LAKEPORT, Calif. — This week the Lake County Fair Foundation will debut a new event focused on introducing high school students to careers in agriculture.
The inaugural Agriculture and Natural Resources Career Day will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, May 11, at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St. in Lakeport.
All Lake County high school students are invited to attend in hopes of gaining knowledge and excitement about ag and natural resource careers, and those that support these Industries.
Participating farms, businesses and other organizations include MorningStar Farms, JAK Drilling, Clear Lake Lava, Mendo Lake Food Hub, Scully Packing, Mendocino College Ag Department, Lake County Vector Control, Lake County Public Health, Equus Workforce Solutions, NCPA, Reynolds Systems, Woodland College, Mendocino College, Cal Fire – Forestry, Cal Fire – Prevention, California State Parks, Beckstoffer Vineyards, Lake County Winegrape Commission, Brassfield Winery, Pacific Coast Horseshoeing, Holdenried Farms, Peace & Plenty Farm, Leonardis Organics, Edenberry Farm, Lake County Agriculture Commissioner, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, US Army, Lakeport Police Department and the city of Lakeport.
The foundation reported that the event wouldn’t have been possible without support from the community, especially Beckstoffer Vineyards, the 49th District Agricultural Association, the Lake County Sheriff’s Volunteers, and the many business, colleges and exhibitors who will be sharing information about their work and why these careers are so important in Lake County.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Citing concerns about unpredictable weather and the comfort of attendees and presenters for an outdoor event, the organizers of the Lake Leadership Forum planned for May 10 have postponed it to Tuesday, June 7.
The activity will occur at the same location in Kelseyville, the Mercantile by Shannon Family of Wines, and at the same time, 2 to 6 p.m.
“During this time of drought and low lake levels, we are grateful for more rain and moisture,” stated Nicole Flora, executive director of the Lake EDC, “but deeply disappointed to postpone the Forum due to uncertain weather conditions.”
Ticket holders may request a refund by contacting the Lake County Economic Development Corporation, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-263-6217, if they are unable to participate on June 7.
Presented by the Lake County Economic Development Corp., or Lake EDC, the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and the Lake County Tourism Improvement District, the Lake Leadership Forum features partnerships, collaboration and entrepreneurs with presentations about community initiatives and opportunities that are generating economic momentum in Lake County.
The Leadership Forum is open to the public with a limited number of tickets available for June 7 at https://tinyurl.com/LakeForum22 for $20 per person which includes a glass of wine or other beverage.
Tickets may also be purchased with a check payable to and sent to Lake EDC, P.O. Box 1257, Lakeport, CA 95453.
Speakers will demonstrate the entrepreneurial spirit of Lake County through presentations and a panel discussion focusing on the impacts of the pandemic on local agriculture and tourism. Trends in the cannabis industry and training programs for youth in hospitality will be addressed.
The presenting organizations represent people from all over Lake County who love our community and want to see it prosper. You are invited to participate in this leadership forum and connect with like-minded citizens.
More information is available from Nicole Flora, executive director, Lake EDC, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Grab your bicycle, fasten your helmet, and get outdoors for a bike ride.
With more daylight hours before sunset and warming temperatures, May is the perfect month to enjoy outdoor activities.
May also happens to be National Bicycle Safety Month, and the California Highway Patrol and Office of Traffic Safety, or OTS, want to remind outdoor enthusiasts that whether you are a cyclist, pedestrian, or driver, traffic safety laws are in place to save lives.
“As more Californians choose walking and bicycling as primary modes of transportation, creating a safer environment for all roadway users is a shared responsibility,” said Commissioner Amanda Ray.
Drivers can help create a safer environment for cyclists by checking their blind spots when changing lanes, proceeding with caution through intersections, remembering to look carefully for bicyclists and pedestrians before making a turn, and always looking for cyclists before opening the car door near streets or bike paths.
California law also requires drivers to maintain a minimum of three feet of distance when passing or overtaking a cyclist. If there is not enough room to safely pass, be patient and wait until it is safe.
“If you’re driving, be the best version of yourself,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “We are all pedestrians at one point and many of us ride bikes. Slow down and share the road so we may all get places safely.”
According to the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, in 2020, California had almost 8,800 bicycle crashes with 90 percent of them involving an injury. In that same year, 151 people died in bicycle crashes.
