LAKE COUNTY – The county of Lake and the Lake County Fire Safe Council have released the public draft of the Lake County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) and are inviting public review and comment until July 1.

A public meeting to discuss the CWPP will be held on Monday, June 8, at 6 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors Chambers, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

Representatives of plan partners will provide an introduction to the plan, and be available to answer questions about the CWPP.

Development of the CWPP involved an extensive planning and development process, which was led by Registered Professional Forester Tracy Katelman of ForEverGreen Forestry.

TV host Huell Howser led the Sacramento rally by Association of California Water Agencies. Courtesy photo.

SACRAMENTO – “Action now on water” was the message to legislators late last month when more than 1,600 members of the Association of California Water Agencies (AWCA) rallied under a blistering sun on Sacramento’s capitol steps.

Renowned television host Huell Howser led the rally, attended also by children of farm workers in the Central Valley community of Mendota where unemployment is 40 percent.

“Every economic sector is impacted by the lack of water supply reliability,” said Timothy Quinn, ACWA executive director. “Whether it's farmers forced to abandon fields, agricultural workers losing their jobs, causing economic upheaval for rural communities, or businesses and development threatened by the inability to assure reliable water supplies. We need action now on water.”

The rally coincided with ACWA’s 2009 spring conference in Sacramento where a statewide issue forum discussed the impact of California’s water crisis on the state’s economy. Panelists spoke of the need for a comprehensive, long-term statewide water strategy and immediate action by the legislature and governor.

California Building Industry Association President and CEO Robert Rivinius said the lack of water infrastructure and available water impacts new housing.

“Construction is down 80 percent from 2005, with housing at 44,000 units, the lowest since WW II. Building trades unemployment is down 70 to 80 percent,” he said. “We support an $11 billion water bond to come to grips with California’s water needs.”

According to California Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Allan Zaremberg, the Peripheral Canal must be built. The canal would divert water from the Sacramento River to Central and Southern California.

California voters defeated a ballot initiative to build the Canal in 1982, but the idea of a Peripheral Canal has had a revival.

Water is currently pulled through the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta, turning the Delta, originally a fluctuating-salinity estuary, into a freshwater basin. It has also created unnatural north to south flows in the Delta, confusing native species such as the Delta Smelt and disturbing the ecosystem.

“We need safe drinking water. The solution is a bond that provides mitigation funding and public benefit,” said Zaremberg. “But, public distrust for state legislators is so high; I’m concerned a bond wouldn’t pass.”

California farmers were represented by panelist Dave Puglia, senior vice president, governmental affairs and communications, Western Growers Association.

“Farmers are at the front-end of this water crisis with $350 million lost this year. One-hundred-thousand acres went fallow because of a lack of water in 2008, next year it will be worse,” said Puglia. “The west aside of Fresno, Kings and San Joaquin counties is essentially a desert due to the erosion of top soil. It’s becoming another dust bowl.”

He added, “Growers anticipated shortened water deliveries and maximized water efficiencies. They’re resilient and take a lot before walking away from their businesses. It becomes impossible when they no longer can service debt on the water infrastructure they purchased.”

Puglia said agriculture provides fresh food and jobs. “Consumers increasingly get their produce from Mexico as California farmers move operations south.

“Without water, California looses out on local food and economic benefits provided by farmers,” he said.

For more information about AWCA or its 2009 spring conference, see www.acwa.com .

Hidden Valley Lake resident Susanne La Faver rallied for water action in Sacramento. Courtesy photo.

Over 1600 members of the Association of California Water Agencies demanded action on water from state legislators during a rally on Sacramento

The Upper Lake Fire Auxiliary will start the day off right with a pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. The street fair vendors will be set up by 9 a.m. and will be there all day for your shopping pleasure. The parade takes off at 10:30 a.m.

There will be costume and bonnet contests with prizes for young and old alike, and all you mountain men gather round to see who has the finest beard.

