With extreme weather putting increasing stress on California’s roads, bridges and flood control system, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Friday announced a series of immediate and longer-term actions to bolster dam safety, improve flood protection and fix the state’s aging transportation and water infrastructure.

“Recent storms have pounded the state of California resulting in a dam spillway eroding, roads crumbling and levees failing,” said Gov. Brown. “Our aging infrastructure is maxed-out. We can take some immediate actions – and we will – but going forward we’ll need billions more in investment.”

Water

Earlier this week – with a break in the weather and the situation in Oroville stabilizing – the governor visited the incident command post and surveyed the regional flood control system, including areas recently impacted by flooding.

This followed the state of emergency the governor declared and the presidential emergency declaration the governor secured to bolster the state’s response.  

On the heels of these actions, the governor on Friday announced a four-point plan to bolster dam safety and flood protection:

– Invest $437 million in near-term flood control and emergency response actions by redirecting $50 million from the General Fund and requesting a $387 million Proposition 1 appropriation from the Legislature as soon as possible.
– Require emergency action plans and flood inundation maps for all dams.
– Enhance California’s existing dam inspection program.
– Seek prompt regulatory action and increased funding from the federal government to improve dam safety.

Even with Friday’s action, California has nearly $50 billion in unmet flood management infrastructure needs.

To address these needs, the administration will continue to work with the Legislature through the budget process on solutions, including potential changes to Proposition 218, which continues to prevent local government from fixing core infrastructure.

Transportation

Recent storms have not just damaged the state’s flood control system; they have also hammered the state’s roads and bridges.

During the storm season alone, Gov. Brown’s emergency declarations have enabled the California Department of Transportation to begin more than $595 million in repairs to the state’s roads and bridges damaged by erosion, mud and rock slides, sinkholes and flooding.

Beyond the current storm season, California faces a broad array of transportation infrastructure challenges: $59 billion in deferred maintenance on highways and $78 billion on local streets and roads.

To fix these roads and bridges, Gov. Brown and legislative leaders are currently working to meet the goal they set to complete a transportation funding package by April 6.

Following up on his commitment to work with Washington, D.C. to invest in California’s infrastructure, Gov. Brown sent a letter to the president on Friday seeking expedited environmental review under Presidential Executive Order 13766.

This request covers 10 projects: nine high-priority transportation projects and reconstruction of the Oroville Dam spillways.

Friday’s request to the president includes projects on the initial list of 51 priority infrastructure projects, which California submitted to the federal government earlier this month. The Brown Administration is reviewing additional projects to submit for expedited review.

For additional information on the Governor’s four-point plan to bolster dam safety and flood protection, click here. For more on California’s ongoing flood management, click here.

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has revealed the first known system of seven Earth-size planets around a single star. Three of these planets are firmly located in the habitable zone, the area around the parent star where a rocky planet is most likely to have liquid water.

The discovery sets a new record for greatest number of habitable-zone planets found around a single star outside our solar system.

All of these seven planets could have liquid water – key to life as we know it – under the right atmospheric conditions, but the chances are highest with the three in the habitable zone.

“This discovery could be a significant piece in the puzzle of finding habitable environments, places that are conducive to life,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. “Answering the question ‘are we alone’ is a top science priority and finding so many planets like these for the first time in the habitable zone is a remarkable step forward toward that goal.”

At about 40 light-years (235 trillion miles) from Earth, the system of planets is relatively close to us, in the constellation Aquarius. Because they are located outside of our solar system, these planets are scientifically known as exoplanets.

This exoplanet system is called TRAPPIST-1, named for The Transiting Planets and Planetesimals Small Telescope (TRAPPIST) in Chile.

In May 2016, researchers using TRAPPIST announced they had discovered three planets in the system. Assisted by several ground-based telescopes, including the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, Spitzer confirmed the existence of two of these planets and discovered five additional ones, increasing the number of known planets in the system to seven.

The new results were published Wednesday in the journal Nature, and announced at a news briefing at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

Using Spitzer data, the team precisely measured the sizes of the seven planets and developed first estimates of the masses of six of them, allowing their density to be estimated.

Based on their densities, all of the TRAPPIST-1 planets are likely to be rocky. Further observations will not only help determine whether they are rich in water, but also possibly reveal whether any could have liquid water on their surfaces.

The mass of the seventh and farthest exoplanet has not yet been estimated – scientists believe it could be an icy, "snowball-like" world, but further observations are needed.

"The seven wonders of TRAPPIST-1 are the first Earth-size planets that have been found orbiting this kind of star," said Michael Gillon, lead author of the paper and the principal investigator of the TRAPPIST exoplanet survey at the University of Liege, Belgium. "It is also the best target yet for studying the atmospheres of potentially habitable, Earth-size worlds."

In contrast to our sun, the TRAPPIST-1 star – classified as an ultra-cool dwarf – is so cool that liquid water could survive on planets orbiting very close to it, closer than is possible on planets in our solar system.

All seven of the TRAPPIST-1 planetary orbits are closer to their host star than Mercury is to our sun. The planets also are very close to each other.

If a person was standing on one of the planet’s surface, they could gaze up and potentially see geological features or clouds of neighboring worlds, which would sometimes appear larger than the moon in Earth's sky.

The planets may also be tidally locked to their star, which means the same side of the planet is always facing the star, therefore each side is either perpetual day or night. This could mean they have weather patterns totally unlike those on Earth, such as strong winds blowing from the day side to the night side, and extreme temperature changes.

Spitzer, an infrared telescope that trails Earth as it orbits the sun, was well-suited for studying TRAPPIST-1 because the star glows brightest in infrared light, whose wavelengths are longer than the eye can see.

In the fall of 2016, Spitzer observed TRAPPIST-1 nearly continuously for 500 hours. Spitzer is uniquely positioned in its orbit to observe enough crossing – transits – of the planets in front of the host star to reveal the complex architecture of the system.

Engineers optimized Spitzer’s ability to observe transiting planets during Spitzer’s “warm mission,” which began after the spacecraft’s coolant ran out as planned after the first five years of operations.

"This is the most exciting result I have seen in the 14 years of Spitzer operations," said Sean Carey, manager of NASA's Spitzer Science Center at Caltech/IPAC in Pasadena, California. "Spitzer will follow up in the fall to further refine our understanding of these planets so that the James Webb Space Telescope can follow up. More observations of the system are sure to reveal more secrets.”

Following up on the Spitzer discovery, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has initiated the screening of four of the planets, including the three inside the habitable zone. These observations aim at assessing the presence of puffy, hydrogen-dominated atmospheres, typical for gaseous worlds like Neptune, around these planets.

In May 2016, the Hubble team observed the two innermost planets, and found no evidence for such puffy atmospheres. This strengthened the case that the planets closest to the star are rocky in nature.

"The TRAPPIST-1 system provides one of the best opportunities in the next decade to study the atmospheres around Earth-size planets," said Nikole Lewis, co-leader of the Hubble study and astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland.

NASA's planet-hunting Kepler space telescope also is studying the TRAPPIST-1 system, making measurements of the star's minuscule changes in brightness due to transiting planets.

Operating as the K2 mission, the spacecraft's observations will allow astronomers to refine the properties of the known planets, as well as search for additional planets in the system. The K2 observations conclude in early March and will be made available on the public archive.

Spitzer, Hubble, and Kepler will help astronomers plan for follow-up studies using NASA's upcoming James Webb Space Telescope, launching in 2018.

With much greater sensitivity, Webb will be able to detect the chemical fingerprints of water, methane, oxygen, ozone, and other components of a planet's atmosphere. Webb also will analyze planets' temperatures and surface pressures – key factors in assessing their habitability.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, manages the Spitzer Space Telescope mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. Science operations are conducted at the Spitzer Science Center, at Caltech, in Pasadena, California. Spacecraft operations are based at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Littleton, Colorado. Data are archived at the Infrared Science Archive housed at Caltech/IPAC. Caltech manages JPL for NASA.

For more information about Spitzer, visit https://www.nasa.gov/spitzer .

For more information on the TRAPPIST-1 system, visit https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/trappist1 .

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Many roads around Lake County remain closed as Clear Lake’s flood waters begin to recede.

One of the main local roads to be impacted by the flooding, the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff, remained closed on Thursday, with no estimate yet form the Lake County Public Works Department regarding when it may reopen.