Although helmets are not required for people ages 18 and older, wearing a properly secured helmet drastically reduces a rider’s chance of a head injury.
As part of National Bicycle Safety Month, the CHP has partnered with the OTS to educate the public on bicycle safety and the laws that apply to all modes of transportation.
Throughout May, many local CHP offices will offer educational presentations and bicycle trainings to promote bicycle safety.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A ceremony to honor first responders will be held in downtown Lakeport this week.
The Lake County First Responder Memorial Ceremony will take place beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 13, at Lake County Museum Park, 255 N. Main St.
The event is being hosted by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
The agency invites everyone to join them as they come together to honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their community in the line of duty and service.
For more information, contact Deputy Cynthia Radoumis at 707-262-4200.
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The city of Lakeport’s efforts to annex the South Main Street area appears headed to an election.
In 2019, the city began the formal process to annex nearly 137 acres, made up of 50 parcels, in the area south of the existing Lakeport city limits, adjacent to South Main Street and Soda Bay Road and east of Highway 29.
In March, the Lake Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCo, approved a resolution giving the annexation the go-ahead, but also approved a protest hearing to give property owners and voters residing within the annexation area the chance to submit formal written opposition.
That hearing was held on Friday. It lasted for 15 minutes and was held at Lakeport City Hall.
LAFCo Executive Officer John Benoit said that the term “hearing” is a misnomer, and that the purpose of the event was to simply collect the protests.
He said the final results will not be verified until they are counted and checked by the county elections and assessor’s offices.
Government Code Section 57075 requires that within 30 days following the hearing the value of the protests be determined.
Lakeport City Manager Kevin Ingram told Lake County News that Benoit was expecting to have an official count for the next LAFCo meeting on May 18.
“With that said it appears that those protesting exceed 25% of total landowners representing greater than 25% of assessed value so the matter will likely proceed to a vote of registered voters in the area at a future date,” said Ingram. “It does not appear that enough registered voters protested to end proceedings at this time.”
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. — State officials came to the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday to honor a longtime Lake County prosecutor for his efforts to protect wildlife.
The California Fish and Game Commission named Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff as its 2020 Wildlife Prosecutor of the Year in June.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the presentation was delayed by nearly another year.
However, Hinchcliff finally received his reward on Tuesday, when Bart Bundesen, assistant chief of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Central Enforcement District, and Eric Sklar, a member of the California Fish and Game Commission, came to the board meeting to honor him.
“It’s very important in law enforcement that our partners in the District Attorney’s Office are there to help us,” said Bundesen.
“Our work is just a portion of what needs to be done and without those district attorneys doing the work that they do we wouldn't be able to complete our job,” he said.
Bundesen said they find that there are certain district attorneys who take it upon themselves to take special interest in fish and game cases. “Sometimes it's out of love for the environment, sometimes it's out of their love for hunting and fishing, it just all depends, but those people are essential to us.”
He said Hinchcliff is one of those people that's been critical to their efforts, “and that's why we're recognizing him as Wildlife Prosecutor of the Year.”
Hinchcliff, who was raised in Lake County, joined the District Attorney’s Office in 1995. He’s been chief deputy district attorney since 2006.
Bundesen said it was Hinchcliff’s personal interest that led him in 2000 to ask the district attorney to let him handle all of the fish and game cases.
It was reported during the presentation that since 2000, Hinchcliff has prosecuted 550 wildlife and environmental cases, with a conviction rate exceeding 95%.
Fish and Wildlife also reported that Hinchcliff has obtained court orders requiring poachers to pay fines totaling $429,742. He also has had 65 firearms ordered forfeited, and had 116 hunting licenses and 57 fishing licenses revoked for convicted poachers for one to three years.
Bundesen said Hinchcliff has improved the procedures for how fines are handed out in such cases, and is working to ensure that those who are convicted pay their fines.
Greg Giusti, chair of the Lake County Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee, also was on hand to offer his praise to Hinchcliff, with whom he has worked for at least 20 years. Hinchcliff also is a member of that committee.
During that time, he said he’s come to appreciate Hinchcliff’s honesty, integrity and professionalism, and his dedication to the protection and conservation of Lake County’s fish and wildlife resources.
