LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Two special meetings planned for Wednesday will discuss the Scotts Valley Pomo’s plan to purchase the Lucerne Hotel with a state grant and turn it into a homeless facility.
The Lake County Board of Education and the Lucerne Area Town Hall will hold their special meetings about an hour apart on the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 21.
At 5 p.m., the Lake County Board of Education will meet at the Lake County Office of Education, 1152 S. Main St., in Lakeport.
The grant was written by the tribe’s administrator, Tom Jordan, and Ana Santana, a Lake County Office of Education employee.
The grant language claims that the Office of Education was the “primary partner” in the plan, but Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg said the agency knew nothing about the plan or the grant.
It was not until Falkenberg investigated the matter that he reported finding out that the grant writers had intended for LCOE to run the facility, which he said they will not do because it’s not within LCOE’s scope.
Dozens of other secondary “partner” organizations also were named, but so far none have confirmed being part of the project or knowing about it.
At 6 p.m., the Lucerne Area Town Hall will hold a special meeting at the Lucerne Elementary School Multipurpose Room, 3351 Country Club Drive, also to discuss the plan for the hotel.
The meeting also will be available via this Zoom link.
The meeting ID is 871 6990 6960, password: 13931
The town hall, or LATH, had been meeting at the Lucerne Hotel but last week the owner, Andrew Beath, told them they could no longer meet there if they were going to discuss his proposed sale of the building to the Scotts Valley Pomo.
District 3 Supervisor EJ Crandell followed up by sending out a cancellation notice and setting the next meeting date for January. However, the town hall bylaws give the authority for scheduling meetings to the chair.
LATH Chair Kurt McKelvey wanted to hold the meeting before the end of the month, when it’s been reported that escrow may close on the 94-year-old building, around which the community was built.
McKelvey has once again invited Jordan to attend and speak to the community, but he has declined because of other plans. Jordan has asked to be on the agenda for January.
The meeting will include consideration of a resolution condemning the plan.
LATH also will discuss county maintenance issues within Lucerne, consider making the third request to Public Services for a definite date on when the harbor will be dredged, and discuss a community cleanup initiative and a resolution on the syringe exchange program.
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. — Forecasters are predicting warmer temperatures are in store for the Christmas weekend.
The National Weather Service said there are chances of up to a tenth of an inch of rain for Lake County on Tuesday during the day and at night, with chances of rain on Thursday night as well.
This week there also is a forecast of patchy fog on Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
Later in the week, conditions are expected to be mostly cloudy on Friday, and then mostly sunny during the day on Saturday and on Sunday, Christmas day, before chances of rain return on Monday.
Daytime temperatures will be in the mid to high 50s through Friday, in the low 60s on Saturday and mid 60s on Christmas day, before dropping down closer to 60 degrees on Monday.
At night, the temperatures will range from the high 30s to low 40s on Tuesday and Wednesday, hovering in the low 40s through Monday.
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. — Lake County Animal Care and Control has several cats that would be great additions to families beginning this holiday season.
Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online for information on visiting or adopting.
The following cats at the shelter have been cleared for adoption.
“Wendy” is a 6-month-old female domestic shorthair in cat room kennel No. 3, ID No. LCAC-A-4373. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Wendy’
“Wendy” is a 6-month-old female domestic shorthair with a calico coat.
She is in cat room kennel No. 3, ID No. LCAC-A-4373.
This 5-month-old female domestic medium hair cat is in cat room kennel No. 36a, ID No. LCAC-A-4413. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female domestic medium hair
This 5-month-old female domestic medium hair cat has a gray tabby coat.
She is in cat room kennel No. 36a, ID No. LCAC-A-4413.
This 5-month-old female domestic medium hair cat is in cat room kennel No. 36b, ID No. LCAC-A-4414. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female domestic medium hair
This 5-month-old female domestic medium hair cat has a gray coat.
She is in cat room kennel No. 36b, ID No. LCAC-A-4414.
“Cris” is a 6-month-old orange tabby in cat room kennel No. 57, ID No. LCAC-A-4375. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Cris’
“Cris” is a 6-month-old orange tabby with a short coat.
He is in cat room kennel No. 57, ID No. LCAC-A-4375.
This 5-month-old male domestic medium hair cat is in cat room kennel No. 77a, ID No. LCAC-A-4415. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male domestic medium hair
This 5-month-old male domestic medium hair cat has a black coat.
He is in cat room kennel No. 77a, ID No. LCAC-A-4415.
This 5-month-old male domestic medium hair cat is in cat room kennel No. 77b, ID No. LCAC-A-4416. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male domestic medium hair
This 5-month-old male domestic medium hair cat has a gray tabby coat.
He is in cat room kennel No. 77b, ID No. LCAC-A-4416.
“Sonny” is a 2-year-old male orange tabby in cat room kennel No. 84, ID No. LCAC-A-4372. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Sonny’
“Sonny” is a 2-year-old male orange tabby with a short coat.
He is in cat room kennel No. 84, ID No. LCAC-A-4372.
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.
NORTH COAST, Calif. — A 6.4-magnitude earthquake that struck near the city of Ferndale in Humboldt County early Tuesday has resulted in a local emergency by the sheriff and a state emergency declaration by the governor.
The earthquake occurred at 2:34 a.m. Tuesday offshore. It was centered 7.7 miles west southwest of Ferndale, according to the United States Geological Survey.
