LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — State and local agencies are going to present the latest developments regarding the Clear Lake hitch and answer questions in a meeting this week.

The informational session, organized by Lake County Farm Bureau, will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 13, in the Board of Supervisors chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport.

The presenting agencies include the California Water Resource Control Board, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake and Lake County Department of Water Resources.

“It’s mostly to allow the community, specifically the agricultural community, the opportunity to directly interact with those agents and ask questions,” said Rebecca Harper, executive director of Lake County Farm Bureau.

The hitch, a large minnow found only in the Clear Lake watershed, holds ecological and cultural significance. It has drawn increased attention in recent years due to its apparent decline in numbers.

In mid-January, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services proposed to list the Clear Lake hitch as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act, 11 years after it was listed by the state.

The proposal is currently in a 60-day public comment period, ending Monday, March 17.

Since the start of 2025, there have been multiple local outreach efforts to inform the public of the current situation of the endangered local fish.

The Farm Bureau held a similar workshop in January. In February, hitch experts from state and local agencies presented to the Board of Supervisors on the hitch situation following the announcement of the federal proposal.

Last week, the Lake County Water Resources’ hitch staff held a training session for 20 community members participating in the new Hitch Community Science Observation program at Lakeport’s Silveira Community Center.

For more information on the hitch, contact Lake County Farm Bureau at 707-263-0911 or Lake County Water Resources at 707-263-2344.

Email staff reporter Lingzi Chen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..