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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Tuesday that it will not grant an emergency endangered species listing to the Clear Lake hitch, however, a listing under the agency’s regular process could still happen after a species evaluation is complete in two years’ time.

The Fish and Wildlife Service said it will continue to invest in projects that support the hitch’s recovery while moving forward with its full evaluation of the species scheduled to be completed by January 2025.

Lake County News reached out to Sarah Ryan, environmental director for the Big Valley Pomo on Tuesday, to ask for the tribe’s comment. However, as of press time, the tribe did not offer a formal response to the federal emergency listing decision.

Meg Townsend of the Center for Biological Diversity, who has been working on the organization’s efforts to save the hitch, said it’s unfortunate that Fish and Wildlife seems to believe that an emergency listing is only for extremely rare situations.

“We really believe the hitch should have qualified,” Townsend said.

The hitch, also known as the “chi” to Lake County’s Pomo tribes — for whom it’s traditionally been a primary food source — is one of Clear Lake’s native fish.

It’s been listed as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act since 2014.

In late 2020, Fish and Wildlife declined to list the fish federally, which led to a lawsuit seeking reconsideration filed in August 2021 by the Center for Biological Diversity — whose work led to the state listing.

In recent years, as the back and forth about the federal listing has taken place, tribes and other observers have reported a major decline in hitch numbers, a situation that’s largely been attributed to climate change, habitat loss, a series of drought years and poor water quality in Clear Lake and its tributaries.

In November, the California Fish and Game Commission wrote to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to request emergency listing of the hitch under the Endangered Species Act.

Tribal concerns for the hitch’s survival led them to join with the Center for Biological Diversity to advocate for that emergency listing action in December following a summit on the hitch situation.

In February, the Board of Supervisors proclaimed a local emergency for the hitch.

Then, in March, apparently bolstered by high water in Clear Lake and its tributaries, the hitch appeared by the thousands in local creeks as they began their annual spawning run.

After considering the immediacy of the threats to the species, Fish and Wildlife said its review of the hitch’s current situation of the species “does not indicate that an emergency under the Endangered Species Act exists at this time,” according to the Tuesday statement.

“The Service is committed to helping the Clear Lake hitch regardless of its federal listing status,” said Michael Fris, field supervisor of the Service’s Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office. “We will continue to monitor the species closely and work collaboratively with partners on projects that contribute to conserving the species.”

The agency’s Tuesday statement also noted, “While the species’ population numbers in Clear Lake are troubling, many of the issues affecting Clear Lake and its associated tributaries are chronic and have no immediate solution or need further investigation to determine an appropriate solution. The emergency listing provision is effective when there is a clear threat that can be addressed expeditiously by regulatory authorities and has only been used a handful of times in the history of the Endangered Species Act.”

While current data show the hitch population in Clear Lake is declining, the population in nearby Thurston Lake continues to successfully spawn and includes fish ranging in age from juvenile to adult. Hitch have also been reported in Blue Lakes, Fish and Wildlife reported.

Fish and Wildlife said it is funding several studies and working with local parties on a conservation strategy for the hitch.

To date, the agency said it has provided more than $1.2 million in grants and other funding to the U.S. Geological Service and Lake County tribes for monitoring, research and habitat restoration projects related to the Clear Lake hitch.

In April, the Service provided a $250,000 grant to USGS to support a mapping effort of streams and tributaries flowing into Clear Lake and identify where barriers to spawning hitch exist. This data will help Fish and Wildlife and other organizations prioritize efforts to remove barriers that impede the spawning activity.

Fish and Wildlife said it is committed to completing a conservation strategy for the hitch in 2023. The strategy identifies goals, objectives and actions that are needed to improve the species’ habitat. It also addresses the issues that are impacting the Clear Lake hitch and the watershed, including drought and climate change.

The agency said the strategy was developed alongside many partners, including tribes, local organizations, and state, federal and local government agencies. It views the conservation strategy as a recovery plan and intends to complete and implement the strategy while completing the formal evaluation of the species.

Asked if a listing is still possible depending on the assessment, Meghan Snow, a public affairs officer for Fish and Wildlife, told Lake County News in an email, “That is a possibility, but it's too early to determine. The Service will issue a call for data on the Clear Lake hitch this summer. The data collected through this process will be evaluated and integrated into the Service’s assessment of the species. The agency is on track to complete its evaluation of the Clear Lake hitch by January 2025. If the evaluation indicates that listing the species is warranted, the agency will propose listing at that time.”

The Center for Biological Diversity hopes Fish and Wildlife will do “the right thing” once the assessment is completed and list the hitch, Townsend said.

She added, “Listing doesn’t mean a species is saved.”

Townsend said it’s necessary to provide protections for species and habitat.

However, for the hitch, Townsend said no science-supported evidence is showing that protections are working. “We really need to see a population rebound this year.”

That could happen given the significant rainfall Lake County has experienced. Or, Townsend added, the recent developments with the hitch population could just “be a blip on the trend toward extinction.”

