
Public Health is advising against all recreating in Lacamas, Round and Vancouver lakes
VANCOUVER – Clark County Public Health has issued a danger advisory for Lacamas Lake after test results revealed elevated levels of cyanotoxins in the water due to a harmful algal bloom. Cyanotoxins can be harmful to people, especially young children, and deadly for pets.
Results from water samples taken from Lacamas Lake on Tuesday revealed cyanotoxins above the threshold levels recommended by the Washington Department of Health. The harmful algal bloom is currently present at multiple public access points at Lacamas Lake.
The danger advisories previously issued for Vancouver Lake and Round Lake also remain in place.
Public Health is advising against all recreating in Lacamas, Round and Vancouver lakes, including swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, canoeing, using motorized boats, water skiing and fishing. Pets should not have any contact with the water.
Harmful algal blooms can pose a significant health risk if the cyanobacteria or toxins are ingested, inhaled or contact skin. Inhaled bacteria or toxins can cause wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Skin contact can lead to rash, itching, blisters and eye irritation.
If water with cyanotoxins is accidentally swallowed, symptoms can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, numbness of the lips, tingling in fingers and toes, and dizziness. The toxins can be fatal to pets that drink the water.
Public Health will continue to monitor the lakes and take weekly water samples while blooms are present to test toxin levels. Signs will be updated as conditions change.
Additional information about algal blooms and current advisories are available on the Public Health public beach website.
Information provided by Clark Co. WA Communications.
Also read:
- Letter: ‘The (Vancouver School) district ignored or broke numerous rules to enforce the governor’s emergency mask rule’Brush Prairie resident Bill Eling outlines examples of Vancouver Public Schools’ ‘missteps’ in a lawsuit against a parent of a Skyview High School student.
- Informed Choice Washington assists lawmakers with writing of companion billsInformed Choice Washington assists lawmakers with writing of companion bills. The intent of the bills is to make sure public health officials are not overextending their promotional messaging.
- New Heritage football coach in it for the long haulKevin Peterson, named the head coach, promises to bring stability to Heritage High School’s football program, hoping to remain with the program until the day he retires from teaching.
- Capital gains tax has its day in Washington’s highest courtLast March, Douglas County Superior Court Judge Brian Huber ruled the tax was “properly characterized as an income tax … rather than as an excise tax as argued by the State” and struck it down.
- Biden’s National Security Council met with CDC over COVID ‘disinfo’President Joe Biden’s National Security Council meetings with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about COVID-19 disinformation in 2021, according to documents obtained in an America First Legal lawsuit.
- Columbia Play Project board chair seeking to fill the void with a children’s museum in Clark CountyThe Columbia Play Project was officially started in October of 2020 after a nine-month delay due to the pandemic. The long-term goal (and third phase) of the organization is to build a permanent, brick and mortar children’s museum in Clark County. Photo courtesy Leah Anaya
- POLL: Do you support legislation that would lengthen the school year one week to address student learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic?Do you support legislation that would lengthen the school year one week to address student learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic?