LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The county of Lake has announced that the deadline for submitting a right of entry, or ROE, for the removal of hazard trees damaged by the Valley fire which may affect the county right-of-way has been set for Friday, June 17.

Property owners in the burn area must complete an ROE by this date in order to have trees that burned in the Valley fire that have the potential to create public safety hazards, removed at no cost to the owner.

Completing a ROE allows county contractors access to private property. An examination of the trees in question will be performed by a certified arborist.

If it is determined that the trees will not survive the damages sustained in the Valley fire and may become a hazard, they will be removed along with all the debris caused by the removal.

This will be Lake County residents' final opportunity to complete an ROE, officials said.

If property owners decline to participate in the county-sponsored removal program, they will become liable for the county’s cost of removal if the tree should fall within the county right-of-way, as well as liable for any damage the fallen tree(s) may cause.

The ROE can be found at www.LakeCountyRecovers.com .

The completed form may be hand-delivered to 9960 Highway 53, Lower Lake, CA 95457; submitted electronically to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; or mailed to the Lake County Public Works Department at 255 N. Forbes Street, Lakeport, CA 95453-4790.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact the county’s field consultant, Tetra Tech, at 707-530-5174, or contact Lake County Public Works at 707-263-2341.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County's unemployment in April was down, mirroring the drop in the overall California jobless rate.

The California Employment Development Department's latest report on unemployment showed that Lake County's April unemployment rate was 6.7 percent, down from a revised 7.3 percent in March and below the year-ago estimate of 7.5 percent. 

It's the third month in a row that Lake County's unemployment has gone down, following the trend of an improving job picture in the spring that historical data shows has taken place over the past several years.

Statewide, California registered an April unemployment rate of 5.3, down from 5.4 percent in March and 6.5 percent in April 2015, the agency reported.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that for the same period the nationwide unemployment rate was 5.0, unchanged from March but down from April 2015's 5.4 percent.

The Employment Development Department said nonfarm jobs in California totaled 16,381,500 in April, an increase of 59,600 jobs over the month, according to a survey of 58,000 California businesses that measures jobs in the economy. From April 2015 to April 2016, there has been an increase of 450,200 jobs, or an increase of 2.8 percent.

A federal survey of 5,500 households showed an increase in the number of employed people, estimating that the number of Californians holding jobs in April was 18,071,000, an increase of
33,000 from March, and up 355,000 from the employment total in April of last year.

In April, Lake County's civilian workforce numbered 29,010 individuals with 1,930 unemployed, compared to 29,140 individuals and 2,120 unemployed in March. For comparison, the April 2015 workforce had 29,270 individuals, of which 2,180 were unemployed.

Lake County's farm industry showed a 2.3-percent job growth over the month, with nonfarm industries growing by a combined 0.9 percent, according to the report.

Under nonfarm, categories showing growth included goods producing, 2.7 percent; private, 1 percent; private service providing, 0.9 percent; and service providing, 0.7 percent.

The subcategory under nonfarm showing the largest growth was mining, logging or construction, which grew by 4.5 percent over the month, likely in response to Valley fire rebuilding and recovery efforts.

No categories in April showed drops in growth, but several – including information, financial activities and professional and business services – stayed flat.

Lake County's unemployment rate ranked it No. 32 out of California's 58 counties in April.

Having the lowest unemployment statewide was San Mateo County, with 2.9 percent, while Imperial had the highest, with 20.1 percent.

The Employment Development Department reported that there were 398,005 people in California receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the April survey week, compared with 420,502 in March and 415,987 in April 2015.

New claims for Unemployment Insurance totaled 46,821 in April, compared with 44,305 in March and 47,462 in April of last year, the report said.

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.

Signature tree species in the high Sierra Nevada forests – including mountain hemlock, red fir and western white pine – are shifting toward higher, cooler elevations according to new research by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

This study foreshadows how climate warming may significantly alter entire habitats for multiple species.