In the meantime, she acknowledged that governments are giving money to the effort to save the hitch, which came about because groups like hers, working with the tribes, called attention to the fish’s plight.

“It’s really all hands on deck,” she said.

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 Lakeport City Council on Tuesday evening approved amending a contract for a study to look at Lakeport Boulevard, one of the city’s busiest and expanding commercial corridors.

Public Works Director Ron Ladd asked for, and received, the council’s unanimous approval for the first amendment to the city’s professional services agreement with WMH, hired in the fall to conduct the Lakeport Boulevard at Bevins Street project study report at a cost not to exceed $147,014.

Ladd’s written report for the meeting said the new contract will cost $157,986.

The project’s expanded scope, while being more expensive, “will provide a more comprehensive evaluation of the corridor and provide cost estimates that future development will be required to contribute to for their fair share of traffic improvements to the corridor,” Ladd explained in his written report to the council.

“This has been a challenging project, to say the least,” Ladd told the council, adding, “We have a lot going on in the Lakeport Boulevard corridor.”

When the city initially issued its request for qualifications for the study in June of 2022, Ladd said the plan had been to study the entire Lakeport Boulevard corridor, including the on- and offramps, the east and west sides of Highway 29, future development on both sides of the highway and potential impacts on Bevins and Martin streets.

At the same time, he said the city was aware that the state was moving forward on its courthouse project.

The new $73.1 million courthouse will be built at 675 Lakeport Blvd. The Judicial Council of California reported that construction is expected to begin in February 2024 and be completed by October 2025.

A state priority project list created in 2019 put Lakeport’s courthouse at No. 1 out of 80 projects statewide.

Ladd explained that the city had hoped to use the contract to assist the state in the development of the new courthouse project and so the original, broader scope to the study was scaled down.

Part of the city’s goal had been to introduce a traffic alternative to the state’s proposed plan that will impact the intersection of Lakeport Boulevard at Larrecou Lane, Ladd said.

However, the state presented the city with what Ladd said were “aggressive” timelines and the city, in turn, thought the state was being narrow-minded about some of the traffic design options and wasn’t willing to look at the city’s proposals.

In the end, Ladd said staff felt it was better to go back to the project’s original scope of assessing the entire corridor.

While the cost will be higher, it will provide them with a better study for traffic improvement needs, position them in the future for funding for projects in the corridor, help the city to collect development fees and pursue partnerships with other agencies.

Ladd said he’s been involved every step of the way and the situation is still confusing to him as well.

“There are a lot of moving parts here,” said Ladd.

Mayor Stacey Mattina said Ladd was doing a great job, and that it was the courts that didn't make sense, a sentiment with which City Manager Kevin Ingram agreed.

Ingram said the change in plans allows the city to take a step back. He pointed out that the city’s previous work to complete a revitalization plan helped bring in millions of dollars for the new Lakefront Park’s development.

Similarly, he said the Lakeport Boulevard corridor study will position the city for getting the construction aspects of improvements to the area into the Lake Area Planning Council’s work plan in the future.

It will also help the city determine appropriate developers fees. “The developers want to know what their costs are up front. They don't like the surprises later,” said Ingram, adding that developers would prefer to have a study like this one so they can get that information.

Even though the study’s cost is a significant outlay to the city in the beginning, “This will be paid for through future development,” Ingram said.

There is growing development pressure along Lakeport Boulevard. Ingram said it also makes sense to have Caltrans involved in the planning process from a comprehensive standpoint.

Councilman Brandon Disney said he could think of several new projects — including a possible new pool and “The Hub” commercial development along nearby Parallel Drive — that would impact Lakeport Boulevard.

Ingram said Lake County Tribal Health also has met with the city several times to discuss its expansion plans, which also would affect the area.

“The future of this area is going to be pretty busy,” said Disney. While it’s an expensive study, “There’s a lot going on here,” he added.

Councilman Michael Froio moved to approve the amendment, which the council approved 5-0.

Also on Tuesday, the council presented a proclamation designating May 1 to 7 as Youth Week, and received presentations from Supervisor Bruno Sabatier on the Public, Educational and Governmental, or PEG, channel and the upcoming Shakespeare at the Lake event by the event’s director, John Tomlinson.

In other business, the council adopted a resolution revising the City of Lakeport Legislative Policy to include reference to the League of California Cities 2023 state and federal advocacy priorities and approved a services agreement with OpenGov for permitting, licensing and procurement software.

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.


Tribal leaders, law enforcement representatives and others shared concerns at an informational hearing and a news briefing today about the continuing Missing and Murdered Indigenous People crisis with lawmakers and shared that despite new resources to address the issue, California now has two tribes so disturbed by violence against their members that they have declared states of emergency.

Round Valley Indian Tribes declared a State of Emergency in April, after two members were found murdered, the latest victims in Northern California of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People, or MMIP.

The tribal action was preceded In December of 2021 by the Yurok Tribe in Humboldt County.