It has spawned dozens of aftershocks. As of Tuesday night, the USGS site showed nearly 60 aftershocks, the biggest of which was a 4.9-magnitude earthquake that occurred just five minutes after the main quake.
On Tuesday afternoon, as county emergency officials were preparing to hold a press conference on the situation, they were startled by still another aftershock that shook Rio Dell City Hall.
Also during that meeting, the battery backup system went down momentarily, a reminder that across the region, tens of thousands of people remained without power. As of 7 p.m. Tuesday, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office reported 40,000 people were still without power.
Officials also reported that the aftermath of the quake included damage to schools, structure fires, offline water systems that led to boil water orders, damaged gas lines and other critical utility infrastructure such as cell towers, as well as damage done to bridges and roads leading to closures, and dozens of homes had been red-tagged due to earthquake damage.
Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsel said 12 people were confirmed injured, with the expectation that reports of still more injuries may come in.
His agency also reported two people had died as the result of medical emergencies that occurred at the time of the quake.
Shortly after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Honsel’s office reported that he had declared a local emergency in response to the quake.
An hour later, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office proclaimed a state of emergency for Humboldt County to support the emergency response.
Newsom activated the State Operations Center to coordinate with local and tribal governments and provide any needed resources such as shelter, food and water, and aid in damage assessments of buildings and roadways.
The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services reported that it was working with local utilities to rapidly restore power.
The emergency proclamation enables Humboldt County to access resources under the California Disaster Assistance Act, directs Caltrans to formally request immediate assistance through the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program and supports impacted residents by easing access to unemployment benefits and waiving fees to replace records such as marriage and birth certificates, among other provisions.
Newsom also directed state agencies and departments to take appropriate action as necessary to provide support to local communities, including the California Department of Transportation to ensure the safety of roadways, the California Highway Patrol to protect public safety, the California Department of Public Health and Emergency Medical Services Authority to aid local hospitals, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to help address any possible additional emergencies and the California Geological Survey for continued earthquake monitoring.
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.
During the holidays, it’s typical for people to indulge in special foods. Being a pet owner myself, I know that many pet parents want to give their fur babies special treats as well.
Here are some of the most common food-related crises we veterinarians encounter in the animal ER during the holidays, and what to do if they happen.
Fatty food risks
Turkey with gravy is probably among the most popular holiday meals. And most dogs or cats would certainly agree with their humans that roast turkey is delicious.
However, the fat contained in turkey skin – and the excess of fatty, greasy foods that can accompany it, such as gravy, butter and bacon – don’t go down well with cats and dogs. Pets that ingest an overload of fats may develop pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas, the organ that helps break down fat, protein and carbs.
Pancreatitis causes the pancreas to leak digestive enzymes and ultimately “digest” itself. If untreated, pancreatitis can affect other organ systems such as the kidneys and the liver and even cause blood clotting.
The most common symptoms of pancreatitis include vomiting and diarrhea. Pets that may have pancreatitis should be rushed to the closest veterinary hospital or ER. The vet will perform diagnostic blood tests, including a specific test for pancreatic enzymes called pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity or cPLI/fPLI.
Treatment for pancreatitis mostly involves dealing with its symptoms. The pet receives IV fluids to help establish electrolytes balance, with added anti-nausea and pain medications to stop the vomiting. Antibiotics may be necessary, as well as liver protectants and probiotics, and a special diet.
Onion offenses and bread badness
If only turkey were the sole problem! Many other common holiday ingredients can also harm pets.
Several allium species common to holiday cooking, such as leeks, garlic, onions, chives and shallots, can be healthy for people. For dogs and cats, though, alliums are toxic. If ingested, they can cause hemolytic anemia – a decreased number of red blood cells.
The signs of hemolytic anemia, which normally appear a few days after ingestion, include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and jaundice.
To treat hemolytic anemia in pets, veterinarians do blood tests to determine whether a transfusion is necessary. They address the symptoms of allium intoxication with IV fluids, antioxidants and anti-nausea drugs.
Yeast-risen foods like rolls and breads are also holiday dinner staples that people should keep away from their pets. The yeast in these foods can ferment in a pet’s warm stomach and produce toxic levels of ethanol. In pets, ethanol toxicity may lead to metabolic acidosis, which can cause sudden drop in blood glucose, respiratory depression, seizures and cardiac arrest.
Normally, pet owners do not suspect metabolic acidosis until it is almost too late, because it has few outward symptoms. So if there’s a possibility that a pet has swallowed any type of cooked or raw yeast dough, get it to a veterinary ER right away.
By the way, pets can also experience ethanol toxicity by lapping up cocktails or beer, so keep alcoholic drinks out of their reach as well.
No chocolate for pets
Now, what about a favorite holiday treat – chocolate?
Substances that may actually attract humans to chocolate – methylxanthines like theobromine and caffeine – are toxic to both dogs and cats. When vets provide emergency treatment for chocolate ingestion, we typically hear that children shared their candy with their beloved pet.
Pets that ingest chocolate can develop “chocolate intoxication,” a condition in which methylxanthines accumulate in the body and make them sick. Signs of chocolate intoxication in pets include tremors, increased heart rate, vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness and even seizures.