The CDFW researchers found that large areas of Plumas and Sierra counties no longer have much mountain hemlock, as much of the northern Sierra Nevada lacks the higher mountains the trees now need to persist.

These conifer species that are shifting to higher elevations provide food for insects, birds and mammals, and help to build forest soil.

The report was published this week in the California Fish and Game 2016 Winter Issue.

In addition to research on high-elevation tree species in the northern Sierra Nevada, CDFW-funded researchers also recently concluded that 16 of 29 different types of natural vegetation communities in California are highly or near highly vulnerable to climate change by the end of the century.

These include Pacific Coast saltmarsh, high montane conifer forest and Western North American freshwater marsh.

The climate vulnerability study was completed by researchers at UC Davis with funding from CDFW.

Called "A Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment of California's Terrestrial Vegetation," the report can be found at https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=116208&inline .

It was prepared in association with the CDFW's State Wildlife Action Plan 2015 Update, and the research will help the department understand why certain ecosystems are more vulnerable to climate change and where species may be able to persist during unfavorable environmental conditions.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – For the second year in a row, the Lake Area Rotary Club Association, or LARCA, has donated the necessary funds to support the expanded after school program at Minnie Cannon Elementary School in Middletown for the 2016-17 school year.

After the 2015 fires that ravaged Cobb and Middletown, many students were stranded after school waiting for their working parents to pick them up. 

Although there was an after school program in place it was limited to 29 students.

The students who were on the waiting list to participate in the program wandered the school grounds even as darkness approached, at times pressing their faces to the windows to watch the students enrolled in the after school program enjoying activities and eating a hot meal.

The site supervisor appealed to the State Department of Education for additional funding to bring these children inside, but the appeal was rejected.

Upon learning of the plight of these students, all of whom had been displaced by the fires, Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg determined to find the funding, and find it fast.

Falkenberg approached LARCA, knowing that they administered a Fire Relief Fund, and the association unanimously agreed to fund the expansion of the after school program to provide for the 31 students on the waiting list.

This year, LARCA has agreed to continue funding the cost of additional students in the program, as the importance of this program in the lives of the students and their parents has remained constant.

The program, known as the After School Education and Safety Program (ASES), provides students with a safe and supportive place to spend time after school from the end of the school day until 6 p.m. every day that school is in session.

During that three and a half to four hours, the students receive assistance with homework, engage in supplemental learning activities, enjoy play time and a hot and healthy meal.

With the generous donation from LARCA, the Lake County Office of Education is able to provide a supportive and safe place for 60 students to go after school in the 2016-17 school year.

For more information about the ASES after school program contact Cindy Adams at 707-263-4563, Extension 210.

For more information about the LARCA Fire Relief Fund visit www.larca5130.org .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Four dogs are waiting for new homes at Clearlake Animal Control.

This week's dogs include mixes of bluetick coonhound, Labrador Retriever, pit bull and terrier.

To meet the animals, contact Marcia Taylor, the animal control outreach technician, at 707-994-8201, Extension 103, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, or contact Animal Control Officer Jenna Tuller at Extension 115 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. those same days.

Also follow Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook for the latest updates.

Below are this week's available dogs.

'Felix' and 'Oscar'

“Felix” and his dad “Oscar” came into the shelter because their owner has health issues and can no longer care for them.

They appear to be terrier mixes.

Shelter staff said they are happy little dogs who are grateful to be around people again.

There will be a reduced fee if they are rehomed together.

'Eve'

“Eve” is a 6-month-old female yellow Labrador Retriever and pit bull mix who is looking for someone to give her lots of love.

Eve has had a rough start. Shelter staff found Eve after she had been attacked by another dog. However, she is healed and ready for her new home.

Eve is a happy girl who likes people and other dogs, and will go for a walk with you all day long.

'Wilbur'

“Wilbur” is a 2-year-old bluetick coonhound and Labrador Retriever mix.

He's a big bundle of love that needs his own family, according to shelter staff.

Wilbur loves to go for walks, is good with other dogs and is very mellow.

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.