The Yurok Tribe action followed seven women reported being approached by possible traffickers and the still unsolved case of Emmilee Risling, reported missing in October 2021.

The Yurok Tribe has been at the forefront in confronting the crisis and called for a summit of California tribes and others held last year to address the issue.

Summit participants called for implementation of a public notification alert when Native Americans go missing — the 2022 “Feather Alert” law, similar to the Amber Alert, authored by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino).

“The July 2021 Year 2 Progress Report about Missing and Murdered people reported that more than 150 cases were documented throughout the state, which places California among the top five states with the highest number of cases,” Ramos said.

He added, “The National Crime Information Center reported 5,712 missing American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls in the U.S. with only 116 of cases logged by the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. We can’t stop the violence with that lack of scrutiny and awareness.”

Yurok Tribe Chairman Joe James, who testified at the hearing, stated at a Day of Action to raise awareness on the MMIP issue, “We got some work to do and again, that’s why we’re here today. It’s us and we are moving this forward as tribes, as a state, as advocates, as organizations coming together, ringing that bell.”

Hearing participants included tribal chairpersons from around the state including James and Randall Britton, Rhonda Pope Flores of the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians, and others as well as Catalina Chacon Commissioner on the California Commission of the Status of Women and Girls, Yurok Tribe Chief Judge Abby Abinanti and Dorothy Alther, legal director, California Indian Legal Services.

Ramos said this year’s commemoration of MMIP Day included historic observations such as the Capitol Dome illuminated in red from May 2 to May 5 and the first ever Candlelight Vigil scheduled for May 3 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the Capitol’s West Steps.

“We can’t stop pressing for solutions to this crisis. Too many lives have already been lost,” he said.

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These benefits make it easier for millions of Americans to buy groceries. SDI Productions/E+ via Getty Images
Kelsey Pukelis, Harvard Kennedy School

The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would cut spending, in part by expanding work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, through which nearly 43 million low-income Americans get help buying groceries. The House bill calls for this policy to apply to adults as old as 55, while today this policy only applies to adults under 50. Some Democrats, in contrast, are seeking to eliminate work requirements altogether.

The bill passed by a 217-215 vote, with all but four Republicans in favor and every Democrat opposed, on April 26, 2023. Tied to a standoff over raising the debt ceiling, the bill would also make Medicaid – the U.S. program that helps low-income and disabled people get health care – contingent on work requirements for some eligible Americans. It’s not clear whether that’s possible, since a federal court has struck down similar measures enacted in some states previously.

Since the Clinton administration, the government has required that at least some people getting SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, do paid work, get job training or volunteer – otherwise they can’t continue receiving benefits. Those requirements were paused in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are set to return in July 2023 regardless of the fate of the House bill – which is unlikely to pass in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

I’m a member of a team of economists studying the social safety net and work. Because the rationale for work requirements is that they encourage adults who are able to work to earn more money and become more economically self-sufficient, we wanted to determine whether this policy boosts employment and earnings. We also looked into whether SNAP work requirements lead low-income adults to lose their benefits.

We found that the policy doesn’t make people more likely to find a job or make more money, but it does make Americans who could use help buying groceries less likely to get it.

Tracing a similar case study

Adults with SNAP benefits who are subject to work requirements must document at least 80 hours per month of paid work, job training or volunteering. Otherwise, they can get the benefits for only three months within a three-year period.

Before the pandemic, these rules applied to most so-called “able-bodied” adults without children who were under 50, and that policy will again apply in July. There are some exceptions, such as if the person with benefits is caring for kids younger than 6, has disabilities incompatible with holding a steady job or is in a drug or alcohol rehabilitation program.

To determine this policy’s impact, we studied SNAP, employment and earnings data in Virginia from both the period of the state’s previous suspension of work requirements and afterward.

Virginia, like many other states, suspended work requirements for several years beginning in the Great Recession. During this period, adults could enroll in the program and continue to receive benefits regardless of their employment status.

In October 2013, however, Virginia reinstated work requirements, and they remained in effect in most counties for several years. In those areas, adults under the age of 50 without dependents who were considered able to work needed to either satisfy work requirements or receive an individual exemption to keep their SNAP benefits, while similar adults over the age of 50 did not.

We followed both age groups over time, comparing whether they worked and were getting SNAP benefits both before and after work requirements returned.

No employment boost

By comparing older and younger adults previously getting SNAP benefits, we found that work requirements did not increase employment or earnings 18 months after their reinstatement.

We also detected nearly identical patterns of employment before and after work requirements were reinstated for people in both age groups.

Adults without dependents, whether or not they lost their SNAP benefits to the resumption of work requirements, were earning at most an additional US$28 per month.

Many lost their benefits

But we did find that work requirements dramatically reduced the number of people enrolled in SNAP. Among the adults subject to work requirements once they were restored in 2013, over half lost their benefits because of the policy.

We also found that work requirements disproportionately led people who had faced great economic hardships, such as those without housing or earned income, to lose benefits.