Chocolate intoxication in pets is a medical emergency. The pet needs to have its stomach emptied and receive support therapy with IV fluids and activated charcoal. The vet will probably want to know the type and how much chocolate the pet ate, because some kinds of chocolate, such as baking chocolate, can have worse toxic effects.
Chocolate also has a lot of fat, so the cat or dog’s pancreas will not enjoy it either.
Grapes and dogs don’t mix
How about fruits? Well, there is a fruit very toxic to dogs that often shows up at holiday gatherings: grapes, both fresh and dehydrated into raisins.
If eaten, the tartaric acid in grapes or raisins may cause acute kidney disease. Common signs of acute kidney disease in dogs are vomiting, intermittent diarrhea and increased intake of water.
Acute kidney disease in dogs is a medical emergency. If it is suspected, the pet should be rushed to a veterinary hospital or ER right away. Treatment is typically limited to stabilizing the pet with IV fluids.
Sweet for people, poison to pets
While xylitol toxicity is one of the more common emergencies we veterinarians see these days, it’s still largely unknown among pet owners.
Xylitol is an artificial sweetener often used in sugar-free products. While safe for humans, for cats and dogs it’s a fast-acting and potentially deadly poison.
Ingesting even the smallest amount of xylitol can cause a pet’s liver to rapidly release insulin, causing hypoglycemia – unusually low blood glucose levels. Within 30 minutes, the pet will experience symptoms such as vomiting, lethargy and seizures and lose coordination of its limbs – called ataxia.
Emergency treatment for a pet with xylitol toxicity involves giving the animal IV fluids containing dextrose to raise its blood glucose level and carefully monitoring its progress.
The bottom line? Several delicious foods that are safe for humans can be very dangerous for pets in general – not just cats and dogs, but also birds, reptiles and pocket pets like mice, hamsters and gerbils. So make the holidays special for furry or feathery babies by giving them treats from the pet food store or veterinarian’s office, and keep them away from the kitchen counter and trash can.
For many parents, respiratory syncytial virus – or RSV – which has been causing record numbers of hospitalizations of children during the fall of 2022, may sound like a relatively new and unheard-of threat. But in fact, RSV is a common respiratory virus that circulates every fall and winter and is a common cause of lung infections in young children.
RSV can be difficult to distinguish from other respiratory infections since the symptoms are common to other illnesses – runny nose, sneezing, congestion, coughing, fever, decreased appetite and wheezing. In most cases, RSV is mild and will improve at home. However, in certain cases, it can cause severe illness and require hospital treatment.
RSV can cause severe infections and pneumonia in anyone, including adults 65 years and older and those with chronic lung or heart conditions or weakened immune systems. But it is most commonly severe in young children.
Unfortunately, although RSV is a very common respiratory threat, treatments for it are relatively limited, and as yet, there is no vaccine against it. However, 2023 is likely to be a pivotal year for RSV prevention strategies and treatments.
How to keep your child safe from RSV.
Treating children for RSV
Current guidelines recommend supportive care, which essentially means managing symptoms and trying to make children as comfortable as possible until they are well again. This includes offering plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration and using over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen to reduce any fever.
Antibiotics are not useful for treating RSV since they only target bacterial infections and RSV is caused by a virus. But sometimes, children with RSV can also develop secondary bacterial infections in the lungs, in which case antibiotics may be prescribed.
There are a range of medications that have been tried on children with RSV, but for the most part, they’ve shown little benefit. For example, many studies have trialed the use of inhalers and corticosteroid medications, but results have shown that neither significantly reduces the severity of RSV. These medications are therefore not routinely recommended for children to treat severe RSV.
The only drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat RSV is ribavirin, an antiviral medication. It is aerosolized using a special nebulizing machine and needs to be given in the hospital for periods of eight to 24 hours over three to five days. The drug works by trying to stop the virus from replicating in the respiratory tract.
The trials evaluating ribavirin have been small, which means we can’t really be certain of its benefits. Because ribavirin is very expensive and its benefits uncertain, the American Academy of Pediatrics no longer routinely recommends it for treatment of RSV, except for specific cases in very high-risk patients.
Fortunately, most babies and young children with RSV do not require treatment and recover well with supportive care. But some can become very ill and need substantial care from their doctors, parents and family members.
While RSV can result in serious disease for any child, children in high-risk groups face more serious threats from RSV. These include babies less than 6 months old, premature infants, children under 2 years old with chronic lung disease or congenital heart disease, children with suppressed immune systems and children with neuromuscular disorders.
Children may require hospital care if they are having difficulty breathing, have a fever that does not go away after two days, or have lost energy and no longer eat, drink or urinate. This is primarily so they can be monitored and receive intravenous fluids to keep hydrated and ventilators to help with breathing. Approximately 1%-2% of babies less than 6 months old with RSV will be hospitalized.
It’s important to know that children infected with RSV might take a turn for the worse before they get better. This is because, in addition to severe nasal congestion that interferes with their feeding, the inflammation in their airways and lungs may prevent them from breathing properly and keeping a normal oxygen level in their blood. These are the children who end up in emergency rooms and hospitals during the respiratory virus season.
The future of RSV treatment is prevention
Since effective treatments for severe RSV in children are so limited, the primary goal is to prevent the disease from happening in the first place.
One prevention strategy is to treat infants and children who are at high risk of severe disease before they get sick. This includes very preterm infants and those with heart and lung conditions.
