LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The California Highway and the Lake County Fire Protection District will hold a child safety seat checkup event for Clayton fire survivors on Sunday, Aug. 28.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at Lake County Fire Protection District Fire Station 65, located at 16354 Main St. in Lower Lake.

Child safety seat technicians will be on site providing free child safety seats and will assist and demonstrate the proper installation.

Any seats that were damaged or destroyed in the fire and any seats which are expired will be replaced, while supplies last.

For more information call Officer Kory Reynolds at the Clear Lake Area CHP office at 707-279-0103.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Planning Commission on Thursday gave the go ahead for the preparation of a final environmental impact report for an expanded vineyard and new winery project near Hidden Valley Lake.

With District 3 Commissioner Gladys Rosehill absent for the meeting, after a discussion that lasted more than two hours the other four commissioners reached consensus to move forward with the final environmental document for Wild Diamond Vineyards.

Wild Diamond Vineyards LLC, owned by Florida attorney Robert Bowling, has applied for major use and grading permits, and a lot line adjustment to build the project at 15087, 15591, 15663 and 158078 Spruce Grove Road, just north of Hidden Valley Lake.

There currently are about 41 acres of vineyard to the property, according to county documents.

At full buildout, the vineyard would be 148 acres, with a 17,850-square foot winery that would produce up to 52,800 cases of wine per year, an 11,340-square-foot tasting room with commercial kitchen and retail sales, and self-guided interpretive center.

The Thursday meeting featured the second public hearing the commission has held this month on the project. On Aug. 11, it also took public comment on the draft environmental impact report, or EIR, which Wild Diamond Vineyards attorney Tina Wallis said was first submitted to the county in February.

The draft environmental impact report can be found online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Community_Development/Wild_Diamond_Vineyards_Project_Draft_EIR.htm .

Wallis said former Planning Director Rick Coel had been willing to accept a mitigated negative declaration for the project, but Bowling had volunteered to pay for the environmental impact report at his own expense, which so far is upwards of $250,000.

Bob Brown of SHN Consulting Engineers and Biologists of Redding, the firm Bowling hired to complete the document, sat alongside Wallis and went through the document and key areas including chemicals, noise, water, aesthetics and traffic.

They also had several experts on hand to give their opinions on specific aspects of the project.

During that testimony, it was stated that the project's ongoing water usage is estimated to be 1 percent of the groundwater within the storage area, and will come from a different groundwater basin that the Coyote Groundwater Basin that supplies Hidden Valley Lake.

Steve Greenberg, Ph.D., who lives in Hidden Valley Lake, questioned the adequacy of the work done to study noise impacts, pointing out that people already are complaining of machinery noise, even without the more than two dozen special events the project seeks to host annually.

Pointing out the project's close proximity to Hidden Valley Lake, where an estimated 6,000 people – or about 10 percent of the county's total population – live, Greenberg said they needed to protect the community.

Kirk Cloyd, the new general manager for Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District, said he thought the document's study on hydrology was well done.

However, he suggested that there be a baseline monitoring report for impacted creeks, streams and tributaries. He also wanted to know about any off-site wells under Wild Diamond Vineyards' purview.

Otherwise, Cloyd emphasized that the community services district was neutral on the project.

Like Cloyd, geologist David Adam, another Hidden Valley resident, wanted to know more about spring discharges and data. Later in the meeting, he would bring up the safety issues on Spruce Grove Road.

Victoria Brandon of the Sierra Club said several of the group's existing concerns – such as buffers and tributary setbacks – were addressed. She said rare plants such as the Konocti manzanita would need a maintenance and monitoring plan.

“The remaining thing is the noise,” she said.

While she said the analysis sounds thorough, she said she's been in that room before with angry neighbors due to amplified events and music.

While she said the Sierra Club didn't think that a lot of the extreme concerns about the project's impacts are warranted, she suggested the developer set up a complaint process so people's concerns can be addressed.

Elizabeth Montgomery, who lives about half a mile from project, said she was there to represent the community outrage at the project.

She read from a statement from Southern California attorney Amy Minteer, an expert in the California Environmental Quality Act, regarding Wild Diamond Vineyards' draft EIR, which Minteer said attempted to hide behind a failure to disclose and analyze impacts to support its claim that it would have no impacts.