Only 44% of the currently or formerly homeless people getting benefits remained enrolled in SNAP 18 months after work requirements were reinstated, compared with 64% of everyone else, our estimates suggest. Similarly, only 59% of those with no earned income remained enrolled, relative to 73% of those with prior earnings.

Because they are likely to qualify for an individual exemption to work requirements, adults with a history of a disability were more likely to retain benefits compared with others.

Adults kicked out of SNAP because of work requirements typically stood to lose $189 in benefits per month – the most a single person could obtain at the time. It also amounted to about two-thirds of their gross income.

We studied work requirements in Virginia because of the availability of detailed data on both earnings and SNAP benefits.

Although work requirements enforcement varies across states, we believe that our results are likely to be representative of the impacts of this policy, since SNAP recipients in Virginia look similar to nationwide averages on most demographic characteristics except race.

Our findings do suggest that work requirements restrain federal spending by reducing the number of people getting SNAP benefits.

But our work also indicates that in today’s context, these savings would be at the expense of already vulnerable people facing additional economic hardship at a time when a new recession could be around the corner.The Conversation

Kelsey Pukelis, Ph.D. Student in Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Following a rainy Monday, more rain is in the forecast for Lake County through the middle of this week.

Lake County and a swath of other Northern California counties could see thunderstorms on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters also anticipate rain for Lake County through Thursday.

For the 24-hour period ending at 2 a.m. Tuesday, the following rainfall totals — in inches — were reported at National Weather Service observation stations:

• Cobb: 0.48;
• Hidden Valley Lake: 0.59;
• Kelseyville: 0.54;
• Lake Pillsbury: 0.64;
• Lower Lake: 0.29;
• Upper Lake: 0.61.

The National Weather Service’s forecast said a weather pattern moving over the North Coast will potentially bring a chance of thunderstorm activity on Tuesday to Lake and Mendocino
Counties.

Light winds are forecast throughout much of the week, rising to gusts as high as 20 miles per hour on Thursday night.

From Thursday through the weekend, conditions are forecast to move between partly cloudy and mostly sunny.

Daytime temperatures through Monday are expected to range between 54 degrees on Tuesday to 67 degrees on Monday. Nighttime conditions will hover in the low 40s.

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.

Right, Sean de Guzman, Manager of the California Department of Water Resources Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit, and Anthony Burdock, Department of Water Resources Engineers in the Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit, weigh the aluminum survey pole during the final snow survey of the 2023 season at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Assisting in the survey Jordan Thoennes, Department of Water Resources Engineers in the Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit. The survey was held approximately 90 miles east of Sacramento off U.S. Highway 50 in El Dorado County. Photo taken May 1, 2023 by Ken James/California Department of Water Resources.

The latest state snow survey, conducted on Monday, shows California’s snowpack remains dee and strong, one of the largest since recordings began.

The Department of Water Resources, or DWR, on Monday conducted the fifth snow survey of the season at Phillips Station.

The manual survey recorded 59 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 30 inches, which is 241% of average for this location on May 1.

The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water still contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply run-off forecast.

DWR’s electronic readings from 130 snow sensors placed throughout the state indicate the statewide snowpack’s snow water equivalent is 49.2 inches, or 254% of average for this date.

Despite a brief increase in temperatures in late April, the statewide snowpack overall melted at a slower pace than average over the month of April due to below average temperatures early in the month and increased cloud cover.

An average of 12 inches of the snowpack’s snow water equivalent has melted in the past month and it now contains an average of 49.2 inches.

Right, Sean de Guzman, Manager of the California Department of Water Resources Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit, and Anthony Burdock, Department of Water Resources Engineers in the Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit, inspect the aluminum survey pole during the final snow survey of the 2023 season at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Assisting in the survey, center, Jordan Thoennes, Department of Water Resources Engineers in the Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit. The survey was held approximately 90 miles east of Sacramento off U.S. Highway 50 in El Dorado County. Photo taken May 1, 2023, by Fred Greaves/California Department of Water Resources.

Snow surveys like the one at Phillips Station are critical to planning for impacts of the coming snowmelt runoff on communities.

DWR uses the most updated technology to gather data from snow surveys, a network of 130 remote snow sensors, and airborne snow observatory data to gather information on current real-world conditions to create the most accurate snowmelt runoff forecasts possible.

These runoff forecasts, published through DWR’s Bulletin 120, allow reservoir operators to plan for anticipated inflows and water managers downstream of reservoirs to plan and prepare for flood risks.

“While providing a significant boost to California’s water supplies, this year’s massive snowpack is posing continued flood risks in the San Joaquin Valley,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “The snowpack will not disappear in one week or one month but will lead to sustained high flows across the San Joaquin and Tulare Basins over the next several months and this data will help us inform water managers and ultimately help protect communities in these regions.”

The last time there was measurable snow at the Phillips snow course on May 1 was 2020, when only 1.5 inches of snow and .5 inches of snow water equivalent was measured.

