LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — After two years of online productions, Shakespeare at the Lake will once again return to the stage with a live performance this summer and it’s looking for performers.
Performance dates are scheduled for July 30 and 31 at Library Park in Lakeport, and August 5 to 7 at Austin Park in Clearlake.
Auditions will be held on Thursday, May 19, at 6 p.m. and Saturday, May 21, at 2 p.m. at the Mendocino College Lake Center. No experience is necessary.
Set on another habitable planet, the 2022 production of “Twelfth Night, Or What You Will,” transports you back in time with a classical comedy, and forward into the future of interplanetary colonization.
“Twelfth Night” is an engaging comedy with heartfelt love, trickery and deceit, and, of course, mistaken identity.
The production will also include original Shakespeare songs, with musical accompaniment performed live alongside the action.
Everyone (high school age and up) with an interest in performing is encouraged to attend auditions. Audition materials can be accessed at www.laketheatre.org.
Those cast will be required to register for THE 220 at Mendocino College. Scholarships are available.
Rehearsals will take place two-four evenings during the week — depending on the role — from late May through the performance dates.
Shakespeare at the Lake is a co-production of Mendocino College and Lake County Theatre Co., partnering with Lake County Friends of Mendocino College, and the cities of Lakeport and Clearlake.
Questions about auditions or the play can be sent to Director John Tomlinson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call him at 707-355-2211.
Joachim Seel, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Bentham Paulos, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Will Gorman, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
America’s electric power system is undergoing radical change as it transitions from fossil fuels to renewable energy. While the first decade of the 2000s saw huge growth in natural gas generation, and the 2010s were the decade of wind and solar, early signs suggest the innovation of the 2020s may be a boom in “hybrid” power plants.
A typical hybrid power plant combines electricity generation with battery storage at the same location. That often means a solar or wind farm paired with large-scale batteries. Working together, solar panels and battery storage can generate renewable power when solar energy is at its peak during the day and then release it as needed after the sun goes down.
A look at the power and storage projects in the development pipeline offers a glimpse of hybrid power’s future.
Our team at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that a staggering 1,400 gigawatts of proposed generation and storage projects have applied to connect to the grid – more than all existing U.S. power plants combined. The largest group is now solar projects, and over a third of those projects involve hybrid solar plus battery storage.
While these power plants of the future offer many benefits, they also raise questions about how the electric grid should best be operated.
Why hybrids are hot
As wind and solar grow, they are starting to have big impacts on the grid.
Solar power already exceeds 25% of annual power generation in California and is spreading rapidly in other states such as Texas, Florida and Georgia. The “wind belt” states, from the Dakotas to Texas, have seen massive deployment of wind turbines, with Iowa now getting a majority of its power from the wind.
This high percentage of renewable power raises a question: How do we integrate renewable sources that produce large but varying amounts of power throughout the day?
That’s where storage comes in. Lithium-ion battery prices have rapidly fallen as production has scaled up for the electric vehicle market in recent years. While there are concerns about future supply chain challenges, battery design is also likely to evolve.
The combination of solar and batteries allows hybrid plant operators to provide power through the most valuable hours when demand is strongest, such as summer afternoons and evenings when air conditioners are running on high. Batteries also help smooth out production from wind and solar power, store excess power that would otherwise be curtailed, and reduce congestion on the grid.
Hybrids dominate the project pipeline
At the end of 2020, there were 73 solar and 16 wind hybrid projects operating in the U.S., amounting to 2.5 gigawatts of generation and 0.45 gigawatts of storage.
Today, solar and hybrids dominate the development pipeline. By the end of 2021, more than 675 gigawatts of proposed solar plants had applied for grid connection approval, with over a third of them paired with storage. Another 247 gigawatts of wind farms were in line, with 19 gigawatts, or about 8% of those, as hybrids.
Of course, applying for a connection is only one step in developing a power plant. A developer also needs land and community agreements, a sales contract, financing and permits. Only about one in four new plants proposed between 2010 and 2016 made it to commercial operation. But the depth of interest in hybrid plants portends strong growth.
In markets like California, batteries are essentially obligatory for new solar developers. Since solar often accounts for the majority of power in the daytime market, building more adds little value. Currently 95% of all proposed large-scale solar capacity in the California queue comes with batteries.
5 lessons on hybrids and questions for the future
The opportunity for growth in renewable hybrids is clearly large, but it raises some questions that our group at Berkeley Lab has been investigating.
The investment pays off in many regions. We found that while adding batteries to a solar power plant increases the price, it also increases the value of the power. Putting generation and storage in the same location can capture benefits from tax credits, construction cost savings and operational flexibility. Looking at the revenue potential over recent years, and with the help of federal tax credits, the added value appears to justify the higher price.
Co-location also means tradeoffs. Wind and solar perform best where the wind and solar resources are strongest, but batteries provide the most value where they can deliver the greatest grid benefits, like relieving congestion. That means there are trade-offs when determining the best location with the highest value. Federal tax credits that can be earned only when batteries are co-located with solar may be encouraging suboptimal decisions in some cases.