A monoclonal antibody called palivizumab can be given as a series of shots and is usually reserved for use during the RSV season. But since RSV has been so variable throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and in response to the early increase in RSV hospitalizations in children this year, the American Academy of Pediatrics recently updated its guidelines to allow administration of palivizumab whenever RSV is in high circulation.
But to really get ahead of the RSV threat, we believe the health care field needs prevention strategies that can protect all children from the disease from birth.
RSV, flu and COVID-19 cases continue to fill U.S. hospitals.
The promise of vaccines
Despite more than five decades of research, there is still no RSV vaccine available for children. This is because developing a vaccine that really works has been tricky. RSV vaccines target the F protein, the part of the virus that it uses to infect cells, and this protein has different forms before and after infecting the cells. RSV vaccines are in development for three groups, including infants 4 to 6 months old, adults 65 years and older, and pregnant people.
RSV vaccination during pregnancy produces RSV-specific antibodies in the mother that can then cross the placenta to protect the baby. These maternal antibodies generally offer protection for the first six months of a baby’s life. A recent clinical trial showed that RSV vaccination during pregnancy reduced the risk of RSV hospitalization by 82% in infants less than 3 months old. These are very promising results.
Another viable option for the prevention of RSV for all young babies is the use of long-acting RSV-specific antibodies that can be given either at birth or prior to the RSV season. These could provide immunity to infants for several months while RSV is in circulation. A recent clinical trial showed that one of these products, nirsevimab, reduced the risk of RSV hospitalization by 62% in children less than 1 year old.
Looking ahead
One positive outcome of fall 2022’s record RSV season is that it has raised public awareness of RSV and created renewed urgency around the need to find more effective preventive strategies and RSV treatments.
The success of these tools and strategies will largely depend on their acceptance and utilization by well-informed parents and providers.
Usually, parents become aware of RSV only after having experienced it in their own family. But pediatric providers know all too well from caring for their patients what RSV can do to young bodies. When parents and providers share these stories, it becomes a powerful testament to the need for preventive strategies to fight RSV.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — On Monday afternoon, as Clearlake Police Chief Andrew White prepared to leave for the next stop in what already has been an accomplished career, he received praise and shows of affection from officials, colleagues and community members — and a key to the city.
White is the first person in Clearlake’s 42 years as a city to receive such an honor, said City Manager Alan Flora during a heartfelt going away reception for White at City Hall.
Flora explained the key is part of a tradition that goes back to medieval times, when walled city gates were guarded during the day and locked at night.
“The key symbolizes the freedom of the recipient to enter and leave the city at will, and is meant to confer trust and honor, to a friend of city residents,” Flora said.
White, 38, has been police chief since July 2018. He announced at the start of November that he had accepted the police chief’s job in the city of Martinez. His first day is Jan. 3.
While White’s departure is a blow to the city, there is hope for the future. He was lauded for raising the bar for leadership, for building up a stronger, better department that will move forward and — White hopes — will do even better in the days ahead.
Flora said it’s White’s leadership example that created the dramatic change for the city.
In his four and a half years with the city, “every moment you were completely sold out for improving the city,” said Flora.
White has been key to managing the city’s response to wildland fires, the COVID-19 pandemic and the work of improving the city’s image, its prospects and its effective service of its residents.
He’s also forged key relationships with groups like the NAACP, whose members, including Rick Mayo, the local chapter’s president and founder, were on hand to honor him and thank him for his service, presenting him with a plaque.
Before reading a proclamation commending White from the Board of Supervisors, District 2 Supervisor Bruno Sabatier, who was still on the Clearlake City Council when White was hired, lauded him for how he approached his work.
“You have treated every day as day one, where on day one we always show our best,” Sabatier said, noting White’s enthusiasm for constant improvement has never tapered off.
Police Chief Andrew White with the key to the city of Clearlake, California, presented to him on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News. Sabatier said White has helped raise the bar on what leadership is in Lake County, which will be a lasting impact of his work. “I think we’ve all been changed and affected and inspired by his leadership role that he’s taken in our community,” said Sabatier, adding that it impacted the entire county.
“While he may be leaving, we now have a new standard that we need to step up to, all of us, and I can’t thank you enough for doing that,” Sabatier said.
City Attorney Ryan Jones said White has the ability to fill any role and do it well — joking that he could even be city attorney if he wanted.
During the Monday reception, White received not just honors from his colleagues in the city, led by Flora, but from other leaders and community members.
In addition to Mayo, Jones and Sabatier, those coming forward to honor White on Monday included Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin, who is retiring at month’s end; Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen; Lake County Fire Protection Chief Willie Sapeta; and members of the Clearlake City Council.
Congressman Mike Thompson also sent a resolution honoring White that he had read into the Congressional Record.
Elizabeth Kelly, Clearlake Police’s chaplain, highlighted the difference between where the city is now and when he came here, and how that White leads by example. She described coming upon him directing traffic one day, and how that he wouldn’t expect anyone to do what he wouldn’t do himself.
On Monday, during his going away reception at Clearlake City Hall, White formally handed the baton to the city’s new interim chief, Tim Hobbs.
Hobbs, 41, has been with the Clearlake Police Department for 20 years — his entire career — and most recently at the rank of lieutenant. Flora appointed him acting chief effective on Monday.
