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, Aug. 26 revealed cyanotoxins 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, health officials recommend:

• No swimming or water skiing.
• No water contact for animals.
• Avoiding areas of scum when using motorized boats, paddle boarding, kayaking or canoeing.
• No drinking lake water.
• Cleaning fish well and discarding organs.

Public Health previously issued a warning advisory for Lacamas Lake due to harmful algae on July 3. That advisory was removed Aug. 22 after two consecutive weeks of toxin levels below state thresholds. However, conditions at the lake changed in the last week and toxin levels have since increased, prompting Public Health to issue a new warning advisory for Lacamas Lake.

Advisories at Vancouver and Round lakes
The warning advisory at Vancouver Lake remains in place. Public Health issued the advisory on Aug. 22 due to elevated toxin levels due to harmful algae at the swim beach and flushing channel. 

Public Health is removing the warning advisory at Round Lake in Camas. 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. However as long as blooms of harmful algae are present, toxin levels could increase as conditions at the lake change. Public Health encourages people swimming and recreating in the lake to watch for floating scum and avoid direct contact with water in those areas. Pets should not drink or have contact with water in areas of floating scum.

Public Health will continue to monitor Lacamas, Vancouver and Round lakes and, while blooms are present, take weekly water samples to test toxin levels. Advisories will be updated as conditions change.

Additional information about harmful algal blooms and current advisories are posted on the Public Health website.