LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Federal officials will present a proposed conservation strategy for the Clear Lake hitch to the Board of Supervisors next week.

The hitch was listed as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act, or ESA, in 2014, and has been proposed for Federal Endangered Species Act listing multiple times since.

In February 2023, the Board of Supervisors declared an emergency regarding the fish in response to reports of critically low numbers in recent years.

The fish, a minnow native to Clear Lake, has been added to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service 2024 at-risk species list and is up for a federal ESA listing decision in early 2025.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife-facilitated Conservation Strategy for the Clear Lake hitch will be used to identify activities, actions, efforts and management practices that will lead to conservation and recovery of the hitch.

Officials said this strategy will provide mutual support on agreed actions by tribal, local, state and federal partners.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife will present the conservation strategy to the Board of Supervisors for discussion and comment Tuesday, May 21.

There will be a 30-day public comment period following May 21.

All comments provided to Fish and Wildlife will be addressed and added to an appendix of the conservation strategy.

The latest draft of the 132-page conservation strategy is posted publicly on the Lake County Water Resources website.

If you have questions, please contact Water Resources at 707-263-2344 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..