“Not only does he bring a positive shining light to the county, his energy and his dedication to his job, to public service, is really part of this commendation I believe,” said Giusti.
He told the state officials that they “hit a home run” by selecting Hinchcliff for the award.
“It's a good day to come up here and to acknowledge somebody that I consider a friend, somebody that I work with and somebody who I think is a consummate professional and public servant,” said Giusti, thanking Hinchcliff for the work he does for the community.
Sklar said he and his fellow commissioners and commission staff are deeply grateful for the stellar work that Hinchcliff has done.
He credited Hinchcliff for making pioneering changes in the way wildlife cases are prosecuted, which has ensured that those who break the law are not back hunting the next day.
Sklar said Hinchcliff also has changed the way such crimes are penalized. Instead of just fines, Hinchcliff has gotten jail sentences for individuals convicted of the most serious cases.
One of the most egregious cases Hinchcliff prosecuted involved a large crappie poaching case. Sklar said Hinchcliff’s handling of the case resulted in $70,000 in fines, and $40,000 in confiscated fishing equipment was given to a local high school fishing club.
Sklar called Hinchcliff’s high conviction rate on fish and game cases “an incredible record.”
Hinchcliff thanked Bundesen, Giusti and Sklar for their comments.
“We’ve been very successful in the DA’s Office prosecuting fish and wildlife violations,” he said.
He explained the partnership that made that possible.
Hinchcliff said that in his 27 years in the District Attorney’s Office, Fish and Wildlife has had a history of very good wardens.
“I find every single one of them to be intelligent, friendly, hardworking, dedicated to their jobs and very well trained,” he said.
He added that if Fish and Wildlife hadn’t done such a good job of training and producing great wardens to work on cases, the District Attorney’s Office wouldn’t be as successful as it’s been.
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.
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee is set to hold its next meeting this week.
The committee, or LEDAC, will meet via Zoom from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 11.
The meeting is open to the public.
The meeting will be held via Zoom: Meeting ID, 847 9466 6151; pass code, 619840. Dial by your location, 669-900-6833.
On the agenda are informational presentations on homelessness in the city by Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen, and the California Main Street and Lakeport Main Street Association by the association’s executive director, Marie Schrader.
Also Wednesday, the group will continue its review and work on updating the Lakeport Economic Development Strategic Plan for 2022 to 2027, and get status reports from working groups.
There also will be updates on city projects and activities, and member reports.
The group’s next meeting is on July 13.
LEDAC advocates for a strong and positive Lakeport business community and acts as a conduit between the city and the community for communicating the goals, activities and progress of Lakeport’s economic and business programs.
Members are Chair Wilda Shock, Vice Chair Denise Combs and Secretary JoAnn Saccato, along with Bonnie Darling, Candy De Los Santos, Bill Eaton, Monica Flores, Pam Harpster, Scott Knight, Alicia Russell, Laura Sammel and Marie Schrader. City staff who are members include City Manager Kevin Ingram and Community Development Director Jenni Byers.
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 this week is set to hold a discussion held over from last month regarding the protocol for recruiting the new county administrative officer, and will continue a hearing on the appeal of a Clearlake cannabis project.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 10, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting ID is 910 8895 3263, pass code 011175. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,91088953263#,,,,*011175#.
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.
The board will consider the protocol suggested by Human Resources Director Pam Samac and set a date to interview the five qualified candidates that have submitted applications so far.
The board also had been scheduled last week to discuss filling the District 4 supervisorial seat, as Tina Scott has resigned effective July 31. However, that matter also had been pulled from the agenda and is not set to be back before the board until May 17, the county reported.
At 9:45 a.m., the board is set to continue a public hearing on an appeal of the Lake County Planning Commission’s grant of a major use permit to Lake Vista Farms LLC at 2050 and 2122 Ogulin Canyon Road in Clearlake.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: a) Rescind approval of agreement for provision of satellite imagery services by Planet Labs PBC to the county of Lake; and b) waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.1, as an extension of an annual agreement; and c) approve agreement for provision of satellite imagery services by Planet Labs PBC to the county of Lake.
5.2: Approve Board of Supervisors minutes for April 12, 2022.
5.3: Adopt resolution setting rate of pay for election officers for the June 7, 2022, Statewide Direct Primary Election.
