VANCOUVER, Wash. (KPTV) - During a Clark County meeting last week, public health officials alerted residents to the increased concern of toxic algae mats in the Columbia River.
"I think the main focus is education, people need to be aware of it, protect their dogs, and if they do see benthic algae mats, to let us know," Alan Melnick said, Public Health Director.
Since 2007, toxic algae blooms, often blue and green and seen floating atop the water, have been a primary warm-weather advisory for county officials.
However, that focus has now shifted to include these mats, made up of a subcategory of algae that often form at the bottom of this river, eventually floating to the top. Likely the event that led to the two cyanotoxin poisoning deaths of local dogs in the past year.
"Definitely, if you are out on the water, look and see what is under the surface, and stay away from anywhere these mats exist," said Maggie Palomaki, an environmental health specialist for the county.
It is a problem that Clark County just began to understand in 2024 when the first case was reported. Unlike bloom surface warnings, there is no toxicity threshold to set because of the lack of data, so county officials are posting educational materials at a dozen populated areas as they find more ways to combat the harmful algae issue.
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The Columbia River is made up of 40 miles of shoreline that encompasses dozens of cities and towns in WA and OR. Residents said they have appreciated the environmental work to identify these dangerous cyanobacteria and now hope to figure out how to combat these aquatic plant-like organisms.
"Maybe it will get some motion, and someone will get down and dirty scientifically and figure out what is going on here and how it appeared," said Gary Smith, a resident.
The mats can grow in flowing water and can be seen at the bottom, detached and floating, or watched from shore, a reminder to pay attention to the ever-changing science of a body of water before you take a swim.
"Need to be a little more aware of our environment consistently, we've taken for granted that the Columbia is here, and it's all going to be great," Smith said. "Be cautious, if it can kill a dog, what is it going to do to a three-year-old?"
To learn more about the toxic algae mat warnings in the Columbia River, go to the advisory page or the information page on the types of toxic algae blooms.