Flora said the city has watched Hobbs grow and develop as a leader. “I have every confidence that you are ready to step in as acting chief and lead the department during this transition.”
White administered the oath to Hobbs, then took off his badge and gave it to Hobbs’ fiancee, who came forward to pin it on Hobbs’ uniform.
An eventful tenure
White first arrived in Lake County as the Mendocino Complex had triggered evacuations of thousands of residents from Kelseyville to the Northshore.
He spent his first days in Lake County helping the city of Lakeport, which had been evacuated in its entirety due to the monster complex, one of the biggest fires in California history. Rasmussen said White was his partner for two days during that incident, before he even got the chance to work at his own department.
Later, he would be at the core of the city’s response to the August 2021 Cache fire, which burned dozens of homes.
He also oversaw the building of a new animal shelter as the city turned a chapter in offering expanded animal control services, hiring North Bay Animal Services to handle that function. Even so, White has remained hands-on, even fostering dogs in his home.
His tenure has been marked both by collaboration and innovation. White has shown himself to have a wide variety of abilities, helping the city upgrade its IT infrastructure and also acting temporarily as the city finance officer.
Flora recalled first meeting White in the parking lot at the city’s Tractor Supply store with then-City Manager Greg Folsom.
It was an odd meeting, Flora said, as at that point Folsom was considering taking the city manager job in the city of Suisun City — which he later did — and White, working for the Suisun Police Department, was interested in the Clearlake chief’s job. It amounted to what Flora called a “personnel trade.”
He said Folsom stayed around for about eight months more before leaving, and Flora was grateful that White “decided to take the big risk on Clearlake.”
Flora joked that hiring White was the second best thing Folsom did as city manager — next to hiring Flora himself.
White has, during his time in Lake County, created deep connections with his fellow city employees and other local leaders. The reception proved emotional for Flora and White himself as they recounted their time working together and the lasting friendship that resulted.
Flora said he’s had the opportunity to work with many impressive people over the years, and he couldn’t be more proud of the city of Clearlake’s team.
He told White, “I place you in a group of less than a handful of people I have worked with that are truly exceptional.”
He added, “Many people have a talent and habit of attention to detail, but only a couple other people I know also possess a clear grasp of the big picture.”
Flora said White, when needed, has refused to take no for an answer, and places no limit on solving complicated problems.
He said he trusted White’s judgment 100%, and believes in his integrity. Flora said White has also been willing to hold him accountable when needed. He’s a valued leader and mentor, not just to the entire police department, but also the entire city organization.
The city will feel White’s departure deeply as an organization, and Flora said he will feel it personally, calling White his confidant. He said he’ll miss throwing around ideas, discussing ideas and sharing news stories about crazier things than happen in Clearlake.
Beyond his professional accolades, Flora said White is “one of the best people I know.” He and his wife, Charlotte, have opened their home to 18 foster children, which Flora called “nothing short of remarkable.”
With all of those accomplishments, Flora decided it was a key to the city that would best symbolize White’s impact on Clearlake.
Advice for the future
Before Hobbs’ swearing-in, when it came to White’s turn to talk about his time in Clearlake, as Flora predicted he would, White turned the subject toward his staff, saying the accomplishments of his tenure required a team effort.
“We’ve tried to make this a better and safer place,” said White, noting there is still more to do.
White said he may be most proud of the fact that the police department’s staff are now proud of where they worked, which wasn’t what they told him when he did one-on-one interviews when he arrived in Clearlake.
Based on his knowledge of the department, he said it’s never been more prepared to be successful in the future than it is now.
“My challenge for the department is not to continue doing what we were doing, but to take it to that next level,” White said. “And I know that they will. Things will be different. Being different is OK. That’s how the department evolves. But I know you guys are going to make it better.”
The community will accept nothing less, and it shouldn’t, he said.
He praised Hobbs, who he said is ready to do the job, and said he couldn’t be more excited for him.
White told Hobbs that taking on the job of police chief is the pinnacle of his career. “But I would also tell you that it’s at this moment, that your whole career becomes about everybody out there” — at which point White gestured with both hands toward the audience — “and not about you.”
He urged Hobbs to support the people in his department. White also told Hobbs to be mindful of his family, in realization of the job’s demands, and to work closely with the city manager.
White offered his own praise for Flora, saying his care for the city is unrelenting, and he thanked everyone for believing in the department.
He also offered a final token to Flora as the gathering drew to a close.
White said he often has kept his uniforms from previous jobs.
He then pulled a patch out of his pocket, which he had cut from one of his Clearlake Police uniforms.
“This patch has been through a lot,” he said, noting it has been in some dirty spots and scuffles, but that it was battle worn and tested.
Both men were emotional as White handed that patch to Flora and they embraced.
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.
Colleagues, friends and community members gathered at Clearlake City Hall on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022, for Clearlake Police Chief Andrew White’s going away reception. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.
A farewell cake for Clearlake Police Chief Andrew White. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Just in time for Christmas, members of the Board of Supervisors are set to vote to give themselves a raise and they also will interview candidates to fill the sheriff’s role for the next two years after Sheriff Brian Martin retires.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting ID is 992 4103 5475, pass code 546818. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,99241035475#,,,,*546818#.
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.
On Tuesday morning, the board will hold public interviews of two applicants to fill the sheriff’s job in the wake of Sheriff Brian Martin’s retirement at month’s end.