“No matter how you look at the data, only a handful of years in the historical record compare to this year’s results,” said Sean de Guzman, manager of DWR’s Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit. “Survey results from our partners in the California Cooperative Snow Surveys Program and other data, including data from Airborne Snow Observatory flights, allow us to incorporate these data into our models to provide the most accurate snowmelt runoff forecasts possible right now to inform water supply, flood control, and planning.”

According to historical records, only the April 1 measurements from the years 1952, 1969, 1983 and this year were above 200%, although it is difficult to directly compare individual years across the decades due to changes in the number of snow courses measured over time.

Snow runoff near the California Department of Water Resources snow survey site at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The site is approximately 90 miles east of Sacramento off Highway 50 in El Dorado County. Photo taken May 1, 2023, by Fred Greaves/California Department of Water Resources.

Due to the impact of climate change on California’s snowpack, since 2021, snowpack averages have been calculated using a timeframe of 1991 through 2020 so that results better reflect the current climate conditions.

DWR is maximizing the amount of water that can be stored and diverted from this record snowpack.

In April, DWR announced a 100% allocation of requested supplies from the State Water Project, or SWP, which delivers water to 29 public water agencies that serve 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland.

The last time the SWP allocated 100% was in 2006. DWR is also maximizing the amount of water that can be diverted towards recharging groundwater basins so more water is stored for future use in underground reservoirs.

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom visited the Tulare Basin to tour flood impacts firsthand, met with community leaders and emphasized the state’s commitment to supporting and providing appropriate assistance to counties impacted by recent and anticipated flooding this spring and summer.

Snowmelt runoff forecasts are an instrumental part of the assistance provided by DWR’s State-Federal Flood Operations Center, or FOC, which is supporting emergency response in the Tulare Lake Basin and Lower San Joaquin River by providing technical and materials assistance to support ongoing flood response activities.

Storms this year have caused impacts across the state including flooding in the community of Pajaro and communities in Sacramento, Tulare and Merced counties. The FOC has helped Californians by providing more than 1.4 million sandbags, 1 million square feet of plastic sheeting, and 9,000 feet of reinforcing muscle wall, across the state since January.

A nearby mountain peak still has a good amount of snow near the Phillips Station meadow, where the California Department of Water Resources conducted the last snow survey of the 2023 season. The survey was held approximately 90 miles east of Sacramento off Highway 50 in the Sierra Nevada Mountains within El Dorado County. Photo taken May 1, 2023, by Fred Greaves/California Department of Water Resources.

As the national day to commemorate Missing or Murdered Indigenous People — or MMIP — on May 5 nears, the California Native American Legislative Caucus will mark the first week in May with a round of activities highlighting disproportionate cases of violence against Native Americans.

California has two tribes that have declared a state of emergency because of violence against their tribal members.

Round Valley Indian Tribes declared a state of emergency in April, after two members were found murdered, the latest victims in Northern California of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People.

The tribal action was preceded in December of 2021 by the Yurok Tribe, in Humboldt County.

The Yurok Tribe action followed seven women reported being approached by possible traffickers and the still-unsolved case of Emmilee Risling, reported missing in October 2021.

The Yurok Tribe has been at the forefront in confronting the crisis and called for a summit of California tribes and others held last year to address the issue.

Summit participants called for implementation of a public notification alert when Native Americans go missing — the 2022 “Feather Alert” law, similar to the Amber Alert, written by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino).

In Lake County, Tribal Health is planning a special community event to draw attention to the MMIP epidemic on Friday, May 5, from 2 to 7 p.m. at 1950 Parallel Drive in Lakeport.

MMIP WEEK OF CAPITOL ACTIVITIES

• Tuesday, May 2, 8:30 to 9:15 a.m.: News briefing in State Capitol Room 317 on the vital issues spotlighted this week. Attending will be tribal chairpersons, including two who have issued emergency declarations on this issue, as well as Ramos, other lawmakers, advocates, and members of the Assembly Select Committee on Native American Affairs. It will be livestreamed on Ramos’ Facebook page and YouTube.

• Tuesday, May 2, through Friday, May 5: Capitol Dome illuminated in red for the first time ever to commemorate Missing or Murdered Indigenous People.

• Tuesday, May 2, 9:30 a.m. to noon: Assembly Select Committee on Native American Affairs informational hearing on MMIP entitled, “Not Invisible: California’s Work to Combat the Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People.” State Capitol, Room 126. Among those participating are Ramos, select committee chair; tribal leaders; law enforcement representatives; and advocates. It will be televised here.

• Wednesday, May 3, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Candlelight vigil and program, state Capitol west steps. Anticipate 800 to 1,000 people. Tribal leaders, lawmakers, advocates, Native American cultural performances. It will be livestreamed on Ramos’ Facebook page.

• Thursday, May 4 at 9 a.m.: Assembly Floor Session. Assemblymember Ramos will open the session with a Native song and prayer memorializing MMIP. Vote also set on ACR 25, designating May as Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Month.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The East Region Town Hall, or ERTH, will meet on Wednesday, May 3.