5.4: a) Adopt resolution adopting a continuous record retention and destruction schedule for the Human Resources Department; and b) approve policy establishing a records retention and destruction schedule for Lake County Human Resources Department; and c) approve destruction of old HR Records from 1974 through 2018.
5.5: Adopt resolution expressing support for the Middletown Days Parade and events, and temporarily authorizing a road closure, prohibiting parking and authorizing removal of vehicles and ordering the Department of Public Works to Post Signs.
5.6: Approve contract between county of Lake and Excellesoft Partners LLC for Nexus Registry Software in the amount of $42,252, from March 15, 2022 to June 30, 2025, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.7: Approve fourth amendment to the lease agreement between county of Lake and Gary Sada and Sheila Sada for the property located at 926 S. Forbes St. in Lakeport in the amount of $86,332.68, from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.8: Approve sixth amendment to the lease agreement between county of Lake and Ewing and Associates for the Child Welfare Services parking lot located on South Forbes Street in Lakeport, for the amount of $4,800 from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.9: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, (a) Waive the competitive bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 2-38.2, based on the unique nature of the goods or services precludes competitive bidding; (b) authorize Special Districts administrator/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order not to exceed $126,000 to Bogie’s Pump Systems for the purchase of a Fairbanks Morse 350 HP pump for Lift Station #1.
5.10: Adopt resolution authorizing the county of Lake Water Resources director to apply for, accept, and execute Prop 68 state grant funds for improving waterways, administered by the California Natural Resources Agency: to conduct countywide community trash cleanup events and improve Illicit Discharge Detection Elimination(IDDE)/ Spill Response Planning.
5.11: Adopt resolution authorizing application for grant funds for the abatement of dilapidated lake bed structures.
TIMED ITEMS
9:05 a.m.: Pet of the Week.
6.3, 9:07 a.m.: Consideration of resolution proclaiming the existence of a local emergency due to pervasive tree mortality.
6.4, 9:20 a.m.: Consideration of acceptance of the March 31, 2022 report of Lake County pooled investments.
6.5, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing on account and proposed assessment for 2853 Merced St, Nice, CA, 95464.
6.6, 9:45 a.m.: Continued from May 3, public hearing, discussion and consideration of appeal (AB 21-05) of Planning Commission Approval of Major Use Permit 19-36 and IS/MND 19-56 “Lake Vista Farms, LLC”, Clearlake. APN’s 010-053-01 and 010-053-02.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of confidential recruitment of chief administrative officer protocol and summary.
7.3: Consideration of amendment to the county of Lake COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Worksite Protocol.
7.4: Consideration of an ordinance establishing Chapter 31 of the Lake County Code for an edible food recovery program.
7.5: Consideration of presentation and discussion by Watershed Protection District for the request to allocate $500,000 internal matching funds, over a period of six years, to support $1.9 million in approved, and partially awarded, Blue Ribbon Committee Storm Water Project Grant Funds.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public employee evaluation: County Counsel Anita Grant.
8.2: Public employee evaluation: Public Health Officer Dr. Erik McLaughlin.
8.3: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(1) — City of Clearlake v. County of Lake, et al.
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.
Dawn Trussell, Brock University; Jennifer Mooradian, Brock University; Shannon Hebblethwaite, Concordia University, and Stephanie Paterson, Concordia University
We’re a team of researchers who have studied the life-changing transition to motherhood for nearly 10 years. Our research has examined how motherhood enriches women’s lives at the same time as we challenge society’s notion of being a “good mother.” The role of policy (maternity leave legislation, childcare, access to leisure services) in shaping women’s experiences has been a central focus.
Giving new mothers a sense of freedom
Similar to other research findings, in a recent study currently undergoing peer review, the new mothers we worked with sought out leisure and physical activities to minimize stress, decrease their anxiety, increase self-esteem and navigate their new mothering identity. The women’s participation gave them a sense of freedom and control over their lives.
For example, for some mothers, running on their own provided an opportunity to carve out time for themselves. For other mothers, running with their baby in a stroller helped them develop a sense of family.
But the reality is that postpartum activities are not accessible to all women.
Unrealistic expectations of motherhood
In our recent study, we worked with new mothers from pregnancy to 18 months post-birth. We found that during pregnancy the women had unrealistic expectations of what life would be like, in contrast to the realities that they faced after the baby was born.