Montgomery said there have been multiple complaints about existing impacts that haven't been addressed in the draft EIR or at the Thursday meeting.

To say there will be no environmental impact when there already have been impacts is a discrepancy that Montgomery said should be addressed. An impact that she said she had personally endured was smoke from burning vegetation cleared from the property, which she said had caused her to sleep under a blanket with air filters going.

She also said she planned to submit a petition with more than 200 signatures asking for a hydrology study suggested by Adam.

Thomas Nickel, a director for the Scotts Valley Water Conservation District, said large vineyard developments like Wild Diamond Vineyards will harm watersheds.

Nickel said vineyards will harm the county’s habitat. “Where do we stop?” he asked, citing the number of vineyards already in the county. “Enough is enough.”

Hank Lecher, who has a ranch next door to Wild Diamond Vineyards, said a lot of the comments at the meeting were about activities already permitted on the property, adding he has never experienced any smoke coming off that vineyard.

When he first heard of the project, he said he called Bowling, who he said is a very nice guy who has been accommodating of neighbors' concerns.

“I think that you can count on him to responsibly and appropriately mitigate any concerns that you might have and any recommendations that you might come up with,” Lecher said.

Addressing biological assessment issues

One of the matters that had been brought to the commission's attention at the Aug. 11 meeting – and which was cited by several people testifying on Thursday – was the use of a preliminary biological assessment done by Steve Zalusky, principal biologist for the locally based Northwest Biosurvey, who was hired as a subcontractor to SHN.

Zalusky told Lake County News in an interview this week that in speaking at the Aug. 11 meeting he did something he had never done before – raise concerns about how his work was used.

However, he also has emphasized that he has nothing to say about the project's merits – positive or negative. “We must be an objective third party.”

On Aug. 11, he had told the commission, “Having a client rewrite our reports to suit their own needs completely defeats the purpose of our third party review.” 

He said the text, tables and maps his firm completed were lifted, attribution stripped and placed under a separate cover that claimed SHN authored it. In his 19 years as a consultant, Zalusky said he had never seen anything like it.

This week, he explained, “Our biggest concern was that we made it very clear in our contract that if they wanted a report in May or earlier, it could not be anything other than a preliminary biological assessment.”

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has protocol for botanical surveys that require that a floristic level botanical survey must be done throughout the season and into July, Zalusky said, adding he had made it clear in his work that such a survey should be done.

He said the reference to his work being a preliminary survey was removed from the final report submitted by SHN, which also turned it into a natural resource assessment.

Zalusky said he had no idea if there are rare plants in the project area, as a full survey wasn't completed within the necessary time frame this year.

He said his firm followed up in July to do an additional survey and was told it was done. “Maybe they did have one done, I just don't know,” he said. “Nothing in the public record of hearing that says that a second survey was done.”

Assistant Resource Planner Peggy Barthel told Lake County News that county staff had requested Zalusky's full report from SHN in order to review it, but that it hadn't been provided. However, Wallis said Thursday that a full biological study had been completed.

Throughout Thursday's meeting, Montgomery and other people testifying in opposition to the project had raised Zalusky's previous comments as cause for concern.

During the commission's discussion, commissioners said their major concerns had included issues such as water and the study area raised by Zalusky.

However, by Thursday, Zalusky – who gave brief additional testimony – said the bulk of his concerns had been addressed, explaining that the primary issue had remained that a full season biological assessment be done. “That's the one issue that we feel needs to be resolved.”

Wallis explained that the study had been prepared and would be included in the final EIR. She said the project also has input from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on that study, and the agency is satisfied with it.

With those matters resolved, the commissioners said they were comfortable directing the preparation of the final document begin.

The commission intends to have more hearings on the project at its upcoming meetings on Sept. 8 and Sept. 22. Planning staff said the final EIR could be turned around in just a matter of weeks, based on the applicant's previous estimates.

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. – On Thursday, the Walmart store in Clearlake presented a check of $30,000 from the Walmart Foundation to The Salvation Army for the Clayton fire recovery in Lake County.

The contribution will benefit any immediate needs and long-term assistance services in the affected area.  