The meeting will begin at 4 p.m. at the Moose Lodge, located at 15900 Moose Lodge Lane in Clearlake Oaks.

The meeting will be available via Zoom. The meeting ID is 986 3245 2684, pass code is 666827.

On the agenda will be guest speaker Scott Harter, Lake County Special Districts administrator, who will give a presentation on the proposed Consolidated lighting district and additional streetlights for Clearlake Oaks.

Other ongoing agenda items include the Lake County Geothermal Project Watchlist, commercial cannabis cultivation projects and a cannabis ordinance task force update, and a report on upcoming proposed commercial and residential project applications requiring use permits within ERTH’s boundaries, and updates on Spring Valley, the Northshore Fire Protection District, and the Oaks Arm and Keys Restoration projects, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Sulphur Bank Mine Superfund site and a report from Supervisor EJ Crandell.

The group’s next meeting will take place on June 7.

ERTH’s members are Denise Loustalot, Jim Burton, Tony Morris and Pamela Kicenski.

For more information visit the group’s Facebook page.

Top: State Parks' newest class of Peace Officers at the graduation on Friday, April 28, 2023, in Paradise, California. Bottom left: State Park Peace Officer Haley Lubben pins graduate and salutatorian Gabriel Del Castillo. Bottom middle: State Parks Director Armando Director speaks before the graduating class. Bottom right: Chief Law Enforcement Executive Officer Jason De Wall pins graduate Giselle Barrios. Photos from California State Parks.

California State Parks graduated 30 cadets, including 29 rangers and one lifeguard, on Friday, April 28, who will "Live the Parks Life" in the country's largest state park system.

Since the Basic Visitor Services Training, or BVST, Academy began on Sept. 19, 2022, this class’ members has stayed committed to their responsibility as keepers of the state's most valuable natural and cultural resources as they advance to the next stage of their careers.

“Integrity is the foundation of law enforcement … graduates have a commitment to public service, dedicating themselves to our natural and cultural resources and the communities that enjoy these lands and waters,” said State Parks Director Armando Quintero before the graduating class. “You must be willing to put yourself and your own safety at risk to protect the safety of others … I hope that your careers are rewarding, your lives are rich with community and love, stay safe and I look forward to seeing you in the parks.”

After spending 32 weeks in the academy, the cadets received their badges and formally became State Park Peace Officers with their family, friends, and department staff serving as their audience both in person in Paradise, California and remotely.

As peace officers, they will serve, protect, and educate visitors to California’s 280 state parks, while protecting the state’s most significant natural and cultural resources.

This year’s class of 30 cadets was chosen from a field of more than 400 applicants.

Graduates of this class will be stationed throughout the state, such as in the Northern Buttes Districts — which includes Lake County — along with the Sierra, Bay Area, Central Valley, San Diego, and Inland Empire districts.

Cadet training included lessons in strategic communication, physical arrests, investigations, search and rescue operations, defensive tactics, de-escalation, and firearms use.

Cadets also received training in visitor services, public education and interpretation, park resource protection and management, and first aid.

Students are mentally, morally, emotionally, and physically prepared to enter and successfully complete the Field Training Officer Program, which consists of 13 weeks of on-the-job training.

Want to 'Live the Parks Life'?

State Parks is currently accepting applications for the 2024 State Parks Peace Officers Cadet Academy exam. The deadline to apply is Saturday, June 10.

For more information on the academy and minimum requirements, including frequently asked questions and a general timeline of the recruitment cycle, please visit www.LiveTheParksLife.com and click on the “State Park Peace Officer Cadet Selection Process” link.

Interested applicants can also email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with questions.

LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lakeport City Council this week is set to consider a contract amendment to expand a road study and get updates on coming events.

The council will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, to discuss a case of anticipated litigation by Jonathan Ohlen before the public portion of the meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

The agenda can be found here.

The council chambers will be open to the public for the meeting. Masks are highly encouraged where 6-foot distancing cannot be maintained.

If you cannot attend in person, and would like to speak on an agenda item, you can access the Zoom meeting remotely at this link or join by phone by calling toll-free 669-900-9128 or 346-248-7799.

The webinar ID is 973 6820 1787, access code is 477973; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.

Comments can be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To give the city clerk adequate time to print out comments for consideration at the meeting, please submit written comments before 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2.

The council on Tuesday will present a proclamation designating May 1 to 7 as Youth Week, and receive presentations on the Public, Educational and Governmental, or PEG, channel and the upcoming Shakespeare at the Lake event.

Public Works Director Ron Ladd will seek the council’s support for the first amendment to the city’s professional services agreement with WMH.

In the fall, the city hired WMH for the Lakeport Boulevard at Bevins Street project study report equivalent for an amount not to exceed $147,014, with a goal of using the study to assist with the new courthouse development in an alternative to the state’s proposed plan impacting the intersection at Lakeport Boulevard and Larrecou Lane.

