LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has another varied selection of dogs of many breeds and sizes available for adoption this week.

This week’s available dogs include mixes of American Eskimo Dog, American Staffordshire Terrier, Australian Kelpie, beagle, border collie, boxer, Chihuahua, collie, German Shepherd, German Shorthaired Pointer, Labrador Retriever, mastiff, pit bull, shepherd and wirehair terrier.

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.

The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).

Chihuahua mix

This young female Chihuahua mix has a short tricolor coat.

She’s in kennel No. 2, ID No. 7243.

Chihuahua mix

This male Chihuahua mix mix has a short black and tan coat.

Shelter staff said he gets along fine with other dogs, is not food aggressive and when introduced to a cat, he allowed the cat to rub all over him.

He’s in kennel No. 3, ID No. 7229.

Wirehaired terrier mix puppy

This male wirehaired terrier mix puppy has a medium-length black coat.

He’s in kennel No. 4, ID No. 7244.

‘Luke’

“Luke” is a male German Shorthaired Pointer mix with a short black and white coat.

Shelter staff said he is a big, young, happy, bouncy boy would will be a lot of fun for an active family that is willing to include him in their activities. He would benefit from training classes for basic manners. He does well with other dogs that tolerate his level of play, but would do best in a home with no small dogs or cats due to his size and energy level.

He’s in kennel No. 5, ID No. 7057.

‘Oreo’

“Oreo” is a female Chihuahua mix with a short black and white coat.

She’s in kennel No. 6, ID No. 7262.

‘Midnight’

“Midnight” is a young male Labrador Retriever mix with a short black coat with tan markings.

He’s in kennel No. 7, ID No. 7239.

Australian Kelpie-fox terrier

This female Australian Kelpie-fox terrier has a medium-length black and white coat.

She’s not food aggressive, and when introduced to a spayed female dog she was shy at first but warmed up quickly and eventually wanted to play. She would be OK with children ages 9 and up. She was introduced to cats and had interest in them but was easily called off.

She’s in kennel No. 8, ID No. 7213.

‘Roxanne’

“Roxanne” is a female pit bull terrier mix with a short white coat.

She’s in kennel No. 9, ID No. 7200.

‘Rosco’

“Rosco” is a male pit bull terrier mix with a short tan and white coat.

He already has been neutered.

He’s in kennel No. 10, ID No. 6752.

American Staffordshire Terrier-mastiff

This male American Staffordshire Terrier-mastiff has a short black and brown coat.

He’s in kennel No. 11, ID No. 7225.

Border collie

This female border collie has a medium-length black and white coat and has been spayed.

Shelter staff said she has a high energy level. When introduced to another dog and a cat, she play bowed and was friendly. They suggest she would do well in a high energy home with older children because of her size. She also knows how to sit on command.

She already has been spayed.

She’s in kennel No. 14, ID No. 7227.

‘Lucy’

“Lucy” is a beagle with a short red and white coat.

She already has been spayed.

She’s in kennel No. 18, ID No. 4743.

‘Lexi’

“Lexi” is a female American Eskimo Dog.

She has a long, white and fluffy coat.

She’s in kennel No. 20, ID No. 7247.

German Shepherd

This female German Shepherd has a medium-length brown and black coat.

She’s in kennel No. 24, ID No. 7253.

German Shepherd

This male German Shepherd has a medium-length white coat.

He’s in kennel No. 25, ID No. 7254.

Collie-shepherd mix

This female collie-shepherd mix has a short brown, tan and white coat.

She’s in kennel No. 26, ID No. 7260.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

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.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Following a winter that brought heavy rain and snowstorms, on Friday Gov. Jerry Brown ended the drought state of emergency throughout most of California, at the same time as a long-term state plan to deal with future water shortages was released.

“This drought emergency is over, but the next drought could be around the corner,” Gov. Brown said. “Conservation must remain a way of life.”

Brown on Friday issued Executive Order B-40-17, which lifts the drought emergency in all California counties except Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Tuolumne, where emergency drinking water projects will continue to help address diminished groundwater supplies.

That new order also rescinds two emergency proclamations from January and April 2014 and four drought-related executive orders issued in 2014 and 2015, the Governor’s Office reported.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, most of California – with the exception of all or part of 11 Southern California counties – is no longer in drought conditions.

A year ago, almost all of California – with the exception of Del Norte County and most of Humboldt – was in drought. At that time, the drought monitor listed most of Lake County as “abnormally dry” and a portion on the eastern side of the county as being in “severe drought.”

At the start of January, the U.S. Drought Monitor listed Lake County as still being “abnormally” dry, but by the time of its next assessment at the end of March, the county was no longer listed as being in any level of drought.

That change in status has followed a winter of heavy rain and flooding across the county, with Clear Lake being above its “full” level of 7.56 feet on the Rumsey gauge.

State officials reported that California’s climate is the most variable in the nation, naturally swinging between flood and drought, with climate change adding to that variability.

California’s recent historic drought included the driest four-year period statewide precipitation on record (2012-2015), the warmest three years and the smallest Sierra snowpack in state history, at just 5 percent of average. At the same time, this winter’s storms created one of the highest precipitation totals in the last 150 years, the state reported.

Keeping that variability in mind, during the drought emergency, the Department of Water Resources, the State Water Resources Control Board, the Public Utilities Commission, Department of Food and Agriculture and the Energy Commission prepared a long-term plan for dealing with future plans.

The plan is titled “Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life, Implementing Executive Order B-37-16.”

It aims to make conservation a California way of life and follows the key objectives of the governor’s executive order: using water more wisely, eliminating water waste, strengthening local drought resilience, and improving agricultural water use efficiency and drought planning.

“This framework is about converting Californians’ response to the drought into an abiding ethic,” said California Department of Water Resources Acting Director Bill Croyle. “Technically, the drought is over, but this framework extends and expands our dry-year habits. Careful, sparing use of water from backyards to businesses and farm fields will help us endure the next inevitable drought.”

The plan requires urban water suppliers to meet new water use targets; bans wasteful practices, such as hosing sidewalks and watering lawns after rain; requires more agricultural water suppliers to submit plans that quantify measures to increase water use efficiency and develop adequate drought plans; requires monthly reporting by urban water suppliers on water usage, conservation achieved and enforcement efforts; and improved drought planning for small water suppliers and rural communities, among other requirements.

The plan involved extensive stakeholder outreach and engagement, with more than 20 public meetings held around the state.

The state said the agencies will continue to solicit stakeholder and public input in order to implement the plan’s key actions, some of which will require new legislation and expanded state authority, while others can be implemented under existing authorities. 

The damage from the drought conditions that began in the winter of 2011-12 are expected to impact California for years to come, officials said.

Key impacts included the death of an estimated 100 million trees, diminished groundwater basins and disrupted drinking water supplies, the state reported.

In addition to the state’s efforts through the new drought plan, the Governor’s Office reported that state agencies will continue work to coordinate a statewide response on the unprecedented bark beetle outbreak in drought-stressed forests that has killed millions of trees.

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.

"Tread lightly as you explore Boggs Lake Preserve. This is the fragile home of plants and animals that are rarely seen anywhere else. With your help this beautiful and important preserve will continue to provide the needed protection  for their survival." – From the interpretive sign at Boggs Lake

COBB, Calif. – Lake County contains a myriad of sequestered spots that gleam like gold for the beauty they contain.

Boggs Lake Ecological Preserve is one of those special places.

Located off Highway 175 to Bottle Rock Road, then 4.7 miles to Harrington Flat Road, it contains a small parking area with educational interpretive signs  and a self-guided tour around the lake. 

According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Web page, "Boggs Lake Ecological Reserve is a 46 acre property co-owned and managed with The Nature Conservancy. It was designated as an ecological reserve by the Fish and Game Commission in 1998. Boggs Lake is an unusual example of an upland vernal pool that occurs on volcanic substrate. This Volcanic Ash Flow Vernal Pool is known from only a few localities in Lake County. The lake is not fed by streams or springs, but rather acts as a catch basin for rainfall during the wet season, then gradually dries through the summer. This natural community supports unusual plant species adapted to this unique environment. The lake also provides habitat for a variety of waterfowl and marsh birds."

This extraordinary lake was saved from a housing tract by many concerned Lake County citizens and groups.

Another threat was logging nearby, that brought a concern for the safety of this fragile area to members of the California Native Plant Society, local residents and botanists from the University of California.

With combined efforts this area has been mapped and studied. It wasn't long before The Nature Conservancy and the Lake County Land Trust partnered to manage this preserve and educate the public about the biological significance and diversity of Boggs Lake.

Sonoma State University has studied the Western pond turtles here, trying to determine the correlation between the turtle's temperature regulation and the animal's specific needs for survival, since the reptiles are listed as a species of concern by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The area around the lake contains downed trees which have been ravaged by drought and insects. The trees now attract fungi, termites and scorpions, as well as salamanders and newts.

The ponderosa pine, madrone, various oaks, manzanita, ferns, poison oak and Douglas-fir that dwell there now create a unique understory for wild mustard, rose, shooting star flowers and more, to grow and thrive.

Wildlife abound in this environment, and include coyote, deer, chipmunk, skunk, bobcat and more. The vernal pool provides a rest stop for migrating birds. Over 139 species have been spotted here, including pileated woodpecker, purple martin, red-winged blackbird, mallard, California quail and more.

The exceptional characteristics of the vernal pool include endangered plants like the hedge-hyssop that was found to grow here, back in 1923. 

Vernal pools once proliferated all across California, before our state became intensely populated. Vernal pools are considered as a special type of wetland, and it is in vernal pools where special, ecologically significant flora and fauna can be found.

Vernal pools are located in the climate we have here in Lake County, which is considered a Mediterranean climate.

The pools form due to a rigid underground layer which keeps the seasonal rains from draining. When the water fills the depressions, then, gradually evaporates, unusual plants thrive only here.

In some vernal pools the unique ecosystems create homes for plants, animals and waterfowl that can't thrive elsewhere.

"The Lake County Land Trust protects land and water resources of important value on behalf of present and future generations. We work to sustain our county's cultural, historical, scenic and environmental integrity,” according to the interpretive sign at Boggs Lake.

For more information on the unique gems that are vernal pools, log onto the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Web site at https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Plants/Vernal-Pools .

Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is a retired educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also writes for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – The American Red Cross of the California Northwest will be honoring 15 inspirational community members for their selfless acts of courage at its 14th annual Real Heroes Breakfast on Thursday, April 27, at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel in Santa Rosa.

After careful consideration, a committee of local community leaders selected the 2017 California Northwest Red Cross Hero Award recipients based on the degree to which their acts of heroism uphold the values of the American Red Cross and leave a lasting and positive impact on the residents of the Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma counties.

The following is a list of the heroes who will be honored at this year’s breakfast, and detailed descriptions of each honoree are featured below.

· Act of Courage Hero: Jose Martin of St. Helena.
· Animal Hero: Shirley Zindler of Sebastopol.
· Education Hero: Lee Morgan Brown of Sonoma.
· Environment Hero: Alden Olmsted of Santa Rosa.
· Humanitarian Adult Hero: Jeff Gilman of Santa Rosa.
· Humanitarian Youth Heroes: Brice Marcuz of Kneeland, Jack Marcuz of Kneeland, and Gunter Kison of Eureka.
· Law Enforcement Heroes: Jason Bahlman of Rohnert Park, Matthew Barawed of Vacaville, Dan Russo of Rohnert Park and Dan Mitchell of Middletown.
· Medical Hero: Erin Morales of Santa Rosa.
· Military Hero: Akash Kalia of Santa Rosa.
· Rescue Professional Hero: Aaron Pendergraft of Bodega.

The Real Heroes Breakfast is a signature event in support of the lifesaving programs and emergency services the local chapter provides to the nearly one million residents in Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma counties.

Table sponsorships and individual tickets are still available for the event. Registration will open at 7 a.m., and the program will run from 7:30 until 9 a.m.

To purchase tickets and for more information about the event, visit www.redcross.org/calnwheroes2017 . 

The full list of honorees is below.


2017 CALIFORNIA NORTHWEST RED CROSS HONOREES

Act of Courage Hero: Jose Martin

Jose Martin, a 27-year veteran volunteer of the St. Helena Fire Department and professional firefighter in American Canyon for the last 13 years, demonstrated extraordinary courage when he put his life in danger to help three victims of a fatal car crash off Interstate 10 last November.

Against instruction to stay away from the vehicle due to a fire in the engine, Martin valiantly removed David Collins and Betty Burns from the burning vehicle.

With the help of his family, the fire was put out, and Martin began to tend to the injured passengers. Delaine and David Collins both suffered critical injuries, and unfortunately, 94-year-old Betty Burns was later pronounced dead by paramedics.

Despite the loss of his aunt, David Collins wrote a letter to Mayor Alan Galbraith praising Martin’s heroism for helping them that day.

Animal Hero: Shirley Zindler

Shirley Zindler has always been an animal lover. Following her passion for animal care, she has been an Animal Control Officer with Sonoma County Animal Shelter for fifteen years.

Responding to encouragement from her family and friends, she founded Dogwood Animal Rescue a year ago. Shirley and her team of volunteers offer low and no cost spay and neuter services, provide medical and rehabilitation, and secure new homes for many pets.

Zindler is connected with various Animal Control locations throughout northern California and southern California to support their needs of rehoming the many pets that come through their doors when they are unable to accommodate them.

She compliments her work with various other volunteer commitments and activities to raise money for animal wellness.

Education Hero: Lee Morgan Brown

Lee Morgan Brown is executive director of Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance, which brings together adults with kids in the community who need an extra layer of social and emotional support.

SVMA began 20 years ago in one school in Sonoma and today, under Brown’s leadership, the program is now present on eight school campuses, as well as at the Hanna Boys School, and serves 450 students with 100 more on the waiting list.

Once students are matched with an adult, they typically meet once per week for at least an hour. Since the program’s start, 1,700 mentors and mentees have been matched.

Environment Hero: Alden Olmsted

Alden Olmsted has dedicated much of the last several years to raise funds to complete the Across California hiking trail.

The Across California Trail will be the second longest trail in California, stretching over 300 miles from Mendocino to Lake Tahoe. This trail is vital to environmental preservation because it will link many of the protected areas in California.

Olmsted has focused on creating a continuous trail with plenty of signage and public awareness to ensure the land is preserved for future generations.

Olmsted, also a photographer, spearheaded the installation of an interpretive panel at Jug Handle State Natural Reserve as well as The Pygmy Forest, which received Congressional recognition as a National Natural Landmark.

Humanitarian Adult Hero: Jeff Gilman

Jeff Gilman, executive director of Redwood Gospel Mission, is the silent strength behind one of Sonoma County’s biggest and most appreciated charity events, the Great Thanksgiving Banquet.

Beginning as a 14-bed shelter in 1963, Redwood Gospel Mission now mobilizes the community to minister to the needy through a variety of homeless services, recovery programs, vocational training, jail ministries, outreach events and thrift store.

Redwood Gospel Mission’s annual Great Thanksgiving Banquet served over 5,000 poor and homeless people this year.

Humanitarian Youth Heroes: Brice Marcuz, Jack Marcuz and Gunter Kison

Before dawn on Dec. 22, 16-year-old Brice Marcuz, his 13-year-old brother Jack and 17-year-old Gunter Kison launched their boat into Stone Lagoon, just south of Orick to go duck hunting.

Shortly after leaving shore, they came upon a capsized boat with three teenage boys on top of the overturned boat, which had hit a three-foot wave sideways and flipped. The boys rescued all three stranded teenagers, took them to safety and called 911 for rescue help.

If these three boys had not acted so heroically that morning, the three in the water might not have survived this admittedly frightening boating accident.

Law Enforcement Heroes: Jason Bahlman, Matthew Barawed, Dan Russo and Dan Mitchell

Marin CHP Officers Dan Russo and Dan Mitchell pulled onto the freeway in Terra Linda during a night of regular patrol when they immediately spotted a car weaving between lanes and tailgating.

Sonoma County Sgt. Jason Bahlman received the call for assistance and he and Officer Matthew Barawed moved into action.

After multiple attempts to stop the vehicle, the car finally came to a halt on Cotati Grade after the car’s tires were shredded by spike strips.

The vehicle ignited and burst into flames as Bahlman noticed there were two small children in the backseat.

The officers were able to successfully rescue all of the passengers following their instincts to help those in danger.

Medical Hero: Erin Morales

Erin Morales is manager at La Cantera Racquet and Swim Club in Santa Rosa.

In August of 2016, Richard Allen suffered a cardiac arrest while playing tennis. Because of her decision to purchase an automated external defibrillator for the club years before, Morales was able to use the machine to deliver a powerful electric jolt and restart Allen’s heart.

After administering the shock, the response was immediate. The man, who was silent and motionless one minute, was conscious and asking “Why am I on the ground?” the next minute.

Morales’ quick action had undoubtedly saved his life. She said, “I didn’t need to be helpless. I could take action.”

Military Hero: Akash Kalia

Kalia left college in Oregon where he was studying business, taking over his parents’ struggling motel in Santa Rosa.

