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Managing New Environmental Hazards Across Shared Waterways

A careful and detailed approach is needed to address benthic algae in Clark County, something we are now able to do because of FPHS funding. In response to a dog’s death from encountering benthic algae, CCPH created and printed a number of signs and outreach materials, gave interviews to local news outlets, presented findings to the County Board of Health, coordinated with local stakeholders, and joined a Columbia River Coordination Group to monitor and address the emerging threat of benthic algae in the Columbia.

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In October 2024, Clark County Public Health (CCPH) responded to a public health concern that a dog had died after exposure to benthic algae along the Columbia River. Since that dog death (now confirmed to be the result of ingested benthic algae material) CCPH created and printed a number of signs and outreach materials, gave interviews to local news outlets, presented findings to the County Board of Health, coordinated with local stakeholders, and joined a Columbia River Coordination Group to monitor and address the emerging threat of benthic algae in the Columbia. The relative newness of benthic algae (at least to CCPH) and the fact that it is primarily being observed in the Columbia River, a massive water body with numerous stakeholders and a myriad of jurisdictional overseers, makes this issue especially complicated. A careful and detailed approach is needed to address benthic algae in Clark County, something we are now able to do because of FPHS funding.

A careful and detailed approach is needed to address benthic algae in Clark County, something we are now able to do because of FPHS funding.

Environmental Public Health

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