There is no one best combination. The value of a hybrid plant is determined in part by the configuration of the equipment. For example, the size of the battery relative to a solar generator can determine how late into the evening the plant can deliver power. But the value of nighttime power depends on local market conditions, which change throughout the year.
Power market rules need to evolve. Hybrids can participate in the power market as a single unit or as separate entities, with the solar and storage bidding independently. Hybrids can also be either sellers or buyers of power, or both. That can get complicated. Market participation rules for hybrids are still evolving, leaving plant operators to experiment with how they sell their services.
Small hybrids create new opportunities: Hybrid power plants can also be small, such as solar and batteries in a home or business. Such hybrids have become standard in Hawaii as solar power saturates the grid. In California, customers who are subject to power shutoffs to prevent wildfires are increasingly adding storage to their solar systems. These “behind-the-meter” hybrids raise questions about how they should be valued, and how they can contribute to grid operations.
Hybrids are just beginning, but a lot more are on the way. More research is needed on the technologies, market designs and regulations to ensure the grid and grid pricing evolve with them.
While questions remain, it’s clear that hybrids are redefining power plants. And they may remake the U.S. power system in the process.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County Animal Care and Control continues to offer three adult cats to new homes.
Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online for information on visiting or adopting.
The following cats at the shelter have been cleared for adoption.
Female domestic medium hair
This 1-year-old female domestic medium hair cat has a gray tabby coat.
She is in cat room kennel No. 84, ID No. LCAC-A-3237.
Female Siamese
This 5-year-old female Siamese cat has a short white coat with gray markings.
She is in cat room kennel No. 68, ID No. LCAC-A-3238.
‘Delilah’
“Delilah” is a 2-year-old female domestic longhair cat with a gray coat with white markings.
She is in cat room kennel No. 103, ID No. LCAC-A-3070.
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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Plans for a new resort on the lakeshore in Lucerne have received the Lake County Planning Commission’s approval.
At its meeting on April 14, the commission unanimously approved Nicole Farb’s application for a design review permit for the Nikki Island resort project.
The resort is planned for a 1.5-acre property at 5835 and 5825 State Highway 20.
Planner Eric Porter said that while it’s not a large property, it’s large enough for the proposed resort development, with the land appropriate for the project’s size and development.
He said it’s also in accordance with the general plan, shorelines plan and zoning ordinance, and is compatible with existing development.
The resort will include nine overnight lodging units or one story “casitas.” Porter said that hotels and motels are a use by right when they don’t exceed 15 units.
The property also includes a one-story house that was the longtime residence of well-known Pearl Harbor survivor, Jim Harris, who died in 2011.
The plans include converting that house to a social gathering room, lobby, kitchen and dining room.
Several large and significant trees on the property will be maintained as part of the resort, with more trees and shrubbery to be planted, Porter said.
New amenities also will include an outdoor kitchen, in-ground pool and hot tub, new landscaping, parking and pedestrian paths. An existing driveway and some asphalt will be removed, which Porter said received support from Caltrans.
Porter said the county received no adverse comments on the proposal from the state clearinghouse.
However, an adjacent neighbor, Dr. Doug Reams, submitted a letter for a March hearing on the project — which was continued to the April meeting — over his concerns about noise, traffic, lighting and a host of other issues. Porter told the commission that mitigation measures will be put in place.
Staff recommended the commission approve the design review, Porter said.
Commissioner John Hess asked about whether the property has a boat dock. Farb, who attended via Zoom, said they do and that they are working with a local boat rental company to encourage use of the lake.
Commissioner Batsulwin Brown asked about when the last cultural resource study was completed. He said there is a known historical village site from the precontact era in the area and he was concerned about cultural resources being protected.
Noting that the site was previously developed, Farb said a cultural resource study was completed in 2020.
Commissioner Everardo Chavez Perez asked Farb how her idea for the resort came about and what she hopes to bring to Lake County.
“That question makes me so happy,” said Farb, a mother of two who owns the property with her husband.
She said that when she was a child, her family, which is from San Francisco, used to camp at Yosemite Park.
Farb wanted to have a resort but areas like Napa and Tahoe have priced them out. She said she’d been looking at Clear Lake for about seven years to find the perfect destination for the resort she wanted to build.
Brown offered both motions for the project, one to approve the initial study and the second for design review approval, with Chavez Perez seconding both motions.
The commission unanimously approved both motions.
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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors is set to consider supervisorial salaries in other counties as an apparent prelude to giving its members significant raises, and will discuss a proposal to remove the Human Resources Department from the control of the County Administrative Office.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 26, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting ID is 956 8784 9396, pass code 132379. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,95687849396#,,,,*132379#.
All interested members of the public that do not have internet access or a Mediacom cable subscription are encouraged to call 669-900-6833, and enter the Zoom meeting ID and pass code information above.
In an untimed item, the board will consider a report from County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson regarding supervisorial salaries in 12 comparison counties.
In 2020 and 2021, the board approved raises for county employees totaling $21 million, but at that time did not raise supervisorial salaries.
However, the Tuesday discussion to be presented by Huchingson — who is retiring as of April 29 — appears to be setting the stage for the board to get raises totaling nearly 35%.