This included frustration about how much time they actually have to participate in leisure and physical activities. It also included disappointment about the type and intensity of activities they could return to — especially when considering their recovering postnatal bodies (for example, C-sections, general fatigue). The data also suggested that returning to work poses an additional challenge to women and successful leisure and physical activity engagement.
In western societies, “good mothering” practices are informed by an intensive mothering ideology that is informed by middle class and white values. It embodies motherhood as child-centred, emotionally absorbing and self-sacrificing. Compared to previous generations, mothering now extends beyond the provision of children’s safety and well-being. Mothers are expected to maximize their children’s growth and development. Participation in organized programs is one way to do this (for example, mommy and me swimming).
Our research on parental policies found that they privilege paid work while reinforcing a socio-economic hierarchy in which only some mothers are able to access the benefits. This can affect women’s chances for improved health and well-being.
New mothers in our recent study who were self-employed were unable to access formal maternity leave policies. Consequently, they had reduced participation in leisure and physical activities — on their own or with their baby. This led to feelings of failure as a mom and in their careers.
Women in precarious employment who did not qualify for maternity leave programs also reported difficulties. Many community recreation programs are user pay, which excludes women of lower socio-economic status.
Although financial assistance may be offered for organized recreation programs, research has highlighted the humiliation of having to publicly declare or prove their low-income status. Other research points to the fear of going out in unsafe neighbourhoods in order to access community programs and services.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also disproportionately affected low-income mothers. The new mothers in our recent study talked about the high cost of transportation and difficulties using public transportation with a stroller. Consequently, many women feel judged and vulnerable from the outset of being a mother.
Generally, the stories from new mothers who qualified for maternity leave revealed that they had more time, money and choice of leisure and physical activities that they could access than mothers who did not qualify. Yet, they still have reduced income and higher costs with the arrival of the new baby. They also had to overcome challenges such as the stigma of breastfeeding in public spaces or the inability to participate in leisure and physical activities without their baby.
Important role of family
Social relationships play an important role in facilitating new mothers’ participation in their own leisure and physical activities.
Family support networks helped the mothers in our most recent study to resist the notion of self-sacrificing motherhood and to find time for themselves. The mothers’ partners and their extended family members (for example, mother, father-in-law) were important support networks to look after the baby. These support networks helped the mothers schedule and find much-needed time for themselves.
New mothers face challenges with their return to leisure and physical activities after the birth of a child. But it is clear that with support such as parental leave and family support, these activities can help them negotiate the difficult transition to motherhood and improve their health and well-being.
A community’s sewage holds clues about its COVID-19 burden. Over the course of the pandemic, wastewater surveillance has become an increasingly popular way to try to understand local infection trends.
Microbiologists Susan De Long and Carol Wilusz met and became wastewater aficionados in April 2020 when a grassroots group of wastewater treatment plant operators asked them to develop and deploy a test to detect SARS-CoV-2 in samples from the sewers of Colorado. De Long is an environmental engineer who studies useful bacteria. Wilusz’s expertise is in RNA biology. Here they describe how wastewater surveillance works and what it could do in a post-pandemic future.
How is wastewater monitored for SARS-CoV-2?
Wastewater surveillance takes advantage of the fact that many human pathogens and products of human drug metabolism end up in urine, feces or both. The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 shows up in surprisingly large quantities in feces of infected people, even though this is not a major route of disease transmission.
To figure out whether any pathogens are present, we first need to collect a representative sample of wastewater, either directly from the sewer or at the point where what engineers call “influent” enters a treatment plant. We can also use solids that have settled out of the wastewater.
Technicians then need to remove large particles of fecal matter and concentrate any microbes or viruses. The next step is extracting their nucleic acids – the DNA or RNA that holds the pathogens’ genetic information.
The sequences contained in the DNA or RNA act as unique bar codes for the pathogens present. For instance, if we detect genes that are unique to SARS-CoV-2, we know that the coronavirus is in our sample. We use PCR-based approaches, similar to those used in clinical diagnostic tests, to detect and quantify SARS-CoV-2 sequences.
Characterizing the nucleic acid sequence in more detail can provide information about viral strains – for instance, it can identify variants like omicron BA.2.