They’re looking to fill Martin’s post from Jan. 2, 2023, to Jan. 2, 2025, at which point the sheriff elected in the next general election will take office.
At 10 a.m., the board will interview Rob Howe, Lake County Probation chief. Howe served in the Lake County Sheriff’s Office from October 1992 to September 2011, at which point he was a captain and chief of staff. He was hired as chief probation officer in March 2012.
At 11 a.m., the board will interview the second candidate, Lt. Luke Bingham. He has served with the sheriff’s office since 1998, and currently heads its training program and recently was assigned as the agency’s lead for the project to remodel the former Lakeport National Guard Armory into the sheriff’s office’s new headquarters.
The supervisors will then consider the two candidates in a 1 p.m. discussion.
In an untimed item, the board will introduce an ordinance to amend county code to give its members a 28% raise.
The report from administrative staff says that at the board’s Nov. 1 meeting, it discussed a recommendation to increase the board’s salary to 28.316% of the Lake County Superior Court Judges salaries, with an additional 5% increase for the chair of the board.
However, that’s not what happened, as the county’s own documents show.
Rather, County Administrative Officer Susan Parker had presented a suggestion to raise the board’s pay to 38.618% of the $229,125 annual salary of Superior Court judges — in effect as of July 1 — which would total $88,483.20. That would be a 38.8% raise.
If the raises actually are 28.316% of the Superior Court judge’s salary, it would put them at $64,879 a year, about $1,000 higher a year than the board’s current pay amounts.
The staff report does not explain the very large differences in the two proposals, although it gives an overall cost for the raises, $165,847, that suggests the raises in the new proposal would be on par with what the board previously discussed. It is unclear if this is a typo in the county documents and the proposed ordinance.
The ordinance must be read twice and then would go into effect 60 days after approval.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt proclamation commending and honoring Kelly Kobetsky of the Lake County Law Library.
5.2: a) Waive the formal bidding process, subject to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and b) approve agreement between county of Lake and AirMedCare Network for Air Ambulance Services, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.3: Adopt resolution of consent requesting the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport, through their City Councils, to renew the Lake County Tourism Improvement District.
5.4: Approve advance step increase for substance abuse counselor senior, Step 5 for Denise Newman.
5.5: Approve amended purchase order in the amount of $32,950.85 for one 2023 Ford Bronco Sport base four-door utility vehicle for Code Enforcement Division, and authorize the Community Development director/assistant purchasing agent to sign.
5.6: Approve agreement between county of Lake and Persimmony Software for Electronic Health Records Software in the amount of $39,396 and a one-time fee of $10,000 for implementation through June 30, 2023, and $78,792 per year plus CPI increase for the period of July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2027.
5.7: Approve addendum to agreement between the county of Lake and Tyler Technologies to add additional services for the period of March 24, 2020, to March 23, 2023 for an amount of $78,300; and authorize the chair to sign.
5.8: Approve the purchase of a 2022 Ford F-150 for the Parks and Recreation Division of the Public Services Department and authorize the Public Services director to sign a purchase order not to exceed $39,000 to Folsom Lake Ford of Folsom, California.
5.9: Approve the purchase of a 2022 Ford F-150 for the Buildings and Grounds Division of the Public Services Department and authorize the Public Services director to sign a purchase order not to exceed $43,000 to Folsom Lake Ford of Folsom, California.
5.10: Adopt resolution approving the application for the California Museum Grant Program for the Lake Pomo Gallery Project.
5.11: Adopt Resolution Amending Resolution No. 2022-118 to Amend the Adopted Budget for FY 2022-23 by Increasing Revenue in Fund 098 Road Division Budget to appropriate unanticipated revenue.
5.12: Approve purchase order for the purchase of a service truck for the ISF Heavy Equipment Division, and authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to sign the purchase order.
5.13: Approve purchase order for the purchase of a Fecon CEM 36 for county road maintenance, and authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to sign the purchase order.
5.14: (a) Adopt Resolution approving the Lake County Sheriff's Office to apply for state of California, Department of Parks and Recreation Off-Highway Vehicle Grant funds and authorize the Lake County sheriff/coroner or his designee to sign the project agreement and (b) consideration of a delegation of authority to Lake County Sheriff/Coroner Brian Martin or his designee to execute the attached Project Agreement, Number G22-03-64-L01 and to act as the county’s agent in the negotiation, execution, and submittal of all related documents, including amendments to the project agreement and requests for payments.
5.15: (a) Approve Amendment 1 of Agreement between the county of Lake and the state of California Department of State Hospitals, or DSH, to allow for the DSH to compensate the county when the Sheriff’s Office coordinates telehealth video interviews with inmates in the sheriff’s custody and (b) authorize the sheriff to sign all documents.
5.16: Approve to award bids for the purchase of inmate clothing and authorize the sheriff or his designee to issue purchase orders to various vendors.
5.17: Approve contract between county of Lake and Binti Inc. for Resource Family Approval Software, in the amount of $46,363.50, from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.18: Approve contract between county of Lake and Evolve Youth Services for temporary wraparound services, in the amount of $34,000, from July 1, 2022, to Oct. 31, 2022, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.19: Approve Agreement with Lake Marine Construction for the abatement services of lakebed structures in the amount not to exceed $250,000.