Huchingson’s report said supervisorial salaries in Lake County had been set at 60% of the average of the elected department head salaries since 2001.
She said that the board’s actions in October 2020, when it gave out the first $5 million in raises, froze the supervisorial salaries at $63,714 per year, with the chair getting an additional $2,400.
Human Resources has gathered data from the original 12 comparison counties used in the classification and compensation the county used for giving the employee raises over the past two years. “Staff requests an opportunity to review the findings with your Board,” Huchingson wrote.
She said if the board reverted back to the 60% methodology, the new salary rate for supervisors would be $85,855 per year, plus the $2,400 for the chair.
Her report showed that among the comparison counties, some base supervisorial salaries on a percentage of the salaries paid for Superior Court judges, which currently are set at $225,074 annually. Those range from 33%, or $74,274 per year in Colusa County, to 47%, or $105,785 annually, in Napa County and 75%, or $168,805, in Sonoma County.
In another untimed item, Supervisor Bruno Sabatier is asking the board to consider reestablishing Human Resources as a stand-alone department.
In 2018, at Huchingson’s request, the board placed Human Resources under the County Administrative Officer’s control.
However, historically, over the past four decades, it had mostly been a stand-alone department, Sabatier said.
“In 2018, there were some needs to enhance Human Resources, especially in its goal to quickly fly positions for recruitment and to tackle the issue of pay and vacancy rates. These changes have been successful. Now, Human Resources is able to fly those positions fairly quickly upon request by a hiring department and salaries and benefits have received the scrutiny it required in order to pro-actively deal with our vacancy rates,” Sabatier wrote.
“Human Resources has grown a lot as well over the years. It develops policy on recruitment strategies to effectively recruit qualified personnel, ensure training opportunities for our employees, administers health and other work-related benefits, and appropriately responds to state and federal regulatory mandates,” he said.
Sabatier said it’s “absolutely important that the Board of Supervisors have a direct connection with the Human Resources Director as we continue the work to reduce our vacancy rates. It is also important, as the Board goes through the process of hiring a new County Administrative Officer, to ensure that they come into the position with the ability to seamlessly transition and to continue towards the Board’s goal and objectives. By re-establishing Human Resources as a stand-alone department, it will allow Board members to continue to oversee the work being accomplished by Human Resources while also alleviating some of the workload of the CAO to better focus on the Administrative Office’s role in taking our county into the future.”
Sabatier’s report does not directly address concerns about transparency and conflict of interest with Human Resources remaining under the County Administrative Office’s control, at least in the short-term.
Specifically, those issues are arising because Susan Parker, Huchingson’s assistant county administrative officer, has been tapped by the board to fill the position on an interim basis. Parker has acknowledged she intends to see the job on a permanent basis.
That raises questions about what influence she may exert in the recruitment process for the job that she also is seeking.
A discussion the county had announced would take place on April 26 regarding how to fill Supervisor Tina Scott’s seat due to her resignation, effective in July, is not on the agenda.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt proclamation commending County Administrative Officer Carol J. Huchingson for her 29 years of service to the county of Lake.
5.2: a) Rescind the wireless-communications devices policies; and b) approve the smartphone stipend policy.
5.3: Approve public defender contract amendment No. 7 between the county of Lake and Lake Indigent Defense LLP for the purpose of removing Mitchell Hauptman as partner and authorize chair to sign.
5.4: Approve Board of Supervisors meeting minutes April 5, 2022.
5.5: Adopt proclamation designating the week of April 24 to 30, 2022, as National Crime Victims' Rights Week.
5.6: Adopt resolution authorizing the Lake County Health Services Department to accept funding from the California Department of Public Health's Oral Health Program for fiscal years 2022 through 2027.
5.7: Approve the purchase of professional services from CivicPlus in the amount of $62,853.29 for website redesign, migration, and hosting, and authorize the board chair to sign the statement of work.
5.8: a) Approve agreement for Federal Apportionment Exchange Program and State Match Program for California Department of Transportation — Non MPO County, Agreement No. X22-5914(124); and b) adopt resolution authorizing and directing the chair of the Board of Supervisors to execute the agreements for Federal Apportionment Exchange Program and State Match Program for California Department of Transportation – Non MPO County, Agreement No. X22-5914(124), and authorize the chair to sign the resolution and agreement.
5.9: Approve the submission of an electronic grant application to the state of California Department of Boating and Waterways in the amount of $125,000 for the purchase of a new law enforcement patrol boat and trailer.
TIMED ITEMS
9:05 a.m.: Pet of the Week.
6.3, 9:07 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation commending County Administrative Officer Carol J. Huchingson for her 29 years of service to the county of Lake.
6.4, 9:08 a.m.: Presentation of Proclamation Designating the week of April 24-30, 2022 as National Crime Victims' Rights Week.
6.5, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing on account and proposed assessment for 6329 10th Ave, Lucerne.
6.6, 10:15 a.m.: a) Consideration of presentation on the Organized Delivery System 1115 Demonstration and 1915(b) waiver for substance use disorder treatment services; and b) approve joining the Organized Delivery System.