“Through the process we have learned that such a study will not be impactful to the Courthouse Development and feel returning to a complete study of Lakeport Blvd. corridor will serve the City more sufficiently in our traffic improvement needs,” Ladd wrote in his report to the council.

“The expanded scope being considered tonight is to include the SR29 on and off ramps into the study. While increasing the cost of the study, the expanded scope will provide a more comprehensive evaluation of the corridor and provide cost estimates that future development will be required to contribute to for their fair share of traffic improvements to the corridor,” Ladd wrote.

The expanded contract will cost the city $157,986, according to Ladd’s report.

Under business, City Manager Kevin Ingram will ask the council to adopt a proposed resolution revising the City of Lakeport Legislative Policy to include reference to the League of California Cities 2023 state and federal advocacy priorities.

Also on Tuesday, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Nick Walker will ask the council to execute a services agreement with OpenGov for permitting, licensing and procurement software.

On the consent agenda — items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on April 18; approval of application 2023-013, with staff recommendations, for the 2023 Walk for Life; receipt and filing of of the draft minutes of the April 19 Measure Z Advisory Committee meeting; and receipt and filing of the illegal fireworks operations plan.

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 will present proclamations, continue to discuss proposed updated guidelines for cannabis-related growing structures and consider appointments to the town hall created to replace the Lucerne Area Town Hall.

The‌ ‌board will meet beginning ‌at‌ ‌9‌ ‌a.m. Tuesday, May 2, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

The‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌can‌ ‌be‌ ‌watched‌ ‌live‌ ‌on‌ ‌Channel‌ ‌8, ‌online‌ ‌at‌ ‌https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx‌‌ and‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌county’s‌ ‌Facebook‌ ‌page. ‌ ‌Accompanying‌ ‌board‌ ‌documents, ‌the‌ ‌agenda‌ ‌and‌ ‌archived‌ ‌board‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌videos‌ ‌also‌ ‌are‌ ‌available‌ ‌at‌ ‌that‌ ‌link. ‌ ‌

To‌ ‌participate‌ ‌in‌ ‌real-time, ‌join‌ ‌the‌ ‌Zoom‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌by‌ ‌clicking‌ ‌this‌ ‌link‌. ‌ ‌

The‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌ID‌ ‌is‌ 992 0357 0657, ‌pass code 740734.‌ ‌The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,99203570657#,,,,*740734#.

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.

Beginning at 9:04 a.m., the board will present several proclamations.

Those proclamations will recognize May 5 as Lake County Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People, May 2023 as National Foster Care Awareness Month, May 1 to 7 as Elks Youth Week and Wildfire Preparedness week.

At 1:30 p.m. the board will continue a public hearing on a draft ordinance relating to exempt agricultural building permitting for temporary hoop structures for horticulture and crop protection.

In an untimed item, the board will consider appointments to the Community Visioning Forum, Central Region Town Hall, the latter the new group formed to replace the Lucerne Area Town Hall, which the Board of Supervisors chose to dismantle.

The full agenda follows.

CONSENT AGENDA

5.1: Approve continuation of proclamation of the existence of a local emergency due to pervasive tree mortality.

5.2: Adopt proclamation designating the week of May 1 to 7, 2023, as Wildfire Preparedness Week.

5.3: Approve continuation of proclamation declaring a Clear Lake Hitch Emergency.

5.4: Adopt proclamation designating May 1 to 7, 2023, as Elks Youth Week in Lake County.

5.5: Approve the continuation of the proclamation declaring a shelter crisis urgency due to the current need for sheltering for those experiencing homelessness during the weather and temperature patterns that the county of Lake has been experiencing.

5.6: Adopt proclamation recognizing May 5, 2023, as Lake County Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People.

5.7: Approve Board of Supervisors minutes for April 18, 2023.

5.8: Adopt resolution approving the California Department of Public Health's Emergency Preparedness, Hospital Preparedness Program, and pandemic influenza grant contract for fiscal years 2022 to 2027 in the amount of $1,818,136 and authorize the department head to sign CDPH Form 1229: Grant funding agreement and Exhibit F: Federal terms and conditions.

5.9: Adopt resolution approving a request from Lake County Health Services to submit a renewal application for the California Department of Public Health Immunization Assistance Program for FY 2022-2027 in the Amount of $1,446,633.66 and authorizing the director of Health Services to sign.

5.10: Approve continuation of an emergency declaration for drought conditions.

5.11: Approve continuation of a local emergency by the Lake County Sheriff/OES director for the January 2023 Atmospheric River Event.

5.12: Approve continuation of proclamation of the existence of a local emergency due to low elevation snow and extreme cold.

5.13: Authorize the Public Services director to sign the notice of completion for work performed under the agreement with R & B Electronics Security-Electrical Contracting for the Hill Road Correctional Facility Tower Electronics Security Upgrade Project.

5.14: Adopt proclamation designating the month of May 2023 as National Foster Care Awareness Month.

5.15: Adopt resolution to approve agreement between Lake County Adult Services and California Department of Aging in the amount of $142,500 and authorize the department head to sign the agreement.