5.20: Approve joint funding agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior, or USGS, for annual maintenance of the Kelsey Creek Flow Gauge Station in the amount of $17,710 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.21: ADDENDUM - (a) Waive the competitive bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2(1), as it is not in the public interest due to the fact the work was required to respond to an emergency situation, and (b) approve a purchase order for environmental services for the cleanup of a waste-oil spill on county-owned property, and authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to sign the purchase order.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:07 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation commending and honoring Kelly Kobetsky of the Lake County Law Library.
6.3, 9:15 a.m.: Consideration of an agreement with CBG Communications Inc. for Broadband Action Plan Consulting Services, not to exceed $245,000.
6.4, 9:30 a.m.: Consideration and discussion of agreement for medical services in Lake County's Detention Facility with California Forensic Medical Group in the amount of $3,947,351 for the term of Jan. 1, 2023, through Jan. 1, 2024, with option to continue through Jan. 1, 2028, and authorize chair to sign.
6.5, 10 a.m.: Sheriff-Coroner interview – Eutice R. Howe.
6.6, 11 a.m.: Sheriff-Coroner interview – Lucas J. Bingham.
6.7, 1 p.m.: Review and consider sheriff-coroner candidates to serve the term of Jan. 2, 2023, to Jan. 2, 2025.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Introduction of an ordinance amending Section 2-3A.1 of Article I, Chapter 2 of the Lake County Code, Compensation of the Board of Supervisors.
7.3: Consideration of resolution authorizing the Behavioral Health Director to Sign the Standard Agreement for HHAP Funds and Public review and approval of the County of Lake Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) Round 4 application.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public Employee Evaluation: Behavioral Health Director Todd Metcalf.
8.2: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(2), (e)(1) – One potential case.
8.3: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(1) – Flesch v. County of Lake.
Editor’s note: This article has been clarified regarding Howe’s date of employment with the Probation Department. He worked for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office until September 2011 and took the chief probation officer job in March 2012.
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.
New research conducted through a partnership with the Lake County Water Resources staff, Michigan State University and the University of Vermont looks at the Clear Lake, wildfires and climate change. Photo courtesy of Lake County Water Resources.
Angela DePalma-Dow, Lake County Water Resources Department Invasive Species Program coordinator and “Lady of the Lake” columnist, served as lead author of ecosphere-published work
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County Water Resources staff and researchers from Michigan State University and University of Vermont partnered to investigate current water quality trends in Clear Lake, and their relationship to wildfires and climate change.
The research team evaluated water quality monitoring data from the last three large wildfire years in the Clear Lake Basin, including 2018 (Mendocino Complex), in comparison to long-term water quality nutrient data.
“Right after the Mendocino Complex, our department received many calls from the public concerned about the fire’s impact on Clear Lake water quality,” said Angela De Palma-Dow, County Invasive Species Program coordinator and lead author and primary investigator for the research effort.
“And while there is a plethora of wildfire water quality research out there, none includes a lake as large and productive (i.e., biomass- and species-dense, nutrient-rich and eutrophic) as Clear Lake. This was a great opportunity for our team to closely review the data, and inform public discussion and planning efforts,” said De Palma-Dow, who also writes the “Lady of the Lake” column.
The research effort aimed to identify the influence of wildfires, water and air temperature, and precipitation on water quality in Clear Lake. Climate change data was collected from a variety of public, open sources. Water quality data was sourced from a long-term collaborative water monitoring program undertaken by the California Department of Water Resources, County Water Resources staff and local Tribal governments.
For about 60 years, members of this collaborative have collected monthly water quality data from Clear Lake’s three arms. Clear Lake has become much more nutrient-rich and productive over time, a process known as “eutrophication.” This trend is pronounced after the mid 1980’s and in times of drought.
Eutrophication is typically fueled by increased nutrient inputs, primarily phosphorus. Nutrients lead to growth of both algae (phytoplankton) and cyanobacteria, turning the water green.
When algae and cyanobacteria die and decompose, this can result in foul odors and release of toxins, disrupting recreation in affected areas of the lake. Thick green mats on the surface of the lake can be observable from shorelines.
These conditions increase in frequency and severity when water temperatures are very warm and especially when lake levels are low (e.g., drought).
Researchers analyzed what variables were most associated with increased phosphorus over time, especially during the heavy bloom season, from July through October.
Watershed areas burned by wildfire, seasonal air and water temperatures, and seasonal precipitation were assessed. Phosphorus increases in Clear Lake were primarily driven by lack of rain and warmer air and water temperatures.
“We found higher phosphorus concentrations, over the long term, were associated with hot and dry weather, not rain, alone, or rain following wildfires,” co-author Dr. Ian McCullough of Michigan State University added. Climate change may be a greater threat to Clear Lake water quality than wildfires.
Higher water temperatures, at the top and bottom of the water column, are also associated with observed increases in phosphorus. These findings are most pronounced in the data after 1985.
“What could be happening here is release of phosphorus from lake sediment,” said Dr. Jennie Brentrup, study co-author and aquatic scientist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. “Part of the issue is warmer water holds less oxygen, and decomposing algae and cyanobacteria also consume oxygen at the lake bottom. As the lake heats up and less oxygen is available, more phosphorus can be released from the sediment and mix into surface waters, further fueling the cycle of eutrophication.”