6.7, 10:45 a.m.: a) Consideration of update by the Public Works director on the status of the 5-Year Pavement Rehabilitation Plan; and b) direction to staff for next steps in completing the plan.
6.8, 11:30 a.m.: Discussion of potential transient occupancy tax ordinance revision and voluntary collection agreements.
6.9, 12 p.m.: Consideration of a 5 year agreement by and between the county of Lake and ECS Imaging Inc. for document management software and scanning, indexing, conversion and destruction services, year one in the amount $191,950.50, year two in the amount of $67,500, year three in the amount of $67,500, year four in the amount of $67,500 and year five in the amount of $67,500.00 for a total of $461,950.50, and authorize the chair to sign.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of Board of Supervisor salaries in 12 comparison counties.
7.3: Consideration of the following advisory board appointments: Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Lower Lake Waterworks District.
7.4: Consideration of Clearlake Oaks Road Map Task Force Community-Driven Revitalization Action Plan.
7.5: Consideration of use of Pacific Gas and Electric Co. settlement funds for various road projects and authorize the Public Works Department to include appropriations in the fiscal year 2022-23 budget.
7.6: a) Presentation and discussion on proposed routes to ensure compliance with Senate Bill 552; and b) identify and authorize the most-viable route as recommended for Lake County’s Compliance with Senate Bill 552.
7.7, ADDENDUM: Consideration of resolution re-establishing the human resources department as a stand-alone department.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public employee evaluation: County Librarian Christopher Veach.
8.2: Public employee evaluation: Public Services Director Lars Ewing.
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.
Do you ever speak at events or answer questions in person? It would be great to discuss lake topics with you. I just moved back into the area and as a kayak enthusiast, I want to learn more about our lake. Where can I find out more about water issues going on in Lake County?
Gerry, getting caught up in my kayak in Clearlake
Dear Gerry,
Nice to have you back in wonderful Lake County! Your questions are very important and I think they are timely to answer right now, even though they cover a wide variety of topics.
As Lady of the Lake, I do attend events and conduct outreach to the community outside of this column. For example, you can catch me on the last Sunday of every month on the local radio station, KPFZ 88.1 during Betsy Cawn’s Essential Public Information Hour (2 to 3 p.m.) and What’s next hour (3 to 4 p.m.). I will be on the radio this Sunday, April 24, from 2 to 4 p.m.
I usually spend about 60 to 90 minutes talking about water and lake news, covering topical and relevant topics, and answering any guest questions. You are welcome to call in to the studio (707-263-3435) and ask me any lake or water question, or you can write me an email and I can answer it on air.
If you don’t have a radio, you can also stream KPFZ online from your computer, tablet or smartphone. To find more information visit, KPFZ’s website at https://kpfz.org/.
In addition to the radio spot, I do attend live events and provide in-person outreach and education. The next event for the Lady of the Lake booth will be the Big Valley Small Farms Tour on Saturday, May 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Farms tour is an interactive travel event, where you drive around to visit local small farms and experience fun activities, farm tours and wonderful farm products. These farms are all located in the Big Valley area, but there will be refreshments and live music at the home base; Ripe Choice Farm. Some individuals and organizations will also be at Ripe Choice Farm to provide information about the natural communities in Lake County.
I will have a booth, so will fellow lake enthusiast and scientist, Sarah Ryan, from the Big Valley Rancheria Environmental EPA. She will be present to talk about the Big Valley and Cal-Watch cyanobacteria, drinking water and well monitoring program, as well as other issues like restoration and drought impacts. Other participants will include Rachel Avilla of WildNature with info about living with wildlife and the importance of native plants and wildlife habitats, The Lake County Land Trust will be present to discuss their efforts to preserve green spaces, and the event will also showcase several Certified Tourism Ambassadors on site.
The farm tour itself will feature the Ripe Choice Farm, Campodonico Olive Farm, Peace & Plenty Farm, Edenberry Farms, and Bell Haven Flower Farm.
It will be a great event and a great opportunity for the whole family to learn about local farming, support local communities, and learn about water and nature programs.
The Ripe Choice Farm is located at 2550 Soda Bay Road, Lakeport. And you can find more information on the Big Valley Small Farms tour on their event facebook page @BigValleySmallFarms. This event does not require registration or a fee to attend.
Konocti Regional Water Trails on Clear Lake
I don’t know how long you have been out of County, but there are some awesome online resources for an enthusiastic kayaker and water-lover like yourself, Gerry!.
Learn about the water trails around Clear Lake from the Konocti Regional Trails (KRT) website. The Konocti Regional Trails website is located here.
This website has a wide range of information about pathways, land, and water trails located in Lake County, CA. On the webpage, under the “trails” tab you can find a link to all the water trails and an interactive map to all the public water access points around Clear Lake.
There are eight (8) water trails described and mapped on the website, with each trail-specific page describing the length (in miles), the approximate time to paddle (at a leisurely pace to enjoy the sights and views), the experience level needed to navigate the trail, the closest and best launch area to access the trail, and the trail description and natural highlights along the trail.
