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The Department of Water Resources, or DWR, has launched a new website, California Water Watch, that helps Californians easily access information on current local and statewide water conditions — down to their own region and even neighborhood.

“The variability of California’s climate and current water conditions we are experiencing now make this data more important than ever. Climate whiplash is our new reality living in this State, and we are innovating and developing new tools like California Water Watch to provide water managers, researchers, and policymakers with the data necessary to make better informed decisions about our limited water supply,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth.

The website brings together data from DWR and other sources to provide dynamic real-time information on precipitation, temperature, reservoirs, snowpack, groundwater, streamflow, soil moisture, and vegetation conditions.

Users can enter an address to see local conditions, including daily precipitation and temperature statistics, for their area and links to water supplier information. The website also allows users to compare data on local conditions by year and by region.

The website was developed in response to Gov. Newsom’s call for a California-centric version of the U.S. Drought Monitor website in his drought state of emergency proclamation. The website was also recommended in the California Natural Resources Agency’s report to the Legislature on lessons learned from the 2012-2016 drought.

California Water Watch also includes precipitation forecast maps and links to other forecasting products, all from one easy-to-use web page. Regular hydroclimate summaries developed by California State Climatologist Mike Anderson will also be posted to the California Water Watch website.

These summaries will succinctly describe what current water conditions look like in California and their impacts on the current drought.

California Water Watch is just one of many tools being leveraged and developed by DWR to keep Californians informed about current conditions and to improve water supply forecasting.

For information about other DWR and State drought response efforts and funding programs, visit: drought.ca.gov/.

For more information, follow us on Twitter or Facebook and read our news releases and DWR updates.
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NORTH‌‌ ‌‌COAST, ‌‌ ‌‌Calif. ‌‌— ‌Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌reports‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌following‌‌ ‌‌road‌‌ ‌‌projects‌‌ ‌‌will‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌taking‌‌ ‌‌place‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌around‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌North‌‌ ‌‌Coast‌‌ ‌‌during‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌coming‌‌ ‌‌week. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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Included‌‌ ‌‌are‌‌ ‌‌Mendocino‌‌ ‌‌County‌‌ ‌‌projects‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌may‌‌ ‌‌impact‌‌ ‌‌Lake‌‌ ‌‌County‌‌ ‌‌commuters, as well as work in Del Norte and Humboldt counties.
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Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌advises‌‌ ‌‌motorists‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌drive‌‌ ‌‌with‌‌ ‌‌caution‌‌ ‌‌when‌‌ ‌‌approaching‌‌ ‌‌work‌‌ ‌‌areas‌‌ ‌‌and‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌‌prepared‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌stop‌‌ ‌‌at‌‌ ‌‌traffic‌‌ ‌‌control‌‌ ‌‌stations. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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The‌‌ ‌‌Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌Traffic‌‌ ‌‌Operations‌‌ ‌‌Office‌‌ ‌‌has‌‌ ‌‌reviewed‌‌ ‌‌each‌‌ ‌‌project‌‌ ‌‌and‌‌ ‌‌determined‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌individual‌‌ ‌‌‌project‌‌ ‌‌delays‌‌ ‌‌are‌‌ ‌‌expected‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌less‌‌ ‌‌than‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌statewide‌‌ ‌‌policy‌‌ ‌‌maximum‌‌ ‌‌of‌‌ ‌‌30‌‌ ‌‌minutes‌‌ ‌‌unless‌‌ ‌‌‌noted‌‌ ‌‌otherwise. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌

Caltrans will suspend most work on Northern California highways from Friday, Feb. 18, through Monday, Feb. 21, in observance of Presidents Day. However, in the case of unforeseen circumstances, it may be necessary for Caltrans crews to respond to emergency situations.

For‌‌ ‌‌updates‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌this‌‌ ‌‌list‌‌ ‌‌check‌‌ ‌‌QuickMap‌‌ ‌‌at‌‌ ‌‌‌www.dot.ca.gov‌‌‌ or‌‌ ‌‌1-800-GAS-ROAD‌‌ ‌‌‌(1-800-427-7623). ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌

LAKE‌‌ ‌‌COUNTY‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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Highway‌‌ ‌‌20

— Paving work west of Upper Lake near Saratoga Springs Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Utility work will occur Thursday, Feb. 24, west of Nice. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

— Utility work scheduled to begin Tuesday, Feb. 22, north of Gualala. One-way traffic control in place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Wednesday, Feb. 23. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Tree work scheduled near Hales Grove on Tuesday, Feb. 22. One-way traffic control in effect from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday, Feb. 25. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 20

— Emergency work continues south of Willits at the Jct 20/101 Bridge. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect 10-minute delays.

