NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A 5.0-magnitude earthquake shook The Geysers area and resulted in shake reports from around the region on Wednesday morning.

The quake occurred at 8:41 a.m. four miles west northwest of The Geysers, 14 miles north of Healdsburg and 14 miles southwest of Clearlake, at a depth right at the ground surface, the US Geological Survey reported.

A survey map showed the quake's epicenter was just within the Sonoma County boundaries. The Geysers straddles a portion of the southern Lake County boundary with Sonoma County.

It was one of the largest to be ever be reported near The Geysers, based on survey records.

As of noon Wednesday, the survey reported receiving approximately 1,298 shake reports from 132 zip codes that had been made about the quake.

Those shake reports came from around Lake County, the Bay Area and even parts of Southern California, as well as Oregon and Nevada, survey records showed.

Separately, a Cobb-area resident reported to Lake County News that the quake was so strong that it seemed like it was twisting her home.

The 5.0-magnitude quake was followed five minutes later by an earthquake measuring 3.0 in magnitude, also just below the ground surface, centered four miles west northwest of The Geysers and 12 miles north of Healdsburg and 16 miles southwest of Clearlake, the survey reported.

The second, smaller quake received 11 shake reports from 11 zip codes – including Lakeport, Clearlake, Calistoga and as far away as Galt – as of noon, according to US Geological Survey records.

A 2.6-magnitude quake then occurred mostly within the footprint of the morning's biggest quake at 11:24 a.m., the survey reported.

Those two smaller quakes also were centered in Sonoma County, based on the survey maps.

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. – In the ongoing effort to protect Clear Lake and other county water bodies from invasive mussels, the county of Lake is asking boaters to be sure to get their 2017 Lake County quagga mussel stickers.

Boaters must get their new mussel stickers before using their vessels in any Lake County water body.

The Lake County sticker is required in addition to the mussel sticker from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Boaters should clean, drain and dry boats after every use, and check in with a participating screener when returning from an out-of-county trip with a boat.

The county's screeners stay up-to-date with those counties in the western United States that are infested. If your vessel needs decontamination, the county offers that service for free.

The community is asked to support the program that’s keeping Lake County mussel-free.

The county also asks that community members and boaters spread the word to anyone who may not know about the most serious biofouling pest ever to be introduced to North American freshwater systems.

A few facts:

• Quagga mussels can colonize hard and soft surfaces, mud, plants, docks, boat engine cooling systems and water pipes.
• One pair of mussels produce millions of offspring in a year.
• Densities in Lake Mead since the first introduction in 2005 have grown to more than 10,000 mussels per square meter. Sixty percent of the animal population in Lake Mead is now quagga mussels.
• Beaches become littered with piles of glass-sharp shells.
• They alter the chemistry and biology of the water ecosystem.
• The basis of the aquatic food chain, plankton, is removed by these voracious feeders.
• Three new pristine lakes in the state of Montana have tested positive for quagga mussels in the past month. Up until now Montana was mussel-free.

For the latest list of screening locations see www.nomussels.com or call 707-263-2344.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Animal Control has both dogs and cats ready for new homes this week, plus a holiday adoption special.

This week's featured animals include three cats and three dogs, in a variety of ages and types.

Community members interested in taking home a new pet also are urged to ask about the city's holiday special on adoptions.

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

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

Below are this week's available pets.

'Alexis'

“Alexis” is a 7-month-old female boxer and American Staffordshire Terrier mix.

Shelter staff said she just loves everyone, and likes to run and play, and give kisses. She needs a home for the holidays.

'Garfield'

“Garfield” is a male orange tabby with a short coat.

Shelter staff said he's a young teenager looking for his new family. He is playful and loves a warm lap.

'Madison'

“Madison” is a one-and-a-half-year-old female black Labrador Retriever and German Shepherd mix.

Shelter staff said she likes people and gets along with other dogs. Just show her a leash and she is ready to go with you.

'Rusty'

“Rusty” is a male Chihuahua and Pomeranian mix with a medium-length apricot-colored coat.

He's a very friendly boy who walked right up to the animal control officer in the middle of the street with tail wagging. The owners never even came looking for their lost baby.

