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Public Health Testing 

For 2007, Clark County Public Health began monitoring water at Vancouver Lake the week of May 21, 2007, and continues to do so at regular intervals to test for the presence of E. coli and toxic algae, with the goal of ensuring safe and healthy recreation for those who swim or play in the lake. View information about monitoring and sampling results here.

Please note: News releases regarding closure of the lake are also posted on the News page of this web site.

Partnership Reports

• Vancouver Lake Watershed Partnership 2008 Annual Report.

• Vancouver Lake Watershed Partnership August 2009 Status Report

Work Plan

• Work Program: January 2008- December 2009

• DRAFT - Key Work Plan Elements for July 1, 2007- December 31, 2009  

• DRAFT - Continuum March 2008

• DRAFT - Funding Strategy March 2008

Technical Group Reports:

• Research Plan - December 2009

• Lake Algal Control Techniques Report - December 2009

• Task Timelines  - December 2009

• The draft Technical Foundation Report for Future Management of Vancouver Lake is now available for viewing here.

• Groundwater Model for Vancouver Lake Lowlands

• Sediment Characterization Report, Port of Vancouver

Technical Group Summaries of Past Meetings: 

• Technical Group Meeting Summary March 30, 2009

• Technical Group Meeting Summary Aug. 07, 2008

• Technical Group Meeting Summary June 30, 2008

• Technical Group Meeting Summary Feb. 28, 2008

• Technical Group Meeting Summary Jan. 30, 2008

Studies by or on Behalf of the Partnership:

• Year Two Annual Report - Plankton Monitoring and Zooplankton Grazing Assessment in Vancouver Lake, WA, Stephen Bollens and Gretchen Rollwagen-Bollens, Washington State University Vancouver

• Year Two Data Tables for Annual Report - Plankton Monitoring and Zooplankton Grazing Assessment in Vancouver Lake, WA, Stephen Bollens and Gretchen Rollwagen-Bollens, Washington State University Vancouver

• Year One Annual Report - Text: Biological Assessment of the Plankton in Vancouver Lake, WA, Dr. Stephen Bollens and Dr. Gretchen Rollwagen-BollensWashington State University Vancouver - February 2009

• Year One Annual Report - Sampling Data Tables: Biological Assessment of the Plankton in Vancouver Lake, WA, Dr. Stephen Bollens and Dr. Gretchen Rollwagen-BollensWashington State University Vancouver - February 2009

• Vancouver Lake Biotic Assessment by Washington State University Vancouver, Dr. Stephen Bollens and Dr. Gretchen Rollwagen-Bollens, Co-Directors  July 2008 - Please note: Data contained in this report should not be published without permission of the authors.

• Bathymetry and Hydraulic briefing by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Portland District (PDF- Large file)- August 2008

U.S. EPA Efforts

Follow this link for a summary of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's activities at Vancouver Lake. Be sure to scroll down the page and click on "Vancouver Lake & Flushing Channel." Note: EPA prepared a Preliminary Assessment in June 2008 in response to a citizen's petition from the Rosemere Neighborhood Association. Based on the conclusions of the Preliminary Assessment, a site inspection, including field sampling, was recommended. EPA conducted sediment sampling at Vancouver Lake as part of the site inspection in early March 2009. A report will be prepared which summarizes the results and is expected to be available sometime this summer.

Presentations 

Note: The following background information relating to the Vancouver Lake Watershed has been presented to the Partnership in past regular meetings. The information provided and opinions and views expressed in the presentations above do not necessarily represent the Vancouver Lake Watershed Partnership, nor has the Partnership made any determination as to the accuracy of the content. Please note: Adobe Acrobat Reader required for PDF format.

• TMDL Update Burnt Bridge Creek - Ecology - June 23, 2010

• T. McConathy White Paper Presentation - June 23, 2010

• Vancouver Lake Watershed Partnership Research Plan Presentation - December 16, 2009

• Vancouver Lake Watershed Partnership Lake Management Techniques Presentation - December 16, 2009

• Clark Public Utilities Presentation - December 16, 2009 (Please note: Presentation is provided in three parts due to size of files)

  • Part 1

  • Part 2

  • Part 3

• Trails Program - Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation - October 20, 2009

• Ground Water Cleanup - Port of Vancouver - October 20, 2009

• EPA Vancouver Lake Sampling - June 17, 2009

• WSU-Vancouver Update - April 15, 2009 

• Burnt Bridge Creek TMDL Update-Department of Ecology - February 18, 2008 (PDF)

• Flushing Channel Monitoring-Port of Vancouver - February 18, 2009 (PDF)

• Review of Biological Research on Juvenile and Adult Salmonid use of Vancouver Lake - Draft Final -US Army Corps of Engineers Portland District - November 2007 (PDF)

• Vancouver Lake and Vicinity Federal and State Listed Wildlife (PDF)

• Partnership Briefing - US Army Corps of Engineers Portland District - August 15, 2007  (PDF)

• Burnt Bridge Creek Water Quality - City of Vancouver Presentation - June 20, 2006 (PDF)

• Department of Ecology - Vancouver Lake and Lake River PCBs, Chlorinated Pesticides, and Dioxin in Fish Tissue and Sediment - April 18, 2007  (PDF)

• Salmon Creek Watershed Council - April 18, 2007  (PDF)

• Department of Ecology TMDL Presentation Part I - February 21, 2007 (PDF)

