbage.

Waste Connections will pick up trees with yard debris collection or regular garbage service available in most parts of the county. In Vancouver city limits, the yard debris service is now called organics service. Trees taller than… Read More