Warning issued for Lacamas Lake due to cyanotoxin levelsFree

Clark County Public Health warned Wednesday that Lacamas Lake could make residents and pets sick due to elevated levels of cyanotoxins from algae.

Lacamas Lake water samples taken Monday showed cyanotoxin levels above the threshold recommended by the Washington State Department of Health.

Cyanotoxins can be harmful to people, especially young children, and deadly for small pets that drink the water. Inhaled bacteria or toxins can cause wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Skin contact could lead to rash, itching, blisters and eye irritation.

While the warning advisory is in place, health officials recommend not swimming or skiing in the lake, keeping animals from contacting the water, avoiding areas of scum when using watercraft, not drinking the lake water, and cleaning fish from the lake well and then discarding their organs.

Public Health previously issued a warning advisory for Lacamas Lake due to harmful algae 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 the new warning advisory.

The warning advisory at Vancouver Lake remains in place. However, Public Health has removed the warning advisory at Round Lake in Camas.

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