“The Salvation Army does a tremendous job of responding to the needs in our community,” said Travis Peck, Clearlake Walmart store manager. “We are proud to support their efforts to address residents’ immediate needs of food, hydration, shelter support, supplies as well as their long-term disaster based social service case management program that helps families affected by the wildfires rebuild and reestablish their lives.”

This is the second significant donation The Salvation Army has received from Walmart since the start of the Clayton fire response.

Last week, the Clearlake Walmart store also donated multiple boxes of nonperishable and perishable food items and beverages. 

“We absolutely appreciate the incredible generosity shown by the Walmart Foundation and the Clearlake Walmart store,” said Major Ivan Wild, divisional commander of The Salvation Army Del Oro Division. “Time and time again Walmart has shown a heart to give back to the community. I’m sure this donation will go a long way to helping so many families who have been affected by the recent fire damage.” 

Currently, Salvation Army staff is providing case work at the Local Assistance Center in Lower Lake.

Since last week, more than 200 Lake County residents have applied and have been assisted with immediate needs inquiries.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County health officials said they are investigating a possible human case of West Nile virus, while there also have been new detections of the virus in chickens and mosquito samples.

The Lake County Public Health Department is evaluating the case, which is potentially the first West Nile infection involving a human so far this year in the county.

If laboratory tests eventually confirm this case, it is likely that the infection would have been contracted in the last week of July, officials said.

“Avoidance of mosquito bites is the only way to prevent West Nile virus infection and this is the time of year when it is especially important to take protective measures,” Lake County Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait said.

Since 2004, eight Lake County residents have been diagnosed with West Nile virus, officials reported. Two human cases were reported last year.

In addition, the Lake County Vector Control District confirmed that two chickens and seven mosquito samples tested positive for West Nile virus this week, with public health officials also investigating a possible human case.

The chickens are from Upper Lake, and the mosquitoes were collected in Clearlake, Clearlake Oaks, Kelseyville, Lakeport and Upper Lake, the district reported.

So far in 2016, West Nile virus has been detected in 29 mosquito samples, thee dead birds and two sentinel chickens in Lake County, according to the district's latest report.

“We’re at the peak of West Nile virus activity now. In most years West Nile virus activity remains high in September throughout California, including Lake County,” explained Jamesina Scott, Ph.D., district manager and research director for the Lake County Vector Control District.

“The mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus come from backyard water sources like wading pools, ponds, buckets, swimming pools and spas that aren’t being maintained, and any other place where water sits for more than three days,” said Scott.

Residents are urged to help reduce their risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases by following these guidelines:

– Dump or drain standing water. Mosquitoes can't begin their lives without water.
– Defend yourself. Use repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.
– Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are present, typically dawn and dusk.
– Maintain swimming pools and spas. Just one unmaintained swimming pool can produce more than 1 million mosquitoes and affect people up to five miles away.
– Report dead birds to the state hotline, 877-968-2473, or by visiting the California Department of Public Health's Web site ( http://www.westnile.ca.gov/report_wnv.php ). All reports are crucial to the West Nile virus surveillance program.

For a current list of West Nile virus activity in Lake County this year, visit the Lake County Vector Control District's Web site, www.LCVCD.org , and for statewide information, visit the California Department of Public Health’s West Nile Virus Web site at http://www.westnile.ca.gov/ .

The Lake County Vector Control District, an independent special district and public health agency, serves all of Lake County and is located at 410 Esplanade in Lakeport.

Call the district at 707-263-4770 or request service online at http://www.LCVCD.org/Services/RequestService/index.html for mosquito problems, or visit the office between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday to get free mosquitofish for ornamental ponds, livestock water troughs or neglected swimming pools.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Dozens of children who lost their homes and most of their possessions in the Clayton fire found themselves at the heart of an outpouring of generosity on Wednesday, with tens of thousands of dollars raised from community organizations and residents to help purchase much-needed school clothes and supplies.

County Supervisor Rob Brown launched the fundraising effort earlier this week to benefit Konocti Unified School District students who were particularly hard hit by the fire, which burned nearly 4,000 acres and destroyed close to 200 homes.

In under two days Brown – working with community organizations and individuals – managed to raise close to $52,000 to help the children.

On Wednesday afternoon, dozens of the students and their families came to the Clearlake Walmart, where each of the children received a $400 gift card.

