Friends of Vancouver Lake, the community‑based nonprofit focused on restoring and preserving Vancouver Lake’s environmental and recreational vitality, announced last week that Adrienne Mason has been appointed as its founding executive director. According to the organization, Mason’s role marks a defining moment in the group’s evolution and signals an escalation in its commitment to lake and watershed stewardship.

This leadership appointment brings focused direction to Friends of Vancouver Lake, which has played a pivotal role since its formation in 2019 in addressing Eurasian milfoil infestations, promoting harmful algae bloom management, and advancing the multi‑phase lake management plan developed in partnership with Clark County and state agencies.

Through technical advisory groups—including stakeholders from Clark County, the Port of Vancouver, public health, and environmental consultants—Friends of Vancouver Lake has remained integral to strategic planning and public‑private collaboration. Mason’s new executive role is expected to enhance the organization’s operational capacity, stakeholder coordination, and fundraising effectiveness.

While Friends of Vancouver Lake’s board continues to provide governance, Mason will oversee day‑to‑day administration, program development, and engagement with government and community partners as the organization transitions toward long‑term, sustainable stewardship frameworks.

As phase two of the Vancouver Lake Management Plan wraps up—concluding in 2025 after delivering pilot projects on beach management, water circulation evaluation, governance structures, and algae mitigation—the organization will be at the center of ongoing implementation efforts.

Why this matters

For Longview, Kelso, and broader Cowlitz County residents tracing Columbia River tributaries, healthy upstream ecosystems like Vancouver Lake are environmental linchpins. Washington’s communities are interconnected in their shared watershed vuln erabilities—from nutrient runoff to recreational access and toxic algae threats.

Mason’s appointment reflects a growing professionalism and organizational maturity in local conservation leadership. By bringing dedicated executive leadership to Vancouver Lake’s challenges, the community gains a stronger advocate in securing funding, implementing management strategies, and ensuring transparency in long‑term environmental stewardship.