Clark County Public Health has slapped a warning advisory on Lacamas Lake after tests this Monday showed cyanotoxins levels have surged past safe limits set by the Washington Department of Health, according to an official announcement. The lake waters, now a potential health hazard, particularly to kids and small pets that might gulp it down, are bedecked with fresh warning signs urging the public to steer clear of any water contact.

Activities previously enjoyed by locals and visitors alike such as swimming, water skiing, or even letting your dog play in the waters are now off-limits and for those who fish, the advice is to clean their catch thoroughly, especially tossing out the organs where toxins might concentrate. The advisory was re-issued after conditions that initially seemed to improve took a nosedive, toxin levels rose which was not ideal because the health officials had only just lifted the previous advisory on August 22 after a brief respite where toxin levels had dipped below concerning thresholds.

Meanwhile, there's a mixed bag of news for surrounding waters: Vancouver Lake is still under a warning with harmful algal blooms detected at the swim beach and flushing channel on August 22, but Round Lake gets the all-clear. "Water samples collected from the lake show water quality has improved over the last two weeks and toxin levels are no longer elevated," as noted in a public health statement.

It's not all doom and gloom for Round Lake visitors, who will see warning signs disappear, but the caution remains to keep eyes peeled for algal scum and for pet owners to avoid letting their furry friends anywhere near it. Public Health stays vigilant on this, committed to keeping tabs on Lacamas, Vancouver, and Round Lakes with weekly testing and promises updates as the ever-changing conditions warrant, responsive to the communities that rely on their stewardship to ensure safety in their cherished recreational waters.