He is easy to handle and gets along well with other dogs. If you are looking for a great small dog Rusty is your guy. He also is available for a reduced fee of $60.

'Tigger'

“Tigger” is a young male domestic short hair mix with an orange tabby and white coat.

Shelter staff said he is a “kickback cool cat,” who is ready to go home with you.

'Tommy'

“Tommy” is a young male domestic short hair and Cymric mix cat.

Shelter staff said he is a very nice cat, with a beautiful black and white coat.

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. – A storm making its way over Northern California is bringing heavy rain and winds, and has resulted in weather advisories for area residents.

The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory that's in effect through noon on Thursday and a flood watch that ends at 4 a.m. Friday.

The wind watch urges area residents to be prepared for strong, gusty southerly winds that are expected to increase Wednesday night and into Thursday as a powerful weather system moves in from the Pacific and across Northern California.

Winds in Lakeport are forecast to have gusts up to 26 miles per hour Wednesday night and 23 miles per hour Thursday morning, with Cobb likely to have gusts into the low 30s Wednesday night and mid-30s on Thursday morning, based on the specific forecast.

In the Clearlake area, gusts are predicted in the low 30s both Wednesday night and Thursday morning, with similar wind speeds expected on the Northshore.

At the same time, a large amount of rain is in the forecast.

The National Weather Service said moisture from the Pacific will interact with a cold front and bring periods of heavy rainfall and snow in the higher elevations through early Friday, when it starts to taper off.

The forecast calls for conditions to clear on Friday and continue early into next week, when the next chances of rain are expected on Wednesday.

On Wednesday the Lakeport Public Works Department issued its own advisory about the series of storm systems developing over the eastern Pacific and approaching the area, in addition to the heavy winds.

Officials said several inches of rain could fall in the area through midday Thursday.

The department warned that downed limbs are likely and downed trees are possible. Officials asked that people be aware of the possible driving hazards and of emergency crews out in the storm, and that they drive with care and be safe.

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 Saturday, Dec. 17, ceremonies across Lake County will honor veterans during the holiday season as part of the annual Wreaths Across America Day commemoration. 

On this brisk December morning the community is invited help to show the veterans and families of veterans that attend that they will not be forgotten.

Youth organizations and veteran organizations have volunteered to conduct the Wreaths Across America Ceremony this year at Hartley Cemetery, Kelseyville Cemetery, Lower Lake Cemetery, Upper Lake Cemetery and St. Mary’s Cemetery on Saturday starting promptly at 9 a.m.

Seven ceremonial wreaths will be placed to remember all soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who served, honor their sacrifices and teach younger generations about the high cost of our freedoms. 

Wreaths Across America pursues its mission with nationwide wreath-laying events amid the holiday season, and year-round educational outreach inviting all Americans to appreciate our freedoms and the cost at which they are delivered.

Specially designated wreaths for the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine and POW/MIA will be placed on memorials during a ceremony that will be coordinated simultaneously at more than 1,100 participating locations all across the country and overseas.

In 2015, Wreaths Across America and its national network of volunteers laid more than 901,000 memorial wreaths with help from 2,507 fundraising groups, corporate contributions, and donations of trucking, shipping and thousands of helping hands.

The wreaths for Hartley Cemetery will arrive by truck and trailer on Friday and will proceed down Main Street escorted by the Patriot Guard Riders.

The trucks are driven across country by veterans who volunteer each year to honor and remember fallen veterans.

Take an hour amid the hustle and bustle of this holiday season and bring your families to attend one of these heartfelt ceremonies that will be performed by youth organizations including Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Clear Lake High School Cheerleaders, 4-H,  FFA, CLHS Band, Sheriff Explorers, St. Mary’s Confirmation Kids and K-Corps.

In addition, the Lake County Funeral Honors Team, Patriot Guard Riders and Honor Guard from the Travis Air Force Base will be attending at one of the locations.

Bundle up and show your support for what these veterans and their families have sacrificed. If you can’t make it don’t miss an opportunity to thank a veteran.

Organizers offer their thanks to all of those people, businesses and groups that have so generously sponsored wreaths this year and in the past to assure that veterans in Lake County are honored and remembered.

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