Vancouver Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vancouver Lake |
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An aerial view of the lake
(with the Columbia River in the foreground) |
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 Vancouver Lake
Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | Clark County, Washington |
| Coordinates | 45°40′40″N 122°43′16″W / 45.6779°N 122.721°W |
| Primary inflows | Columbia River (intermittent) and Burnt Bridge Creek (continuous) |
| Primary outflows | Lake River (intermittent) |
| Catchment area | Vancouver Lake/Lake River, Lakeshore, Burnt Bridge Creek, Salmon Creek, Whipple Creek, Flume Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. width | > 2 mi (3.2 km) |
| Surface area | approx. 2,300 acres (9.3 km2) |
| Average depth | < 3 ft (0.9 m) |
| Max. depth | 12 to 15 feet (3.7 to 4.6 m) |
| Shore length1 | > 7 mi (11 km) |
| Islands | 1 |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Vancouver Lake is a large, shallow lake located in Clark County, Washington, United States. It sits just west of the city of Vancouver, Washington. The lake is north of the famous Columbia River and Portland, Oregon, and south of Ridgefield, Washington. It's also close to the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.
This lake is quite shallow, usually less than 3 feet (0.9 m) deep. Its deepest parts are about 12 to 15 feet (3.7 to 4.6 m). In the northern part of the lake, you'll find a small piece of land called Turtle Island. This island was created in the early 1980s. It formed from extra dirt and sand dug up when the Army Corps of Engineers worked to clear out parts of the lake.
Water flows into Vancouver Lake from two main places. One source is a special channel from the Columbia River. This channel has gates that help control how much water comes in. The other main source is Burnt Bridge Creek. This creek flows for about ten miles (sixteen kilometres) through many neighborhoods in Vancouver city. In the past, this creek brought a lot of pollution into the lake.
Water also flows out of Vancouver Lake into Lake River. Lake River then connects to the Columbia River. Sometimes, depending on the water levels, Lake River can even flow into Vancouver Lake! This happens when the Columbia River's water level is higher than the lake's.
You can visit Vancouver Lake at a park on its shore. This park has a big swimming area. There's also a trail that leads to Frenchman's Bar Park, which is right on the Columbia River.
Contents
Discovering Vancouver Lake's Past
How Old is Vancouver Lake?
Scientists have studied Vancouver Lake for many years. In 2014, a study looked at samples taken from deep within the lake's bottom. These samples showed that a lake has been in this exact spot for at least 4,000 years! This means Vancouver Lake has been around for a very long time.
Wildlife and Nature at Vancouver Lake
What Animals Live in Vancouver Lake?
Vancouver Lake is a home for many different kinds of animals. Many of these animals also live in the nearby Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. Long ago, in the late 1800s, people said Vancouver Lake was very clear and deep. They even saw large sturgeon fish there.
Today, the lake water is often cloudy, and it's not as deep as it used to be. There are also fewer water plants. This has changed the types of animals that live there. Now, the most common fish you'll find are brown bullhead, white crappie, black crappie, and common carp. You might also see young salmon, channel catfish, largemouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, goldfish, northern pikeminnow, American shad, mosquito fish, largescale sucker, and freshwater sculpin.
Other Amazing Creatures Around the Lake
The areas around the lake, especially the wet, marshy parts, are great places for other animals to live. You can find amphibians like tree frogs and reptiles such as garter snakes.
Many different kinds of birds also call Vancouver Lake home. Large birds like great blue herons, osprey, and even bald eagles can be seen here. The lake is part of a major bird migration route called the Pacific Flyway. This means many birds fly over or stop at the lake during their long journeys. On the banks of the lake, you might spot raccoons, black-tailed deer, and sometimes a coyote.
Vancouver Lake Through Time
Early Mentions of the Lake
The famous explorers Lewis and Clark wrote about Vancouver Lake in their journals. They mentioned it on November 4, 1805, during their journey.
Ideas for the Lake's Use
In 1919, the Port of Vancouver took control of the lake. At first, some people wanted to drain the lake to use the land for farming. (A smaller lake nearby, Shillapoo Lake, was actually drained for farming.) But by the late 1920s, people started thinking about using Vancouver Lake for fun activities like boating and swimming.
In 1929, it got so cold that the lake froze solid! On one weekend, about 500 people went ice skating on the lake. Later, in 1945, there was a brief idea to use the lake as a place to store old ships. After a big flood in 1948, people also saw the lake as a possible way to help control floods.
Challenges and Pollution
As more people moved into the areas around the lake, more pollution started to enter the water. Rainwater flowing off streets and yards carried dirt and other materials into the lake. Water from homes and too much fertilizer from gardens added chemicals like nitrogen and phosphorus. These chemicals can make too many algae grow in the lake, which is bad for the water and the animals.
In the past, a chemical called DDT was used to control mosquitoes. But people soon realized it was harming fish and birds, so its use was stopped. A report in 2005 showed that fish in the lake had higher than normal levels of some harmful substances.
Working Towards a Healthier Lake
Since then, many groups have worked to protect the lake's natural areas, improve recreation, and manage industry around it. Plans like the "Habitek" plan in the 1980s and the Burnt Bridge Creek Watershed Plan in 1995 were created to help.
Sometimes, too much algae grows in the lake, causing "algal blooms." These blooms can make the water look green and sometimes produce toxins that are harmful to people and animals. The county officially recognized this problem in 2003.
In 2004, the Vancouver Lake Watershed Partnership was formed. This group brings together different public agencies that care about the lake to work together.
Fun Activities on the Lake
Vancouver Lake is a popular spot for water sports! Two main clubs use the lake. The Vancouver Lake Crew is a club for high school students and adults who love rowing. They use the lake for their practices. Besides rowing, people also enjoy kayaking, canoeing, and dragon boating here.
On the opposite side of the lake, you'll find the Vancouver Lake Sailing Club. This is where people launch their sailboats and enjoy sailing on the lake.
Fighting Invasive Plants
In 2017, people using the lake noticed a lot of a plant called Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM). This plant is invasive, meaning it's not native to the area and can grow very fast, taking over the lake.
In late 2018, people who cared about the lake teamed up with local and state groups to check how bad the EWM problem was. In early 2019, volunteers formed a non-profit group called Friends of Vancouver Lake. They worked with the rowing and sailing clubs and many community members. They got a special permit from Washington State to treat the lake with a new herbicide called ProcellaCOR. This herbicide is designed to target EWM but is safe for humans, fish, and wildlife.
Even though they couldn't treat the lake in 2019 due to weather, Vancouver Lake and its flushing channel were treated on July 7, 2020. A few weeks later, surveys showed that there was no EWM left in the lake or the channel! This was a big success for keeping the lake healthy.
Images for kids
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An aerial view of the lake
(with the Columbia River in the foreground)