Road crews on Thursday removed two large trees that had been hung up on the bridge over the slough, as there was no room under the bridge for the trees to pass under.

The department reported that the crews had to pull the trees up and out of the water with heavy equipment.

In Lakeport, where many city streets also remain closed due to flood, the Lakeport Police Department issued a reminder on Thursday asking motorists not to drive on closed roadways or through streets with standing water.

Wakes created by passing vehicles are causing damage to properties in flooded areas, police said.

The full list of road closures and advisories for areas around the county follows. Information was compiled from reports from Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol, the Clearlake Police Department, Lake County Department of Public Works, Lakeport Police Department and the Napa County Sheriff’s Office.

In the map below, areas marked with the flooding symbol and the red triangle indicate closures; the rockslide icon indicates those areas where there are slides but which remain open.

CLEARLAKE

All city boat launches remain closed.

Lakeshore Drive between Lower Lakeshore Drive and Kings Lane is closed to traffic due to sewage spill and heavy equipment in the area. Use alternative routes.

Lakeshore Drive between Howard Avenue and Alvita Avenue has water partially blocking lanes. There is no traffic control in this area at this time. Use extreme caution and reduce speed.

CLEARLAKE OAKS

High Valley Road: Road conditions from Brassfield Winery to Bartlett Springs Road are unknown at this time.

Island Drive: Closed from Highway 20 to the bridge due to flooding.

Keys Boulevard: Closed due to flooding.

Lake Street: Closed due to flooding.

Old Long Valley Road: Open with slide activity.

Widgeon Way: Closed from the Plaza to Shady Lane due to tree across the roadway.

COBB

Maple Shadows: Closed at the south end from Highway 175 to Parnassus due to culvert failure.

Socrates Mine Road: Road slip out at MPM 3.8. Down to one lane in this area.

KELSEYVILLE

Bell Hill Road: Closed at Adobe Creek low water crossing.

Park Drive: Closed to through traffic due to flooding.

LAKEPORT (CITY)

All city boat launches remain closed.

Library Park continues to be closed due to the extreme danger and flood conditions.

City parking lots at Third Street, Fourth Street and Fifth Street are closed.

– Esplanade Street.
– K Street.
– Konocti Avenue.
– Lupoyoma Avenue.
– Helena Avenue.
– Lily Cove Avenue.
– Oak Knoll Avenue.
– E Street.
– Martin Street from N. Forbes Street to Russell Street.

Giselman Street from Lakeshore Boulevard to Sayre Street: Closed due to flooding. A detour has been set up: Northbound traffic will use Green Street to Sayer Street to Giselman Street, southbound traffic will use Giselman Street to Sayer Street to Green Street. Please drive with caution on these streets as there will be school children using them.

Lakeshore Boulevard: Closed to all traffic from Giselman to the north city limit boundary at Beach Lane. Lakeshore Boulevard across from Jones Street appears to be undermined and may be structurally unsafe. Avoid the area.

Royale Avenue: Closed to all vehicles at Pike Drive.

LAKEPORT

Hill Road: Closed between Sutter Lakeside Hospital entrance and Lakeshore Boulevard due to mudslides across the roadway.

Lakeshore Boulevard: Closed from Park Way to Alterra Drive due to flooding.

Lakeshore Boulevard: Closed from Park Way to 2,500 feet north due to flooding and a power pole leaning into the roadway.

Reeves Lane: Closed at Land’s End due to flooding.

LOWER LAKE

Morgan Valley Road: Closed at the Lake/Napa line due to numerous trees and mud slides on the Napa County side.

NICE

Lakeshore Boulevard: Closed from Stokes Avenue to Carson Street due to flooding.

Nice-Lucerne Cutoff: Closed due to flooding.

Stokes Avenue: Closed from Stokes Court to Nice-Lucerne Cutoff due to flooding.

UPPER LAKE

Bartlett Springs Road: Closed at MPM 18.0 due to mudslide.

Elk Mountain Road: Roadway closed at MPM 29.6 due to road washout. No estimate of when road will be reopened.

Laurel Dell Road: Currently open with closure pending due to flooding.