Currently, the vast majority of wastewater surveillance efforts are focused on SARS-CoV-2, but the same techniques work with other pathogens, including poliovirus, influenza and noroviruses.
During the pandemic, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed the National Wastewater Surveillance System specifically to track SARS-CoV-2 across the country. Over 800 sites report data to this NWSS system, but not all states and counties are currently represented.
In our opinion, the NWSS represents an exciting first step in monitoring population health through wastewater. Similar systems are being established in other countries, including Australia and New Zealand.
What does wastewater data really show?
SARS-CoV-2 levels in wastewater from large populations are an excellent indicator of the infection level in a community. The system automatically monitors everyone who lives in the sewershed, so it’s anonymous, unbiased and equitable. Importantly, it is also impossible to track the infection back to a particular person, household or neighborhood without taking additional samples.
Wastewater surveillance doesn’t rely on the availability of clinical tests or people reporting their test results. It also picks up asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic cases of COVID-19; this is critical because people who are infected but don’t feel sick can still spread COVID-19.
In our opinion, wastewater testing is increasingly important as more COVID-19 tests are done at home. And because vaccination has also led to more mild and asymptomatic cases of COVID-19, people may be infected without getting tested at all. These factors mean that clinical case data are less informative than earlier in the pandemic, while wastewater data remains a consistent indicator of community infection level.
So far, you can’t accurately predict the number of infected individuals in a community based on the level of virus in its wastewater. The stage of someone’s infection, how their body responds to the virus, the viral variant, how far a person was from where the wastewater sample was taken, even the weather can all affect the amounts of SARS-CoV-2 measured in sewage.
But scientists can infer relative changes in infection rates. Watching viral levels go up and down in sewage provides a glimpse of whether cases are rising or falling in the community as a whole.
Because SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in wastewater days or even weeks before outbreaks occur, wastewater monitoring can provide an early warning that public health measures may be warranted. And trends in the signal are important – if you know levels are rising, it may be a good time to reinstitute a mask mandate or recommend working from home. At present, public health officials use wastewater monitoring data along with other information like test positivity rates and the number of clinical cases and hospitalizations in the community to make these kinds of decisions.
Data from sequencing can also help detect new variants and monitor their levels, allowing health responses to take into account the characteristics of the variant present.
In smaller populations, such as in college dormitories and nursing homes, wastewater monitoring can detect a small number of infected people. That can sound the alarm that targeted clinical testing is in order to identify infected people for isolation. Early detection, targeted testing and quarantining are effective at preventing outbreaks. Rather than using clinical testing for routine monitoring, administrators can reserve disruptive clinical tests for times when SARS-CoV-2 is detected in the wastewater.
What will monitoring look like in the future?
Widespread and routine use of wastewater monitoring would give public health officials access to information about the levels of a range of potential infections in U.S. communities. This data could guide decisions about where to provide additional resources to communities, like holding testing or vaccination clinics in places where infection is on the rise. It could also help determine when interventions like masking or school closures are necessary.
In the best case, wastewater monitoring might catch a new virus when it first arrives in a new area; an early shutdown in the very localized area could potentially prevent a future pandemic. Interestingly, researchers have detected SARS-CoV-2 in archived wastewater samples collected before anyone had been diagnosed with COVID-19. If wastewater monitoring had been part of the established public health infrastructure back in late 2019, it could have provided an earlier warning that SARS-CoV-2 was becoming a global threat.
For now, though, establishing and operating a national wastewater surveillance system, particularly one that includes building-level monitoring at key locations, is still too costly and labor-intensive.
Ongoing research and development efforts are trying to simplify and automate wastewater sampling. On the analysis side, adaptation of PCR and sequencing technologies to detect other pathogens, including novel ones, will be vital to take full advantage of such a system. Ultimately, wastewater surveillance could help support a future in which pandemics are far less deadly and have less social and economic impact.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A new portrait of one of Lake County’s retired judges will be unveiled this week.
The portrait hanging ceremony forJudge Richard Martin will take place beginning at 3:30 p.m. Friday, May 13, in the Lake County Superior Court, located on the fourth floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport.
Martin retired in May 2017 after 12 years on the bench in the Superior Court’s Department 2.
He had a long career in public service and is the father of Sheriff Brian Martin.