While working at the motel, he saw a need in the community for low-cost housing. He encountered veterans, addicts, homeless convicts, and families that could not afford rent in the area.

Kalia converted all 104 rooms of what is now known as the Palms Inn into single occupancy housing for 60 veterans and other homeless people.

With help from local agencies and charities, the hotel complex includes not only living quarters, but a garden and library where residents can enjoy reading materials, poetry and music classes, and participate in support group sessions.

Kalia defers any honor from himself as he insists it is the veterans he houses who are the heroes.

Rescue Professional Hero: Aaron Pendergraft

Aaron Pendergraft is a seasonal lifeguard for California State Parks and volunteer firefighter/emergency medic for Bodega Fire.

Pendergraft was on patrol one November day near Goat Rock Beach when he saw an unpredictable wave crash and pull out three members of the Viola family.

From a distance, Pendergraft had seen the sea moving in and jumped in his vehicle, racing across the sand to where the family was now in trouble.

Pendergraft fought the strong waves to get to where he saw seven-year-old Angeleek who had vanished in the churning surf. After multiple attempts, Pendergraft was able to safely reach the girl and guided the girl’s mother, Amanda, toward him where the three were lifted out of the water by county sheriff’s helicopter crew.

Pendergraft was awarded the Medal of Valor from the United States Lifesaving Association for his heroic effort.

Lay people often agree to act as an agent or trustee on behalf of another family member – usually a parent – without knowing that they are agreeing to become a fiduciary and what that means. 

Becoming a fiduciary is entering into a legal relationship that entails trust, responsibility and accountability.

There are many different types of fiduciary positions, including agents, trustees, executors and conservators.

Married people also owe each other a fiduciary duty in their dealings with each other and the couple's community property estate.

The word “fiduciary” is a legal word. Broadly speaking a fiduciary means anyone who acts in a representative capacity, with legal authority, on behalf of another (such as another person and/or their estate).

A fiduciary broadly speaking has two very important legal duties: First, the duty of loyalty, that means to always act in the best interest of the principal; and second, the duty of care, that means to act competently under the circumstances.

Anyone who acts as an agent under a power of attorney is a fiduciary. That is true regardless of how formally or informally the power of attorney was created and regardless of how informed or uninformed the agent was as to his or her duties.

Even boilerplate preprinted power of attorney stationary form once duly executed is sufficient to make the agent a fiduciary, if and when they agree to act as agent.

That means the agent under the power of attorney must always act both competently under the circumstances and in the best interest of the principal.

They must avoid conflicts of interest, such as self dealing, except sometimes as expressly and properly waived in the power of attorney.

When an agent, or any fiduciary, breaches their duties they can later be held responsible in court.

Some people are surprised to learn that even a lay person when acting as an agent under another person's power of attorney can under current California law be held to account under the same standards of care as a paid professional fiduciary, even when acting on behalf of a close relative. 

That means an agent who uses his fiduciary authority to control the investments should obtain professional investment advice from a qualified financial advisor. The law otherwise favors protecting the principal and holding the agent accountable.

Accordingly, no one acting as a fiduciary should ever go it alone. To properly carry out their fiduciary duties, an agent and trustee often obtain professional guidance, when and as needed, from an attorney, financial advisor and tax preparer.

So long as the agent or trustee acts responsibly in hiring and following the advice of these competent advisors the agent or trustee has typically fulfilled his or her duty to act competently.   

Unfortunately many people become fiduciaries and do not seek needed legal and other professional guidance on a timely basis and/or they engage in self dealing and run afoul of their fiduciary duties.

A go-it-alone approach is easily done when the fiduciary relationship is not court supervised, such as with the power of attorney and the trust.

Unsupervised lay fiduciaries can proceed to act – in ignorance of their fiduciary duties – without an attorney.

It is only later-on, down the road, when the actions of the fiduciary are disputed by unhappy interested persons – oftentimes family members – that the lay fiduciary then seeks an attorney for guidance on what has already happened. Oftentimes that comes too late because much damage has already occurred.

It is wise, therefore, is to involve a qualified attorney at the very outset when the fiduciary relationship is being contemplated and not to proceed with do-it yourself preprinted legal forms.

A qualified attorney can properly advise the client and then draft the scope of the fiduciary's duties, the fiduciary's powers and any appropriate exceptions to the prohibition against conflicts of interest (self dealing).

