Clark County’s second treatment of harmful algae at Vancouver Lake Regional Park is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.

AquaTechnex, a lake and aquatic plant management firm, will again apply an aquatic algaecide to the water at the Vancouver Lake swim beach. Boats will be used to apply the algaecide, which is designed to target and kill cells in harmful algae.

The first treatment occurred on July 25. The second treatment will begin at about 10 am Friday and is expected to take about two hours, during which the swim beach will be closed to the public. 

Clark County Public Health issued a warning advisory for Vancouver Lake on July 25 due to the presence of algae at the swim beach and uncertainty of how treatment could impact toxin levels in the water. The warning advisory remains in place while Public Health continues to evaluate conditions at the swim beach. 

While a warning advisory is in place, Public Health advises against swimming or wading in the lake and recommends avoiding areas of scum when using motorized boats, paddle boarding, kayaking or canoeing. Fish should be cleaned well, and organs should be discarded. 

When applied in water, the algaecide targets the algae cells and then breaks down after treatment into water and oxygen. The algaecide does not pose a risk to people and pets, or cause harm to other plants, birds, fish and wildlife when applied according to the directions on the label. As a reminder, dogs and other domestic animals – except for service animals – are not allowed on the beach or surrounding grassy area of Vancouver Lake Regional Park between April 1 and Oct. 31.

Clark County Public Works’ Clean Water Division is working closely with Clark County Parks and Lands Division, Clark County Public Health and Herrera Environmental Consultants – with input from community stakeholders through the Vancouver Lake Technical Advisory Group – to develop and implement a beach management plan for Vancouver Lake, which includes the algaecide treatment. Additional algae treatments are expected to occur this summer.

For more information about the beach management plan for Vancouver Lake, visit the Vancouver Lake Management Plan Project webpage. Additional information about harmful algal blooms and current advisories are available on the Public Health website.