For those folk who do not get gussied-up, western photo boards will be available for you picture taking pleasure.

At high noon, The Blue Canyon Gang will perform a western skit and throughout the afternoon following the noon skit, the town's barbecue art will be auctioned off with the proceeds going to the Upper Lake High School Stadium Light Project.

The Clearlake Clickers will perform on Main Street in front of the bank for your entertainment. You can kick up your heels to the country music of Lou Derr and Bootleg from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

If all this fun gets you hankering for something to eat mosey on over to the tri-tip barbecue sponsored by the Upper Lake Community Council and staffed by the Diamond Shade Ranch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Join the stampede to Upper Lake on June 6 and start your summer off with a bang at Wild West Day.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– A highway widening project from Polk Jones Cattlepass to Rancheria Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate

20-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Ogden Road to Island Drive beginning Monday, June 8. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– A roadway realignment project from 1.4 miles east of the North Fork Cache Creek Bridge to 1.6 miles west of Walker Ridge Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

Highway 29

– Bridge deck repairs at Kelseyville Creek Bridge will begin Wednesday, June 10. Work hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – DeBruin Construction Inc. of Stockton.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Construction of a retaining wall about three miles north of Elk will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

– Comcast of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for an aerial crossing between Little River Airport Road and Van Dam State Park on Friday, June 5. Work hours are 7 a.m. to noon.

Intermittent full road closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Helen O’Neal of Fort Bragg has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to install a driveway near Simpson Lane beginning Monday, June 8. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. A shoulder closure will be in effect. Motorists are advised to drive with caution through the area and may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for pole replacement between Coast Highway Road and the junction of Route 1/20 on Wednesday, June 10. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– The city of Fort Bragg has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for sidewalk and sewer upgrades from Walnut Street to Pine Avenue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Southbound traffic will be restricted to one lane. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Replacement of Ten Mile River Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Beginning Monday, June 8, at 5 a.m. one-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Golden State Bridge of Martinez.

– Baile Oakes of Westport has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to pave a road approach 1.5 miles north of Blue Slide Gulch. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Storm damage repair about nine miles north of Hardy Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists

should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Maggiora and Ghilotti Inc. Inc. of San Rafael.

Highway 20

– Bridge deck repairs at the Redwood Valley Undercrossing will continue through Tuesday, June 9. Work hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – DeBruin Construction Inc. Of Stockton.

Highway 101

– Storm damage repair from 0.6 mile to .8 mile north of Comminsky Station Road will continue. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may

experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Mendocino Construction Services of Willits.

– Bridge deck repairs at the Hopland Overhead Bridge will occur Monday, June 8, through Wednesday, June 10. Work hours are 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – DeBruin Construction Inc. Of Stockton.

– A pavement repair project from the West Road Overcrossing to Moore Avenue will begin Monday, June 8. Southbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, from midnight Sunday to

midnight Thursday. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Professional Concrete Services of Pleasant Hill.

– Roadway repair due to pavement deterioration and a slipout from 1.1 miles north of Reeves Canyon Road to 0.5 mile south of Ridgewood Ranch Road will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane

in each direction of travel 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – North Bay Construction of Petaluma.

– The city of Willits has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs from Evergreen Shopping Center to Shell Road beginning Monday, June 8. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 162

– A bridge widening project at Outlet Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – Viking Construction Co. Inc. of Rancho Cordova.

Highway 175

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for pole replacement between Harrison Street and Wooldrige Ranch Road on Friday, June 5. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 253

– A bridge widening project at Anderson Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Viking Construction Co. Inc. of Rancho Cordova.

– A bridge widening project at Soda Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Viking Construction Co. Inc. of Rancho Cordova.

For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).

The group will meet at 7 p.m. Friday, June 12, at Station 90, 9420 Main St. in Upper Lake.

Training will follow the meeting.

The meeting time and date was changed due to graduations.

For more information contact team leader Capt John Rodriguez at 707-275-2446.