For example, if you are an avid birder, and want to capture some awesome avian wildlife, you might really enjoy Water Trail #2 (WT2) Tule Maze at Anderson Marsh, #6 (WT6) the Wetlands of Long Tule Point, or #7 (WT7) Rodman Slough. These three trails boast several bird-centric highlights such as migratory waterfowl routes, grebe nesting sites, and Great Blue Heron rookeries, among others.
In addition to the website, there are downloadable brochures that can be printed and brought on the water while kayaking. Each brochure provides a detailed map and unique features to look for, as well as important safety messages specific to that trail such as fast currents, cold, deep waters, or steep shorelines.
Most importantly, remember that if you move your kayak around from lake to lake, that you ALWAYS Clean, Drain, Dry your kayak / canoe, paddles, life vest, and any other equipment in between visiting water bodies. If your kayak is on a trailer, has a motor, and is longer than 8 feet, it might require a Lake County Mussel prevention sticker ($20). Visit www.nomussels.com or call Lake County Water Resources to check at 707-263-2344.
Lake County is very lucky to have such a diverse and beautiful resource like Clear Lake, right here at our fingertips. Many people in the cities have to drive for hours just to experience a little bit of what we have right here, in our own backyards! I hope you stay safe and have fun enjoying all the water trails, Gerry!
Upcoming lake issue opportunities
Your last question is very broad Gerry, but it’s my favorite and I really like that you are asking this question. It’s very important for the public (Mr, Ms. and Mx. Taxpayer) , to be aware of what is going on in your community and how important water issues are being addressed. For “Lake” County residents, anything involving Clear Lake should be top of the list, since our lake is so important to the local economy and ecology.
Usually, I try to highlight upcoming events or opportunities in my column, so (head’s up selfish plug ahead!) I would recommend reading my column every two weeks, here in the freely accessible Lake County News, to see what relevant events I will highlight.
If you are a fisherperson, or have family members that are avid fisherpersons, there are two great places to learn about current fishing activities and fishing conditions in Clear Lake.
In the Lake County Record-Bee, Local Sports Section, a bi-weekly column written by Terry Knight, covers upcoming fishing tournaments, tournament results, and other relevant lake and recreation topics.
Terry Knight also has a Wednesday 10 a.m. radio program, on KPFZ 88.1, “Lake County Outdoors”, where he and co-host, Franklin Ley, cover a wide variety of fishing and wildlife topics, but most shows are guided by the incoming calls and questions from the public. Both hosts are extremely familiar with the natural ecosystems of Lake County and provide colorful descriptions and stories of experience from both water and land.
If you are interested in general information about the Lake, and other aquatic resources in Lake County, I would recommend following the Lake County Water Resources Department Facebook page @lakecountywater. The Water Resources Department usually posts relevant information about current lake conditions, trail conditions at Highland Springs Recreation Area, Clean Up Events around the Lake, and where and how to attend public meetings for issues like groundwater, flood preparedness, and invasive species.
The Water Resource Department facebook will also post when there are upcoming activities occurring in the Lake that might be unusual or deserve extra explanation or education. Examples of such activities might be when the County conducts shoreline or dock inspections, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife conducts electroshocking in the lake and streams, or USGS conducts large-scale fish netting for research or there are some unique fish or wildlife events like Grebe nesting season, or Clear Lake Hitch are spawning in the streams.
Lastly, there are some major lake restoration efforts underway through the Blue Ribbon Committee For the Rehabilitation of Clear Lake. To learn about this committee, you can check out my two-part column from September 2021. Part 1, from Sept. 12, “Bemused and Confused about the Blue Ribbon Committee”, and Part 2, from Sept. 19, “More about the Blue Ribbon Committee.”
The next month for the Blue Ribbon Committee is VERY important, as several projects are being proposed, refined, reviewed, and approved for funding. This funding, with no maximum amount established by the committee, will go a long way in addressing some of the major water quality issues with Clear Lake, and improving community engagement and stewardship with both the lake and land.
On Tuesday, April 26, at 2:30 p.m., the Blue Ribbon Socioeconomic Sub Committee will be meeting virtually to review and refine several education and stewardship projects aimed at improving educational resources and tools and developing stronger community partnerships.
To access and attend this meeting, the Zoom link is https://csus.zoom.us/j/85775499669 with Call-in phone number: 1-669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 85775499669#.
While the final funding amounts are still not yet finalized, the approximate amount in total for the entire list of socioeconomic projects is estimated to be between $500,000 and $1 Million. The list of projects being proposed or discussed include:
- Kelseyville Community Strategy Proposal (Seigler Springs Community Redevelopment Association and UC Davis Center For Regional Change); - Mendocino-Lake Community College Environmental Education Pathway proposal; - Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance (TERA) Water and Fire: EcoCultural Restoration proposal.
You can access the previous socioeconomic committee meeting, from March 22, online here.
On Thursday, April 28, at 1 p.m., the Blue Ribbon Technical Subcommittee will be meeting to review and refine several management and technical projects aimed at reducing nutrients in the lake and restoring wetlands and shorelines.