5.16: Approve Administrative Encroachment Permit #23-17 — Temporary closure of a portion of Clear Lake near Buckingham Homes Association office from May 19 to 21, 2023, for the 2023 Buckingham Test and Tune Boat and Car Show.

5.17: Sitting as the Board of Directors of the Lake County Watershed Protection District, approve the memorandum of understanding: Implementation of the Westside Sacramento Integrated Regional Water Management Plan for the Westside Subregion of the Sacramento River Funding Area, and authorize the chair to sign.

TIMED ITEMS

6.2, 9:03 a.m.: Pet of the Week.

6.3, 9:04 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation recognizing May 5, 2023, as Lake County Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People.

6.4, 9:05 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of May 2023 as National Foster Care Awareness Month.

6.5, 9:06 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating May 1 to 7, 2023, as Elks Youth Week in Lake County.

6.6, 9:07 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the week of May 1 to 7, 2023 as Wildfire Preparedness Week.

6.7, 9:10 a.m.: Consideration of a resolution amending the master fee schedule for departmental services rendered by the county.

6.8, 11:30 a.m.: Review and consideration of travel and reimbursement policy.

6.9, 1 p.m.: Consideration of Lake County PEG Board annual presentation.

6.10, 1:30 p.m.: Public hearing, continued from April 18 and 25, consideration of draft ordinance amending Chapter 5 of the Lake County Code relating to exempt agricultural building permitting for temporary hoop structures for horticulture and crop protection.

UNTIMED ITEMS

7.2: Consideration of a letter of support for a cooperative agreement between the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) Ukiah Field Office and the Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance (TERA).

7.3: Consideration of the following advisory board appointments: Community Visioning Forum, Central Region Town Hall.

7.4: Consideration of resolution approving agreements for the purchase of right of way for the South Main Street — Soda Bay Road Improvement Project and authorizing the Director of Public Works to execute the purchase agreements of behalf of the county of Lake.

ASSESSMENT APPEALS

8.1: Consideration of withdrawal on the following assessment appeal applications: a) No. 12-2021 Wells Fargo Bank; and b) 60-2020, 61-2020, 62-2020, 20-2021, 21-2021 H&S Energy.

8.2: Consideration of request by the appellant to continue the following assessment appeal applications: a) No. 22-2021 WorldMark; and b) No. 16-2021 Tesla Energy; and c) 13-2021 and 14-2021 Safeway Inc. to the Nov. 7, 2023, Board of Supervisors meeting at 10 a.m.

8.3: Consideration of stipulation on the following assessment appeal applications: a) No. 68-2020 WorldMark; and b) No. 18-2020 H&S Energy.

8.4: Consideration of the following assessment appeal application: No. 15-2021 Lakeport Post Acute.

CLOSED SESSION

9.1: Public employee evaluation: Health Services Director Jonathan Portney.

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. — Wildfire Preparedness Week is taking place this year from May 1 to 7.

Cal Fire and its partner agencies will host five statewide events throughout the week to raise awareness on what individuals and communities can do to help protect against the threat of wildfires.

By preparing well in advance of a wildfire and taking steps now to reduce wildfire risks, you can dramatically increase your safety, the safety of your community, and the survivability of your home.

The focus of these events is to raise awareness and encouraging families and communities to take a hands-on approach in wildfire preparedness, including how state, federal and local public safety organizations are preparing for the 2023 fire year, the importance of fuel reduction and vegetation management projects, and ways the public can prepare for wildfire now through home hardening and defensible space.

“As we continue to deal with the impacts of climate change, we want to encourage Californians to be prepared for this fire year,” said Cal Fire Chief Joe Tyler. “This past winter’s historic rainfall resulted in enormous growth of fuel that will likely result in fast moving grass fires throughout the state. It is vital that California’s residents take the necessary steps to prepare themselves in the case of wildfire.”

On Sept. 6, 2022, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB-179, the Budget Act of 2022, which provides more than $1.3 billion over the next two years to accelerate forest health and wildfire resilience projects throughout the state.

With these new investments, the Newsom Administration has committed more than $2.8 billion to the Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan.

Through grants to regionally based partners and collaborators, Cal Fire seeks to significantly increase fuels management including hazardous fuels reduction, the conservation and restoration of forests, and the treatment of degraded areas.

Firefighting alone cannot protect us. Californians have an important role in preventing wildfires as well as preparing for the upcoming wildfire season.

Now is the time to ensure adequate defensible space around homes and buildings, make homes more fire resistant and have an emergency preparedness/escape plan. This is especially important since approximately 25 percent of the state’s responsibility area are in a high or very high-severity fire zone.

Thousands of communities depend on smart planning and prevention tools such as protective fuel breaks, defensible space around homes, and home hardening for their safety and survival. These tools work together to build more fire-resilient communities.

Californians can learn about all aspects of wildfire safety and preparedness, including how to obtain local alerts, checklists for preparedness, evacuation planning, and more at www.ReadyForWildfire.org.

LCNews

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