Brown was on hand to greet the families, along with members of the Lake Area Rotary Club Association, or LARCA; Lake County Rising; Redwood Credit Union; Konocti Unified administrative staff, including Superintendent Donna Becnel; and Walmart employees.

Both Brown and fellow Supervisor Jim Comstock gave a hug to a woman weeping with gratitude.

Comstock emerged from the encounter with tears in his eyes. He acknowledged the heartbreak of the situation, but then turned his focus to the community's generosity, nothing that what had been brought together was “amazing.”

Amazing was an apt description of what took place.

Beginning on Monday, as Lower Lake students were still preparing for a return to school delayed by more than a week due to the fire, Brown contacted district officials to ask if they could provide a list of students whose homes had been lost.

Bilalia Mubashshir, Konocti Unified's youth services coordinator and a Rotarian, quickly responded and began working with principals and teachers to assemble a list.

Mubashshir said they identified a total of 58 children whose homes had been destroyed. Brown added that the number includes children who are homeschooled.

Next, Brown began outreach to community groups, including LARCA, whose members Russ Cremer and Dirk Slooten estimate has raised more than $800,000 for last summer's wildland fires before setting to work to begin fundraising once again for Clayton fire relief.

Cremer said LARCA recently received more than $10,200 from within the six-county Rotary district that includes Lake County, with the district asking that the funds go to one group.

Those funds, he said, were pledged to Brown's fundraising effort.

In addition, Redwood Credit Union, also a major fundraiser for local wildland fire relief, pitched in $5,000, according to Meg Cadiz, assistant vice president for community programs, and Andy Ramos, senior vice president for membership experience, both of whom made the trip from Santa Rosa on Wednesday to be on hand for the gift card giveaway.

“We worked with a lot of these community partners through the Valley fire,” said Cadiz.

On Tuesday night, Brown had put out a request on Facebook, which Lake County News also shared via social media and its main Web site, asking for donations. Brown said he was overwhelmed with the response, with dozens of messages pledging assistance rolling in around the clock.

He estimated that when he arrived at the store on Wednesday, he had about $32,000 in hand, plus another $10,000 pledged.

Then, on Wednesday, Clearlake Walmart Manager Travis Peck said the company also was donating $10,000 to the effort.

The store, beginning last year, has been a hub for fire relief. It had been in the portion of Clearlake that was under a mandatory Clayton fire evacuation order, had stayed open Aug. 15 and 16 to provide water, Gatorade and other supplies to first responders, Peck said.

In addition to offering assistance for Brown's fundraiser, Peck said store employees are going to be volunteering with recovery effort, and are planning a community event next month.

For the families impacted by the fire, the Lake County Fair contributed free entry tickets for next month's fair and its Midway of Fun. Fair Chief Executive Officer Debbie Strickler and the fair's mascot, Barty the Pear, were on hand to give the tickets away.

Altogether, the result was that enough had been raised to pay for $400 gift cards for 77 children, Brown said. They were keeping the nearly 20 additional cards ready as they locate any other children in need.

The Martinez family – parents Mario and Guadalupe, sons Mario, 18, Jose, 16, and Aaron, 10, and 12-year-old daughter Isabelle – lost their home on Winchester Street behind Lower Lake High School.

The grateful family gathered to have their picture taken with Brown.

The younger Mario, a student at Lower Lake High School, said they were focusing on picking up the essentials in order to try to get life back to normal.

Asked what it was like to go back to school, he said, “It was pretty weird.”

The offer of help in the form of the gift cards, which he found out about on Tuesday from his principal, definitely made him feel better.

The family is now renting a home in Clearlake, he said.

“It's very hard, but we're getting through,” he said.

Mubashshir said that, so far, attendance in the district looks good, and they are still working to assess what the children will need going forward. In addition to clothes, she's heard there is a need for things like bedding.

As for meeting those needs, “We've found the gift cards are the best way to go,” Mubashshir said.

Mubashshir said they will be looking at long-term needs, which will become more evident in the weeks and months ahead.

As for Brown, who is serving as the county's co-recovery coordinator along with County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson, shows no sign of slowing down in his fire relief efforts.

He said he'll continue to offer assistance in any way he can.

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.