Volunteers catalog animals, plants at Vancouver Lake

Fruit Valley — More than 100 scientists and community volunteers spent Sept. 26 exploring Vancouver Lake Park and cataloging the area’s diversity of plant and animal life for the Vancouver Lake Eco-Blitz. The group spent six hours identifying more than 150 species of birds, plants, insects, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership staff led two birding sessions on canoes and documented 39 species of birds. The Vancouver Lake Eco-Blitz was part of a three-part series by the Intertwine Alliance, a coalition of 140-plus organizations working to integrate nature more deeply into the Portland-Vancouver area. It was coordinated by the National Park Service and hosted by the City of Vancouver, Clark County and the Estuary Partnership.