COLUSA COUNTY

Highway 20: One-way controlled traffic from 5.5 miles east of the junction of Highway 16 to “E” Street in Williams due to flooding.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Sen. Mike McGuire is helping to lead the way on a new Senate Environmental Protection Legislative Package introduced to shield California from potential harmful changes in federal law.

California is home to 45 million acres of federal Wildlands which feature millions of acres of forest, scenic rivers and watersheds –  which is the drinking source for millions of residents – open spaces and the rugged California coast.

“The threat from the Trump Administration to our federal public lands is real and the consequences are great if the state doesn’t advance proactive policies to protect the Golden State’s treasured natural resources,” Sen. Mike McGuire said. “Our federal Wildlands and National Parks are America’s gathering grounds, our nation’s backyard. These bills will help protect the 45 million acres of federal lands that exist in California from devastating strip mines along with invasive oil and gas drilling.”

Sen. McGuire represents seven counties in Northern California, including Lake, with 3.3 million acres of federal lands exist in the North Coast district.

The North Coast has, in fact, more federal lands than any other area in California, McGuire said.

These public lands protect sensitives species, are valuable for carbon sequestration, are a source of drinking water and are one of the largest economic drivers for rural communities thanks to the tourism they draw.

“California has the most to lose under the dangerous policies of President Trump,” McGuire said.

McGuire also pointed out that 45.8 million acres – or 45 percent – of California is federal land.

Additional details related to the legislative package can be found below. In the press conference video above, McGuire speaks at the 11:30 mark.

PROPOSAL DETAILS

SB 49: The California Environmental Defense Act

· Makes current federal clean air, climate, clean water, worker safety, and endangered species standards enforceable under state law, even if the federal government rolls back and weakens those standards. 

· Directs state environmental, public health, and worker safety agencies to take all actions within their authorities to ensure standards in effect and being enforced today continue to remain in effect.

· Federal laws in these areas set “baselines,” but allow states to adopt more stringent standards. This bill simply ensures CA does not backslide as a result of rollbacks and damage done by the new regime in Washington DC.

· In 2003, when the Bush Administration attempted to enact similar rollbacks of federal clean air standards, the Legislature passed SB 288 (Chapter 476 statutes of 2003), the Protect CA Air Act. This measure builds on that platform.

SB 50: The Public Lands Protection Act

· This measure establishes a new state policy to discourage conveyances of federal lands to private developers for resource extraction and directs the state Lands Commission, which oversees much of the federal lands in the state, to establish a right of first refusal by the state of any federal lands proposed for sale or conveyance to other parties.

· In doing so, this measure would ensure (a) that the state reviews any transactions involving federal lands here in CA to ensure those lands are protected, and (b) where feasible, important lands are protected via state action.

SB 51: The Whistleblower and Public Data Protection Act

· Attorneys, engineers, scientists and other professionals working for federal agencies are often licensed to practice in California. US EPA attorneys and scientists who report cover ups, destruction of information, or other wrongdoing may have federal whistleblower protection but could still lose their professional certifications under California law.

· This measure would ensure federal employees do not lose state licensure for revealing violations of law, unethical actions or dangers to public health and safety. It also would direct state environmental and public health agencies to protect any information or data under state law, even if parties in Washington DC order their censorship or destruction.

· In 2003, the Legislature passed a similar law to provide state whistleblower protections (see AB 2713 of 2002).  That bill was vetoed by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – On Saturday, Feb. 25, the docents and volunteers of the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum welcome Richard Schmidt, award-winning artist and author, to the latest “Living History Day.”

The event takes place from noon to 2 p.m. at the stage stop, located at 9921 State Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road) in Kelseyville, near the Clear Lake Riviera, just north of Highway 29 at Kit's Corner.

Admission is free and refreshments are furnished by the Ely volunteers. As always, donations are gratefully accepted.

Schmidt, a longtime resident of Lake County, will share some readings and stories of local interest.

On the fourth Saturday of each month local historians come to the Ely Stage Stop to visit with guests and answer questions regarding different aspects of Lake County history.

The visits are video recorded, preserving the stories of Lake County's history for future generations.

Visit www.elystagestop.org or www.lakecountyhistory.org , check out the stage stop on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elystagestop or call the museum at 707-533-9990.