The ceremony on Friday is part of a tradition for retired judges, whose portraits are hung in their former courtrooms.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County Animal Care and Control has a growing selection of dogs — including several cute puppies looking for their new human parents.
Dogs available for adoption this week include mixes of Anatolian shepherd, Australian cattle dog, Australian shepherd, Belgian malinois, border collie, Carolina dog, Catahoula leopard dog, Chihuahua, French bulldog, German shepherd, Labrador retriever, pit bull and Shih Tzu.
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.
‘Rooster’
“Rooster” is a 5-year-old male mountain cur with a brown brindle coat.
He is in kennel No. 2, ID No. LCAC-A-3384.
Chocolate lab mix
This young male chocolate Labrador, who is under a year old, has a short coat.
He is in kennel No. 3, ID No. LCAC-A-3385.
‘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.
‘Dozer’
“Dozer” is a 2-year-old male pit bull with a short black coat.
He is in kennel No. 5, ID No. LCAC-A-3278.
‘Dexter’
“Dexter’ is a 1-year-old male pit bull with a short black coat with white markings.
He is in kennel No. 6, ID No. LCAC-A-3290.
Australian shepherd mix puppy
This male Australian shepherd mix puppy has a short brown and black coat.
He is in kennel No. 7, ID No. LCAC-A-3373.
Australian shepherd mix puppy
This female Australian shepherd mix puppy has a tricolor coat.
She is in kennel No. 7, ID No. LCAC-A-3377.
Australian shepherd mix puppy
This female Australian shepherd mix puppy has a tricolor coat.
She is in kennel No. 7, ID No. LCAC-A-3378.
Australian shepherd mix puppy
This female Australian shepherd mix puppy has a gold coat.
She is in kennel No. 7, ID No. LCAC-A-3379.
Female pit bull mix
This young female pit bull mix has a short black and white coat.
She is in kennel No. 10, ID No. LCAC-A-3353.
‘Bruno’
“Bruno” is a young male pit bull with a short black and white coat.
He is in kennel No. 11, ID No. LCAC-A-3344.
Female pit bull
This 3-year-old female pit bull had a short gray coat with withe markings.
She is in kennel No. 12, ID No. LCAC-A-3323.
Male pit bull
This 1-year-old male pit bull has a short brown coat with white markings.
He is in kennel No. 15, ID No. LCAC-A-3321.
‘Macho’
“Macho” is a 3-year-old male pit bull mix with a short brown coat.
He is in kennel No. 17, ID No. LCAC-A-3343.
Female shepherd mix
This 1-year-old female shepherd mix has a short gray brindle coat.
She is in kennel No. 19, ID No. LCAC-A-3342.
‘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 Belgian malinois
This 1-year-old male Belgian malinois has a short brown and black coat.
He is in kennel No. 21, ID No. LCAC-A-3270.
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 Shih Tzu
This young female Shih Tzu has a white coat.
She is in kennel No. 24, ID No. LCAC-A-3349.
Australian shepherd puppy
This male Australian shepherd puppy has a gold coat.
He is in kennel No. 25, ID No. LCAC-A-3372.
Australian shepherd puppy
This male Australian shepherd puppy has a black and white coat.
He is in kennel No. 25, ID No. LCAC-A-3374.
Australian shepherd mix puppy
This male Australian shepherd mix puppy has a tricolor coat.
He is in kennel No. 25, ID No. LCAC-A-3375.
Australian shepherd mix puppy
This male Australian shepherd mix puppy has a brown and black coat.
He is in kennel No. 25, ID No. LCAC-A-3376.
‘Pozey’
“Pozey” is a 6-year-old female Anatolian shepherd with a short cream-colored coat.
She is in kennel No. 26, ID No. LCAC-A-3362.
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.
Male border collie
This 2-year-old male border collie has a black coat with white markings.
He is in kennel No. 28, ID No. LCAC-A-3361.
‘Mozey’
“Mozey” is a 6-year-old female Anatolian shepherd with a short cream-colored coat.
She is in kennel No. 29, ID No. LCAC-A-3363.
Female German shepherd
This 3-year-old female German shepherd has a short black and tan coat.
She is in kennel No. 31, ID No. LCAC-A-3331.
‘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. 33, ID No. LCAC-A-3284.
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.
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