08/28/2026
A PERSONAL MESSAGE & IMPORTANT WATER SAFETY REMINDER
As many of you may have seen, Grant County Health District and the PUD have shared information regarding possible harmful algae in our area. I wanted to share a little more about why this came about and, most importantly, encourage everyone in the Greater Crescent Bar community to use extra caution around the water right now.
Earlier this week, I lost my sweet, beautiful, 11-year-old Chocolate Lab, Luke, very suddenly.
That morning, Luke and I took our normal walk along the river and visited several of the beaches we had walked nearly every day for the past six years. He played, drank from the river and acted completely normal. By that afternoon, he began showing unusual symptoms, and by early the next morning, he was gone.
Because of how quickly he became ill and his exposure to the river that morning, I contacted Grant County Health District. They asked me to document and photograph the areas where Luke had been. After reviewing the circumstances surrounding his death, the possibility of harmful algae exposure became a serious concern and prompted the precautionary information that has since been shared with the public.
At this time, we are still waiting for test results, and harmful algae has NOT been confirmed as the cause of Luke’s death.
I want to emphasize that because my intention is not to frighten people or suggest that the Columbia River as a whole is unsafe. We live in an incredible place, and the river is a huge part of why so many of us love Crescent Bar.
This is about awareness and caution.
Conditions can vary greatly from one area to another. Warmer, shallow, slow-moving or stagnant water—particularly around beach areas—can create conditions where harmful algae may develop. Conditions can also change quickly, so an area that appeared fine previously may look very different later.
Please take a moment to look carefully at the water before allowing children or pets to enter or drink from it. Pay attention to posted advisories and avoid water that looks discolored, has surface scum, unusual mats or anything else that simply doesn’t look right. When in doubt, stay out.
I wish I had known more about what to look for before that morning with Luke. I can’t change what happened to him, but I can use what happened to help make our community more aware.
Please enjoy our beautiful river, but educate yourself, stay aware of changing conditions and use extra caution with your pets and families.
We will share additional information as official test results and updates become available.
— Christie Gilbert
Greater Crescent Bar Association
