As colorful leaves begin to fall from trees, Clark County and city of Vancouver encourage community members to properly dispose of leaves to keep them out of streets and the landfill. 

Leaves should not be raked or blown into streets. Fallen leaves can clog storm drains and create areas of standing water on roadways, making roads unsafe for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. Instead, residents can take advantage of local disposal options that use leaves to create compost.

Clark County’s Composter Recycler program is offering a series of free in-person workshops about composting and sustainable living strategies. The series will teach participants how to reduce their impact on the planet through composting, green cleaning, recycling, preventing food waste and reducing holiday waste. All workshops are 6-7:30 p.m. at Waste Connections of Washington, 9411 NE 94th Ave. in Vancouver. Families are welcome.

The workshops offered this fall are: 

In a first-of-its kind project for Clark County, Public Works brought together more than 50 volunteer artists, dozens of volunteers, and staff from many different divisions in Public Works to paint a mural celebrating healthy streams. The approximately 4,000-square-foot mural features stormwater pollution prevention messages and more than 60 fish, of species native to Salmon Creek, painted in the unique styles of the volunteer artists. 

Clark County Public Works is partnering with community members to paint a mural on the retaining wall on the north side of Northeast 117th Street, just west of Northeast Highway 99 and across from Klineline Pond/Salmon Creek Regional Park. The mural, which will feature salmon and a watershed pollution prevention theme, will be painted by more than 60 artists during the first two weekends of September (Saturday, Sept. 6; Sunday, Sept. 7; Saturday, Sept. 13 and Sunday, Sept. 14). 

Beginning in September, Clark County is expanding infrastructure to filter stormwater runoff from Northeast 99th Street between Interstate 5 and Northeast Hazel Dell Avenue. The upgrades will capture pollution and provide increased water quality treatment before runoff from the road discharges into Suds Creek. 

Construction is scheduled to occur at night in September and October. Work will require lane closures. Travelers in the area can expect some delays. Drivers are reminded to slow down, pay attention and be patient in work zones. 

Starting Aug. 21, an herbicide will be applied to Eurasian watermilfoil in Vancouver Lake. Applying herbicide in August increases the efficacy of the treatment and helps ensure that conditions are improved and milfoil is significantly reduced before the 2026 recreational season. 

Clark County Public Works is reconstructing the intersection of Northeast 179th Street and Northeast 29th Avenue. The existing single-lane, all-way stop-sign-controlled intersection will be replaced with a roundabout. This change is necessary to accommodate increasing traffic volumes associated with residential and commercial development in the area.

Clark County Public Works’ Clean Water division presented an overview of Phase 2 of the Vancouver Lake Management Plan to the Clark County Council at a work session on July 23. The third phase of the project was put on hold after funding was removed from this year’s state budget. At the work session, staff requested council policy direction for the investment of county resources in implementing the management plan.

Clark County is accepting applications to fill four vacancies on the seven-member Parks Advisory Board for terms that begin on Jan. 1, 2026.

Board members typically serve three-year terms. Upon expiration of a term, a member can apply again. There is no limit on how many terms a member can serve. The Parks Advisory Board advises the Clark County Council and county staff on parks planning, acquisition, development, and related issues. Applicants must be residents of Clark County. 

Clark County is seeking applicants to fill four vacant volunteer positions on the Clean Water Commission. The advisory group, composed of nine Clark County residents, provides input to and assists the Clean Water division of Clark County Public Works. The commission represents the community’s interests and needs related to surface water quality and watershed health. The group also makes recommendations to the Clark County Council about services and policies. The term for one of the open positions begins immediately upon approval and ends in December 2026.