Later, when the fiduciary's duties commence – which in an estate planning context is upon the sooner of the incapacity or death of the principal – the fiduciary should then promptly seek the guidance of a qualified attorney and other professionals as needed.

Dennis A. Fordham, Attorney, is a State Bar-Certified Specialist in estate planning, probate and trust law. His office is at 870 S. Main St., Lakeport, Calif. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and 707-263-3235. His Web site is www.DennisFordhamLaw.com .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Lake County’s higher elevations, with snow reported on Friday evening.

The agency said the warning is in effect through 6 p.m. Saturday.

Snow, particularly in areas over 4,000 feet, is expected, particularly in the mountain areas north of Upper Lake, according to the forecast.

Snowfall could total up to 6 inches above 4,000 feet and a foot over 6,000 feet, the forecast said.

The storm is expected to bring snow to other mountain areas of Northern California, from Donner Pass to Lassen Volcanic National Park, forecasters said.

Forecasters expect more rain as well as additional show in Lake County north of Upper Lake through Sunday night.

The cold temperatures on Friday night resulted in snowfall in and around Cobb and Loch Lomond as well as on Bottle Rock Road in Kelseyville, according to Lake County News readers.

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.

NASA's Cassini spacecraft, in orbit around Saturn since 2004, is about to begin the final chapter of its remarkable story.

On Wednesday, April 26, the spacecraft will make the first in a series of dives through the 1,500-mile-wide gap between Saturn and its rings as part of the mission’s grand finale.

"No spacecraft has ever gone through the unique region that we'll attempt to boldly cross 22 times," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "What we learn from Cassini’s daring final orbits will further our understanding of how giant planets, and planetary systems everywhere, form and evolve. This is truly discovery in action to the very end."

During its time at Saturn, Cassini has made numerous dramatic discoveries, including a global ocean that showed indications of hydrothermal activity within the icy moon Enceladus, and liquid methane seas on its moon Titan.

Now 20 years since launching from Earth, and after 13 years orbiting the ringed planet, Cassini is running low on fuel.

In 2010, NASA decided to end the mission with a purposeful plunge into Saturn this year in order to protect and preserve the planet's moons for future exploration – especially the potentially habitable Enceladus.

But the beginning of the end for Cassini is, in many ways, like a whole new mission. Using expertise gained over the mission's many years, Cassini engineers designed a flight plan that will maximize the scientific value of sending the spacecraft toward its fateful plunge into the planet on Sept. 15.

As it ticks off its terminal orbits during the next five months, the mission will rack up an impressive list of scientific achievements.

"This planned conclusion for Cassini's journey was far and away the preferred choice for the mission's scientists," said Linda Spilker, Cassini project scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. "Cassini will make some of its most extraordinary observations at the end of its long life."

The mission team hopes to gain powerful insights into the planet's internal structure and the origins of the rings, obtain the first-ever sampling of Saturn's atmosphere and particles coming from the main rings, and capture the closest-ever views of Saturn's clouds and inner rings.

The team currently is making final checks on the list of commands the robotic probe will follow to carry out its science observations, called a sequence, as it begins the finale. That sequence is scheduled to be uploaded to the spacecraft on Tuesday, April 11.

Cassini will transition to its grand finale orbits, with a last close flyby of Saturn's giant moon Titan, on Saturday, April 22.

As it has many times over the course of the mission, Titan's gravity will bend Cassini's flight path. Cassini's orbit then will shrink so that instead of making its closest approach to Saturn just outside the rings, it will begin passing between the planet and the inner edge of its rings.

"Based on our best models, we expect the gap to be clear of particles large enough to damage the spacecraft. But we're also being cautious by using our large antenna as a shield on the first pass, as we determine whether it's safe to expose the science instruments to that environment on future passes," said Earl Maize, Cassini project manager at JPL. "Certainly there are some unknowns, but that's one of the reasons we're doing this kind of daring exploration at the end of the mission."

In mid-September, following a distant encounter with Titan, the spacecraft's path will be bent so that it dives into the planet.

When Cassini makes its final plunge into Saturn's atmosphere on Sept. 15, it will send data from several instruments – most notably, data on the atmosphere's composition – until its signal is lost.

"Cassini's grand finale is so much more than a final plunge," said Spilker. "It's a thrilling final chapter for our intrepid spacecraft, and so scientifically rich that it was the clear and obvious choice for how to end the mission."