LAKEPORT, Calif. — In order to help explain a recently implemented information order for the Clear Lake watershed, State Water Resources Control Board staff members will hold a public workshop in Lakeport this week.
The in-person workshop will take place beginning at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 16, in the Board of Supervisors chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport.
Earlier this month, 1,300 property owners began receiving certified letters from the State Water Resources Control Board requiring them to provide information about their water usage.
The letter is the result of a newly approved state information order that is rooted in the Board of Supervisors’ action this month last year to approve an emergency regarding the Clear Lake hitch, a minnow native to Clear Lake and its streams.
The information order letter has caused significant consternation amongst the community members who have received it, who can report their information either through the State Water Resources Control Board or the Lake County Farm Bureau.
During the Friday workshop, water board staff will review with attendees the information order requirements and reporting timelines, go over the certification process, explain the reporting pathway options and review groundwater extraction measurement requirements and methods.
In addition to the planned topics, water board staff also will be available to answer individual questions one-on-one and help people who would like to complete the certification process during the workshop. Attendees are urged to bring their information order letter.
The water board said the meeting will focus on the process for complying with the information order and, due to time constraints, it will not discuss the status of the Clear Lake hitch populations or management strategies. However, board staff say they look forward to future conversations this year on watershed health and water quality.
Visit the information order and reporting requirements for the Clear Lake Watershed website for more information about how to report, reporting pathways and timelines. You are also welcome to email questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The water board will hold another workshop, this one online, at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 22. The information presented at the online workshop will be the same as the information presented at the in-person workshop.
Links to join the Feb. 22 workshop will be sent out soon, the water board reported.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.