To access and attend this meeting, the Zoom link is https://csus.zoom.us/j/89089976114 with Call-in Phone number: 1-669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 89089976114#
While the final funding amounts are still not yet finalized, the approximate amount in total for the entire list of projects can be somewhere within the $2 -3 Million range. The list of projects being proposed or discussed include:
- UCD / Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) Oxygenation Pilot Project In the Oaks Arm; - Big Valley Rancheria Restoration Proposals; - Robinson Rancheria Invasive Fish Management; - Lake County Watershed Protection District Tule Replanting/Primrose Removal; - Lake County Watershed Protection District Airborne Electromagnetic Survey for Groundwater.
You can access the previous technical sub committee meeting, from March 24th, online here.
The primary goal of these subcommittee meetings is to confirm proposals for consideration in the next state funding request, which will be determined by the Blue Ribbon Committee at large on May 25, 2022.
Projects that get funded will then be implemented, starting as early as Summer 2023, and together, these projects can have huge beneficial impacts for long-term restoration and recovery for Clear Lake, streams, wetlands, and all connected human and wildlife communities.
Sincerely,
Lady of the Lake
Angela De Palma-Dow is a limnologist (limnology = study of fresh inland waters) who lives and works in Lake County. Born in Northern California, she has a Master of Science from Michigan State University. She is a Certified Lake Manager from the North American Lake Management Society, or NALMS, and she is the current president/chair of the California chapter of the Society for Freshwater Science. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is inviting residents in Lake, Colusa and Napa counties to a regional wildfire safety webinar to discuss the company’s wildfire prevention efforts.
PG&E said it is continuing to evolve its wildfire safety program to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires.
As part of these efforts, PG&E is hosting the wildfire safety webinar for Napa, Lake and Colusa County residents on Wednesday, April 27, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. to share its wildfire prevention plans for 2022 and listen to customer feedback.
PG&E experts will provide a brief presentation, after which participants will have the opportunity to ask questions.
The event can be accessed through the link or dial-in below or through PG&E’s website, pge.com/firesafetywebinars.
Click this link to join: bit.ly/362LL9X.
Attendee dial-in is 800-369-2098; the conference ID is 1371852.
During the webinar event, the PG&E team will discuss its wildfire prevention efforts; resources to help customers and communities before, during and after wildfire safety outages; and improvements and updates to PG&E’s safety technology and tools.
Closed captioning will be available in English, Spanish and Chinese and dial-in numbers will be available for those who aren’t able to join online.
For the full webinar events schedule, additional information on how to join, recordings and presentation materials from past events, and to learn more about PG&E’s Community Wildfire Safety Program, visit www.pge.com/wildfiresafety.
More information and resources to help you and your family prepare for and stay safe in the event of an emergency can be found at https://www.safetyactioncenter.pge.com/.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Clearlake Planning Commission will discuss a proposal for a new gas station, convenience store and fast food restaurant when it meets this week.
The commission will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 26, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
Submit comments and questions in writing for commission consideration by sending them to Administrative Services Director/City Clerk Melissa Swanson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Identify the subject you wish to comment on in your email’s subject line.
On the agenda is a public hearing for the commission to consider conditional use permit application and a corresponding environmental assessment, and a categorical exemption to develop and operate a gas station with convenience store with on-site sales of alcohol, office space, fast food restaurant, and a drive through car wash to be located at 15895 Dam Road.
The new business would be located in the Clearlake Shopping Center, located at Highway 53 and Dam Road.
The property is owned by Jatinder Sign. The applicant, Jeanette Verdugo, anticipates starting construction in September, with the work to be completed in six months.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are considered routine in nature and usually adopted on a single vote — are planning commission minutes fo Nov. 3, 2020, May 17, 2021, June 22, 2021, Aug. 24, 2021, Nov. 9, 2021, Jan. 11, 2022, and January 25, 2022; general plan consistency determination, GPCD 2022-01, Categorical Exemption, CE 2022-07, APN: 042-362-100-000; PC Resolution No. 2022-09; and general plan consistency determination, GPCD 2022-02, Categorical Exemption, CE 2022-08, road abandonment, portion of Spruce Avenue and Armijo Avenue, Resolution PC 2022-10.
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.
Alessandro Ossola, University of California, Davis
As lockdowns went into effect in the spring of 2020 to slow the spread of the coronavirus, reports emerged of a global gardening boom, with plants, flowers, vegetables and herbs sprouting in backyards and on balconies around the world.
The data backs up the narrative: An analysis of Google Trends and infection statistics found that during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic, country-by-country interest in gardening, from Italy to India, tended to peak just as infections peaked.
Why did so many people find themselves being pulled toward the earth in a time of crisis? And what sort of effect did gardening have on them?
In a new study conducted with a team of environmental and public health scholars, we highlight the extent to which gardening became a coping mechanism during the early days of the pandemic.
Even as restrictions related to COVID-19 have eased, we see some real lessons for the way gardening can continue to play a role in people’s lives.