Highway 101

— Slide removal at Pieta Creek Bridge will continue. Northbound Lane closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Utility work scheduled north of Hopland Thursday, Feb. 24. One-way traffic control in place from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Road work planned in Redwood Valley at West Road on Tuesday, Feb. 22. Lane closure in place between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate minor delays through Thursday, Feb. 24.

— Moss Cove Safety Rest Area will be closed through March 2022.

— Empire Camp Safety Rest Area will be closed through March 2022.

— Utility work scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 22, near Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area. One-way traffic control in place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

Highway 271

— Utility work scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 24, near Cummings. One-way traffic control in effect between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

DEL NORTE COUNTY

Highway 101

— Bridge work north of Klamath near Old Hunter Creek Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Emergency work and construction in the Last Chance Grade area will continue. Motorists should anticipate 30-minute delays at all hours.

— Shoulder work near Ocean World in Crescent City will continue. Lane closures in place from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect minor slowdowns through the area.

Highway 199

— Tree work scheduled continues with one-way traffic control in effect through 7 a.m. to p.m. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY

Highway 36

— PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility work scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 23. One-way traffic control in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the area. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Construction work scheduled east of Grizzly Redwoods State Park to Bridgeville beginning Tuesday, Feb. 22. One-way traffic control in place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday, Feb. 25. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

Highway 96

— Emergency work near Willow Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 7 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Motorists should expect 20-minute delays.

Highway 101

— Bridge work south of Phillipsville will continue. Lane closures will be in effect weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns. A northbound onramp closure will also be in effect. Motorists should use an alternate route.

— Utility work scheduled for Tuesday, February 22 north of Redcrest. Northbound lane closure in place between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Motorists should expect five5-minute delays.

— Utility work scheduled overnight in Fortuna Thursday, Feb. 24, beginning at 7 p.m. Full southbound offramp closure in place through Friday, Feb. 25, at 7 a.m. Motorists should use an alternate route.

— Utility work scheduled overnight in Eureka Sunday, Feb. 20, beginning at 9 p.m. Southbound lane closure in place through Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 6 a.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Repair work scheduled at the Trinidad Rest Area effective immediately. A full closure is in place until work is completed. Motorists should plan for alternate services.

Highway 211

— Guardrail work north of Ferndale is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Feb. 22. One-way traffic control in effect at all hours through Friday, Feb. 25. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 255

— Utility work near Manila will continue. One-way traffic will be in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect 10-minute delays.

Highway 299

— Repair work east of Blue Lake to Willow Creek to continue. One-way traffic control in effect 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 20-minute delays.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lake County Women’s Civic Club hosted its annual New Member Tea on Friday, Feb. 11, at Lakeport Lagoon.

Six new members — Jennifer Richardson, Trena Pauly, Linda Beeson, Susan Lucatorto, Barbara Davison and Sandra Musick — were in attendance to enjoy an extensive array of sandwiches and sweets prepared by their own executive board of directors and committee chairpersons.

LCWCC could not be happier to have these new members on board to help out as they get busy working on their 27th annual Mad Hatters Ball fundraiser to be held on Saturday, April 23, at Boutique Winery.

The theme is “International Kindness” and the group will be celebrating food and fashion from around the globe.

What could be an ominous undertaking becomes nothing but a good time with this enthusiastic, creative, funloving group of ladies who come together to host an event that will raise funds for organizations like Hope Harbor Warming Center, Hospice Services of Lake County, Lake County Vet-Connect, and provide vocational scholarships for our local high school seniors.

Tickets for this event will go on sale March 4. If you are interested in purchasing yours, please call Kerry Moore at 707-364-6165.
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At its February meeting, the California Fish and Game Commission acted on several issues affecting California’s natural resources.

The commission readopted emergency regulation prohibiting the use of hydraulic pumps to take clams, sand crabs and shrimp.

It adopted regulations to protect bull kelp that include a prohibition of commercial harvest in Sonoma and Mendocino counties, an annual limit of 8,000 pounds in Humboldt and Del Norte counties and other measures to protect kelp.

The commission also adopted regulations to protect California’s iconic grunion populations by implementing a bag limit of 30 fish per person and extending the closed season by an additional month to include the month of June.

Commissioners voted unanimously to list San Bernardino kangaroo rat as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act, or CESA.

The decision to determine whether or not listing southern California steelhead as endangered under CESA may be warranted was continued.

The commission continued the decision to ratify findings for the decision to list northern California summer steelhead as endangered under CESA.

Commissioners determined that listing Lime Ridge eriastrum as endangered under CESA may be warranted. This commences a one-year status review to be completed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, or CDFW, and Lime Ridge eriastrum is protected as a candidate species during that time.

The commission voted unanimously to list Shasta snow-wreath as threatened under CESA.

In other business, the commission adopted amendments to big game regulations to include preference points reinstatement and tag refunds due to public land closures. More information on how to apply for reinstatement will be available at CDFW’s licensing website.