• Department of Ecology TMDL Presentation Part II - February 21, 2007 (PDF)

• Proposed Biological Components for Analysis and Summary by Washington State University Vancouver - September 20, 2006  (PDF)

• Health Department Algae Data Summary - September 20, 2006 (PDF)

• Vancouver Lake/Lake River Monitoring Study and Proposed Biological Study Presentation - June 21, 2006 (PDF)

• Vancouver Lake Monitoring Activity Summary Presentation - June 21, 2006 (PDF)

• Vancouver Lake Volunteer Data Presentation - June 21, 2006 (PDF)

• Project Planning Process - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Presentation - 02/15/06  (PDF)

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Presentation - 07/20/2005  (PDF - Very Large File)

• Developing Our Future - Port of Vancouver Presentation - 06/15/2005 (PDF - Very Large File)

• Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Presentation - 05/20/2005 (PDF - Large File)

• Vancouver Lake Sailing Club Presentation - 05/20/2005 (PDF - Large File)

• Vancouver Lake Watershed - Water Utility Issues - 05/20/2005 (PDF - Very Large File)

• Contaminants in Fish Tissue from Vancouver Lake 04/20/2005  (PDF) 

• Vancouver Lake Habitat 04/20/2005 (PDF - Very Large File)

• Columbia River Flows 04/20/2005 (PDF) 

• Vancouver Lake/Burnt Bridge Creek Watershed Plant Community - 04/20/2005  (PDF - Large file)

• Community Perspectives on the Vancouver Lake Watershed -03/16/2005 (PDF)

• Salmon Creek and Lakeshore - Vancouver Lake and Lake River Watersheds - 03/16/05  (PDF Large File)

• Burnt Bridge Creek Watershed Part I 02/16/2005 (PDF - Large File 819 KB)

• Burnt Bridge Creek Watershed Part II 02/16/2005 (PDF - Large file)

• Water Quality Monitoring in Vancouver Lake   02/16/2005 (HTML PowerPoint)

• Related Lake Vancouver Chronological Graphic - 01/19/2005 (PDF)

• Lake Vancouver Chronological Studies - 01/19/2005  (PDF)

• Flushing Channel Analysis - 01/19/2005 (PDF)

Other reference sources:

Information, opinions and views expressed in all of the following sources have been made available as reference sources, but do not necessarily represent those of the Vancouver Lake Watershed Partnership. Further, the Partnership has made no determination as to the accuracy of the content. Please note: Adobe Acrobat Reader required for PDF format.

• Bibliography of reports related to Vancouver Lake Watershed, compiled and annotated by Lenora Oftedahl, StreamNet Librarian, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Portland, Oregon.  (Web Site Link)

• North American Lake Management Society (Web Site Link)

• Burnt Bridge Creek Storm & Surface Water Utility Historic Summary, 1978-1997, Update March 1998, Clark County Department of Public Works  (PDF)

• Capitol Lake Adaptive Management Plan - Hydrodynamics and Sediment Transport Modeling Report (PDF)

• Capitol Lake Adaptive Management Plan - Alternatives Analysis (PDF)

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Peoria Riverfront Development, Illiniois (Ecosystem Restoration) - Feasibility Study  (PDF - File Size 711 KB)

• Understanding Lake Ecology - An online limnology primer by Water on the Web

Port of Vancouver Flushing Channel Project

In December 2006, the Port of Vancouver completed dredging of the flushing channel that connects Vancouver Lake and the Columbia River. A flushing channel flow monitoring study, which includes continuous measurements of water flow through the flushing channel culverts and water level measurements in the channel and Vancouver Lake, was initiated in October 2006 and is ongoing. The following information is the result of this project. Additional materials will be posted here as the project progresses. Contact: Craig Heimbucher, Environmental Specialist, Port of Vancouver, 693-3611. 

• Equipment Location Map (PDF)  

• Estimated Flow Rate into Vancouver Lake via Flushing Channel (PDF- Large file) 

Port of Vancouver Sediment Sampling Results

The Port of Vancouver proposes to dredge approximately 2 million cubic yards of sediment from the Columbia River in the area south of the flushing channel between river miles 101 and 102. The dredging will support a vessel approach and turning basin adjacent to a new marine terminal. Sediment sampling was conducted to evaluate sediment quality and physical conditions, and 52 sediment cores were collected, composited and analyzed for chemical and conventional parameters. Results of the analyses show that all of the results are below the Dredge Material Evaluation Framework, Model Toxics Control Act and other relevant screening levels. A draft Sediment Characterization Report (Parametrix - January 2007) was submitted to the US Army Corps of Engineers and will be posted to the Partnership web site once finalized. Contact: Patty Boyden, Director of Environmental Services, Port of Vancouver, 992-1103.

• Columbia Gateway Preferred Alternative Parcel 3 Detail Plan (PDF)

• Actual Sediment Sampling Locations I (PDF)

• Actual Sediment Sampling Locations II (PDF)

• Cross section: Auto Dock Dredging Section and Typical Core Sample Location I (PDF)

• Cross section: Auto Dock Dredging Section and Typical Core Sample Location II (PDF)

• Table 1: Sediment Analytes (PDF)

• Table 2: Sample Summary (PDF)

• Table 3: Grain Size, Total Organic Carbon and Total Solids (PDF)

• Table 4: Analytical Chemical Data with Notes (PDF)