Dirt, sweat, tranquility
To conduct our study, we used an online questionnaire to survey more than 3,700 respondents who primarily lived in the U.S., Germany and Australia. The group included experienced gardeners and those who were new to the pursuit.
More than half of those we surveyed said they felt isolated, anxious and depressed during the early days of the pandemic. Yet more than 75% also found immense value in gardening during that same period. Whether done in cities or out in the country, gardening was almost universally described as a way to either relax, socialize, connect with nature or stay active.
More than half of the respondents reported a significant increase in the amount of time they were able to spend gardening. Other respondents found some value in growing their own food, but few felt financially compelled to do so.
Instead, most respondents saw gardening as a way to connect with their community and get some exercise.
People with more personal difficulties due to COVID-19, like the inability to work or struggling with child care, were more likely to spend more time gardening in their spare time than they had in the past.
The garden as a refuge
In our analysis of written responses to the survey, most gardeners seemed to either experience a heightened sense of joy and reassurance or feel more attuned to the natural world. This seemed to have positive therapeutic and psychological benefits, regardless of age or location.
“Gardening has been my salvation,” a respondent from the U.S. noted. “I’m very grateful I can surround myself with beauty as a buffer to the depressing news COVID brings each day.”
Another German gardener wrote that their garden became their “little safe universe in a very uncertain and somewhat dangerous time. … We have learned to appreciate the so far very high value of ‘own land, own refuge’ even more.”
A green prescription
As life returns to normal, work ramps up and obligations mount, I wonder how many pandemic gardens are already being neglected.
Will a hobby born out of unique circumstances recede into the background?
I hope not. Gardening shouldn’t be something that’s only taken up in times of crises. If anything, the pandemic showed how gardens serve a public health need – that they’re not only places of beauty or sources of food, but also conduits for healing.
In fact, several countries like New Zealand, Canada and some in Europe now allow “green prescriptions” to be issued as alternatives to medication. These are directives from doctors to spend a certain amount of time outdoors each day or month – an acknowledgment of the very real health benefits, from lowered stress to better sleep and improved memory, that venturing into nature can offer.
I also think of the people who never had a chance to garden in the first place during the pandemic. Not everyone has a backyard or can afford gardening tools. Improving access to home gardens, urban green spaces and community gardens could be an important way to boost well-being and health.
Making seeding, planting, pruning and harvesting part of your daily routine seems to open up more opportunities, too.
“I never previously had the time to commit to a garden,” one first-time gardener told us, “but [I’ve] found such satisfaction and happiness in watching things grow. It has been a catalyst for making other positive changes in my life.”
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CSIRO principal research scientist Brenda Lin, Swinburne University of Technology Health Promotion Lecturer Jonathan Kingsley, UCCE Santa Clara County Urban Agriculture and Food Systems Advisor Lucy Diekmann, Technical University of Munich Urban Productive Ecosystems Professor Monika Egerer, University of Tasmania Rural Health Geographer Pauline Marsh, and University of California, Davis Urban and Regional Planning graduate student Summer Cortez contributed to this research.
On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom convened the coalition in support of CARE Court, which will provide individuals with severe mental health and substance use disorders the care and services they need to get healthy.
SB 1338, CARE Court legislation authored by Senator Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana) and Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton), will be heard on Tuesday in its first committee, Senate Judiciary.
“Support for CARE Court is broad and diverse because Californians are tired of the status quo,” said Gov. Newsom. “We must act with urgency and accountability to address this crisis which currently leaves thousands of individuals living on our streets without the help they need.”
The coalition includes members of California’s Big City Mayors, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, California Professional Firefighters, the California Medical Association and the California Hospital Association, among others.
“As leaders at the local level, we are on the frontlines of this crisis, and we see CARE Court as a critical priority for the Big City Mayors of California. It’s time that our golden state stops walking by our greatest moral shame and faces it head on with clarity and compassion,” said Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf.
“Our members see people at their point of greatest need, responding to 911 calls for those in serious mental health crisis. This leads to using scarce fire and EMS resources to pick up the same folks over and over again. Governor Newsom knows we need a different approach, and CARE Court will help us break this cycle and truly get people the help they need,” said California Professional Firefighters President Brian K. Rice.
CARE Court would allow courts to order CARE plans, which would require counties to provide comprehensive treatment to the most severely impaired and untreated Californians and hold patients accountable to following their treatment plans.
It will provide an opportunity for a range of people, including family members, first responders, intervention teams, and mental health service providers, among others, to refer individuals suffering from schizophrenia spectrum or psychotic disorders, many of them unhoused, and get them into community-based services.
These include short-term stabilization medications, wellness and recovery supports, and connection to social services, including a housing plan.
The governor has called upon the Legislature to move quickly to enact CARE Court to allow local partners to begin implementation of this critical program.
CARE Court builds on Gov. Newsom’s $14 billion multi-year investment to provide new housing units and treatment slots and nearly $10 billion annually in community behavioral health services.
The governor’s approach focuses on quickly rehousing unsheltered individuals with behavioral health issues, all while new units come online, while also transforming Medi-Cal to provide more behavioral health services to people struggling the most.