The commission received a petition from the Humane Society of the United States to eliminate open hunting season for black bear until CDFW updates its bear management plan including a census of the California black bear population. The commission referred the petition to CDFW.

The full commission was present. At the meeting, the commission elected Commissioner Samantha Murray as president, replacing outgoing President Peter Silva who is stepping down from the Commission effective Friday, Feb. 18.

The commission elected Commissioner Erika Zavaleta as vice president, a position previously held by President Murray.

They also assigned chairs for three committees. Commissioner Jacque Hostler-Carmesin was selected to continue as chair of the Tribal Committee. President Murray and Commissioner Erik Sklar will continue as co-chairs of the Marine Resources Committee. Vice President Erika Zavaleta will continue to serve on the Wildlife Resources Committee as chair.

The agenda for this meeting along with supporting information is available on the commission website. An archived audio file will be available in the coming days.

The next meeting of the full commission is scheduled for April 20 to 21, 2022. See the commission website for details.
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A bill to prohibit the use of the word “squaw” for geographic features and place names in California by Jan. 1, 2024, has been introduced by Assembly members James C. Ramos (D-Highland), the first California Native American elected to the state legislature and Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens), chair of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus.

“AB 2022 would ban the use of the S-word and establish a process for renaming locations with that offensive racial and sexist term which began as derogatory word used against Native American women. It is an idiom that came into use during the westward expansion of America, and it is not a tribal word. For decades, Native Americans have argued against the designation’s use because behind that expression is the disparagement of Native women that contributes to the crisis of missing and murdered people in our community,” Ramos stated.

Ramos added that more than 100 places in California contain the S-word.

The United States Department of the Interior has ordered the term “erased from the National landscape and forever replaced” on the almost 700 sites using the name on federal lands. Montana, Oregon, Maine and Minnesota have already banned the word’s use.

“The sad reality is that this term has been used for generations and normalized, even though it is a misogynistic and racist term rooted in the oppression and belittling of Indigenous women. AB 2022 begins to correct an ugly and painful part of our history by removing it from California’s landmarks; it’s the least we can do to help our indigenous women heal,” Garcia said.

AB 2022 defines a geographic feature as any location or publicly owned structure in the state such as navigable water, parks, local roads, bridges and publicly owned buildings.

A place is defined in the proposal as a natural geographic feature or street, alley, or other road within the jurisdiction of the state or political subdivision of the state.

State and local government bodies shall identify geographic features and place names within their jurisdictions and report those locations or features to the California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names.

The committee would be charged with working with those bodies and the Native American Heritage Commission to recommend replacement names.

AB 2022 is sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union CA.
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The California condor wingspan is 9.5 feet wide, and body from beak to tail is 4 feet long. Photo by Chris West.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Special guest Tiana Williams-Claussen will talk about reintroducing California condors to their historical Northern California and Pacific Northwest range at Redbud Audubon’s Zoom program on Thursday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m.

The Yurok Tribe in Northern California has been preparing over 14 years to bring condors, this nation’s largest bird, home to a historic part of its range after a century-long absence.

Not only will this restore an apex species into the region’s ecological systems, but it will promote the Yurok Tribe’s reconnection to this amazing creature that is sacred to the tribe and has great cultural importance.

Williams-Claussen, director of the Yurok Tribe Wildlife Department, will briefly introduce the incredible Prey-go-neesh — the California condor — and describe the traditions guiding the Yurok Tribe's efforts to bring condors back to the tribal ancestral territory.

She will explain the tribe’s step-by-step progress over 14 years to develop collaborative partnerships with the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Ventana Wildlife Society, multiple zoos and local hunters.

Tribal members working on construction of the condor release and management facility. Yurok Tribe photo.

With the necessary facilities construction nearing completion, the tribe hopes to release the first four condors this spring. In closing her talk, she will describe the Yurok Tribe’s approach for reintegrating condors once they are released.

Williams-Claussen is a Yurok tribal member from the village of Wehl-kwew and was raised in Yurok ancestral territory.

She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in biochemical sciences from Harvard University, after which she returned to serve her tribe. She was instrumental in the formation of the Yurok Tribe Wildlife Department in 2008 and currently serves as department director.
Her native upbringing and formal education combine to allow her to bridge the gap between Yurok traditional understandings of the world and those rooted in Western science. She is working toward a cohesive, well-informed approach to holistic ecosystem management.

To register for this fascinating presentation, go to www.redbudaudubon.org and click on the registration link on the homepage of the website. The link to join the presentation will be sent to you the day of the program. In order to secure your spot, please register by Wednesday, Feb. 16.

This facility will be used to house and assess condor health and behavior prior to release, and for later capture and assessment. Yurok Tribe photo.

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