Klineline Pond is the latest Clark County body of water to be hit with warning signs from the Clark County Health Department, after a testing sample returned with elevated levels of E. coli.
Last Friday, Battle Ground Lake posted warning signs because it might be a source of two cases of shigellosis bacteria. On Monday, Vancouver Lake was given warning signs for a possible bloom of cyanobacteria, a blue-green toxic algae, that has prompted a delay of this weekend’s planned Row for the Cure event.
Klineline Pond was flagged Tuesday after one of five pond test samples came back with elevated levels of E. coli bacteria. The other four samples came back with bacteria levels within acceptable water quality standards, according to a department press release. The samples were collected Monday.
E. coli bacteria can cause serious gastrointestinal illness if the water is swallowed.
“One of the best ways to reduce the spread of E.coli in swimming areas is to ensure that children who are not potty trained stay out of the water,” Clark County Health Officer Dr. Alan Melnick said in a press release. “Swim diapers are not reliable, and we discourage their use.”
Salmon Creek Regional Park and the splash pad remain open to the public. Water in the restrooms and shelters isn’t affected by the pond water and remains safe to drink, the press release stated.
Park visitors can continue to consume fish from the pond, but should thoroughly clean the fish and equipment. Fish should be cooked, and not eaten raw.
Clark County Health Department public information officer Marissa Armstrong said that in the testing of the swim beaches at the pond, samples are taken from different areas. That’s why it’s possible for one sample to return with elevated E. coli levels, while other samples return with acceptable water quality levels.
Armstrong said the beach remains open “because it was only one spot and not the whole beach. That’s why it was just a warning.”
In order for an E. coli sample to be labeled as having elevated levels, it must have more than 235 colony forming units, which is the Environmental Protection Agency’s recommendation and what the Clark County Health Department follows, Armstrong said.
Armstrong said she wasn’t sure if Vancouver Lake, Klineline Pond and Battle Ground Lake had all been under warnings simultaneously before, but she did say that they had all encountered these warnings in the past.
She mentioned the blue-green algae bloom at Vancouver Lake, which has caused Saturday’s Row for the Cure to be postponed until Oct. 6, is in part because of heat. Warm temperatures and sunlight help feed the blooms.
As for Battle Ground and Klineline, Armstrong said warmer temperatures promote recreational cooling off.
“As temps climb, more people head to the swim beach to cool off,” she explained. “There’s more people in a small space with shallow water and less circulation.”
Vancouver Lake
Clark County Public Health announced that it had put up signs at Vancouver Lake on Monday, warning of a possible bloom of cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae.
The lake remains open pending test results. Blooms weren’t detected at the Vancouver Lake swim beach area, but possible blooms were identified at the Burnt Bridge Creek inlet and the flushing channel near the swim beach.
Water in park restrooms and shelters is not affected and remains safe to drink. Armstrong said the testing was sent to Seattle, and should be expected back later this week.
Once test results are received, Public Health will decide on whether it can lift the warning.
Battle Ground Lake
Battle Ground Lake is still awaiting testing samples for shigellosis bacteria. Armstrong said the results will likely be received today.
The lake was given warning signs on Friday. Public Health will decide whether to lift the warning once test results are received.
The lake remains open.