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The city of Lakeport and the Lakeport Police Department are once again participating in the United States Drug Enforcement Administration National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April, 30 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The event will be held in the front lobby entrance of the police station at 2025 S. Main St., Lakeport.
Items that will be accepted include all over the counter or prescription medications in pill, tablet, liquid, cream or capsule form including schedule II-V controlled and non-controlled substances.
Pills need to be emptied out of their containers and placed in a zip lock plastic bag (not paper; they need to verify the contents to make sure there is nothing in the bag they can't take).
They will collect vape pens or other e-cigarette devices from individual consumers only after the batteries are removed from the devices. It is important to stress that we will not be responsible for removing the batteries from the devices.
Items they will not accept include illegal drugs, needles, inhalers or aerosol cans.
Since the LPD started participating with the prescription Take Back Program in January of 2019, the agency has collected more than 838 pounds of prescription drugs, many of which were dangerous narcotics including opioids.
Collecting these prescription drugs protects the community by keeping them from being diverted to illegal use and keeps them out of our environment and water.
For more information about the event, visit https://www.dea.gov/takebackday. Contact the Lakeport Police Department with questions, 707-263-5401.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County Animal Care and Control this week has numerous new dogs and puppies that need new homes.
Dogs available for adoption this week include mixes of Australian cattle dog, basset hound, Belgian malinois, Cardigan Welsh corgi, Carolina dog, Catahoula leopard dog, French bulldog, German shepherd, husky, Labrador retriever and pit bull.
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.
The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption.
Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online for information on visiting or adopting.
Australian cattle dog
This 3-year-old male Australian cattle dog has a black coat with tan markings.
He is in kennel No. 3, ID No. LCAC-A-3131.
‘Bella’
“Bella” is a 2-year-old Catahoula leopard dog mix with a short black and white coat.
She is in kennel No. 4, ID No. LCAC-A-3245.
Corgi-basset hound mix
This 3-year-old male Cardigan Welsh corgi-basset hound mix has a short black and tan c coat.
He is in kennel No. 5, ID No. LCAC-A-3305.
Male pit bull
This 1-year-old male pit bull has a short black coat with white markings.
He is in kennel No. 6, ID No. LCAC-A-3290.
Male pit bull terrier
This 1-year-old male pit bull terrier has a short white and tan coat.
He is in kennel No. 7, ID No. LCAC-A-2821.
Male shepherd
This 10-year-old male shepherd mix has a black and tan coat.
He is in kennel No. 8, ID No. LCAC-A-3316.
Male pit bull
This 2-year-old male pit bull has a short black coat.
He is in kennel No. 9, ID No. LCAC-A-3278.
Male Belgian malinois
This 1-year-old male Belgian malinois has a short brown and black coat.
He is in kennel No. 17, ID No. LCAC-A-3270.
Male pit bull
This 3-year-old male pit bull has a short black and white coat.
He is in kennel No. 18, ID No. LCAC-A-3288.
‘Cody’
“Cody” is a 7-year-old male French bulldog-pit bull terrier mix with a short brindle and white coat.
He is in kennel No. 19, ID No. LCAC-A-3284.
‘Willie’
“Willie” is a 1-year-old male pit bull terrier with a short brown and white coat.
He is in kennel No. 20, ID No. LCAC-A-3301.
Male basset hound
This young male basset hound mix has a short black and tan coat.
He is in kennel No. 21, LCAC-A-3303.
Female German shepherd puppy
This female German shepherd mix puppy has a short black and tan coat.
She is in kennel No. 22a, ID No. LCAC-A-3312.
Female German shepherd puppy
This female German shepherd mix puppy has a short tan and white coat.
She is in kennel No. 22b, ID No. LCAC-A-3313.
Female German shepherd puppy
This female German shepherd mix puppy has a short black and tan coat.
She is in kennel No. 22c, ID No. LCAC-A-3314.
Husky-pit bull mix
This 1-year-old female husky-pit bull mix has a short black coat.
She is in kennel No. 23, ID No. LCAC-A-3289.
Male German shepherd puppy
This male German shepherd mix puppy has a short black, tan and white coat.
He is in kennel No. 24a, ID No. LCAC-A-3310.
Male German shepherd puppy
This male German shepherd mix puppy has a short black, tan and white coat.
He is in kennel No. 24b, ID No. LCAC-A-3311.
‘Blue’
“Blue” is a 4-year-old female husky with a gray and white coat, and blue eyes.
She is in kennel No. 25, ID No. LCAC-A-2816.
Female husky
This 2-year-old female husky has a medium-length black and white coat, with one blue eye and one yellow eye.
She is in kennel No. 26, ID No. LCAC-A-3225.
Male Australian cattle dog
This 3-year-old male Australian cattle dog has a short black, tan and white coat.
He is in kennel No. 27, ID No. LCAC-A-3130.
‘King’
“King” is a 1-year-old American bulldog with a short brown and white coat.
He is in kennel No. 29, ID No. 3109.
Carolina dog
This 2-year-old female Carolina dog has a short white coat.
She is in kennel No. 34, ID No. LCAC-A-3281.
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.