Sedimentary phosphorus release must be considered in future management of Clear Lake. The Blue Ribbon Committee for the Rehabilitation of Clear Lake, or BRC, just approved $2.25 million for a hypolimnetic oxygenation pilot study to be conducted in the Oaks arm of the Lake.
This project will inject oxygen directly into the bottom of the lake to “trap” phosphorus in the sediments, preventing the food source for cyanobacteria; its aim is to stop severe blooms from occurring, in the first place.
More information on this project and the BRC is available through the California Natural Resources Agency’s website.
Clear Lake is a critical asset, supporting Lake County fisheries, water-based tourism and local economic activity.
Its waters are used for irrigation, recreation, and tribal cultural practices, and also drinking water for 40,000 people, or nearly 60% of the county’s population, the majority of whom are low income and/or members of local tribes — Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, Robinson Rancheria Pomo Indians of California, Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians and Elem Indian Colony.
County Water Resources staff value this research.
“As stewards of the Lake, we rely on long-term monthly monitoring data,” said Scott De Leon, Lake County’s Water Resources director. “Wildfires and droughts are expected to grow more frequent, and Angela and the research team’s findings valuably interpret the role multiple climate-informed factors play in the water quality outcomes we are seeing. Our team continually seeks to augment our understanding and plan future efforts in accordance with the best available data.”
If you have any questions or need more information, please contact the Water Resources Department at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or by phone, at 707-263-2344.
Also visit the Water Resources Department’s website or the “Lake County Water Resources Department” Facebook page, @lakecountywater.
Please direct questions on, “Turning up the Heat: Long-term water quality responses to wildfires and climate change in a hypereutrophic lake,” specifically, to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County’s interim Public Health officer warned Monday that the county’s COVID-19 infection rate is moving up at the same time as concerns are rising over the spread of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.
Dr. Karl Sporer and the Lake County Health Services Department reported that Lake County has moved to the “medium” level of COVID community spread, according to the latest metrics released by the California Department of Public Health.
Additionally, and of great concern to health officials is that influenza and RSV are together driving a national wave of respiratory illnesses parallel to the ongoing pandemic.
Lake County’s health officials are particularly concerned for the community’s first responders as this development poses innumerable challenges for them as they go about fulfilling their duties this winter.
“Our first responders are burdened by the direct effects, indirect effects, and changes in their operational environments posed by this increased risk of exposure,” the Lake County Health Services Department said in a Monday afternoon statement.
“Directly, they’re threatened by the risk of severe illness, which leads to absenteeism, stress, and quarantines. Indirectly, this changes how services are delivered, training slows down, or first responders face increased healthcare costs. The availability of resources, their working conditions, and the level or type of demand for services is also affected,” the agency reported.
The community level of spread is determined by the number of new COVID cases in the county over the past seven days, the number of newly admitted patients with confirmed COVID, and the percentage of staffed inpatient beds that are occupied by patients with coronavirus.
With Lake County moving into the “medium” level of transmission, the CDPH mask mandate requires that congregate settings, such as jails and homeless shelters, implement universal mask mandates.
While officials said they are concerned for first responders given this development, their focus continues to be on Lake County’s vulnerable elderly and youth populations.
Lake County Health Services recommends that all people, but especially those who are more at risk for severe illness or live with someone who is, take the following extra precautions at this time:
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. • Clean commonly touched surfaces. • Consider wearing a well-fitting, good-quality mask when indoors or in crowded spaces. • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue. Throw the tissue away after using it. • Stay home when sick and limit contact with others. • Take a COVID test. People who develop flu-like symptoms should take a COVID test, especially if they have underlying conditions that put them more at risk for severe illness or hospitalization from flu or COVID. Free rapid antigen COVID tests may be ordered through the United States Postal Service here. • Wash hands frequently with soap and running water. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Officials also strongly recommend getting vaccinated and boosted against COVID and influenza to prevent more severe illness and hospitalization.
The updated bivalent booster offers increased protection against strains that are currently circulating, including omicron and its subvariants.
It is also recommended that everyone ages 6 months and older receive a yearly flu vaccine. People may receive their flu shot at the same time as their COVID vaccine or booster at one of many vaccination sites throughout our community.
For additional information about COVID-19 and this development, please visit the following websites.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lakeport City Council will welcome two new members this week and select its new leadership as part of the annual council reorganization.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
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, Dec. 20.
At the start of the meeting, the council will hold its annual reorganization.
City Clerk/Administrative Services Director Kelly Buendia will present the certification of the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office, the results of the official canvass and the adoption of the resolution reciting the facts of the Nov. 8 general election.
The council also will receive and file the resignation of newly elected Council Member Mireya Turner.
Mayor Stacey Mattina will honor outgoing Councilmember George Spurr before the oaths of office are given to newly selected council members, Brandon Disney and Kim Costa.
The council will then select its mayor and mayor pro tem for 2023.
During Tuesday’s meeting, the council also will meet new Lakeport Fire Chief Patrick Reitz; consider authorizing professional services agreements with NHA Advisors LLC, part of the city’s finance team, and with the Lake Family Resource Center for the Crisis Intervention Responder Program; and get an update from the chief building official on the Clean Water Program.
On the consent agenda — items usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on Dec. 6 and the special meeting of Dec. 12 and 13; adoption of an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Lakeport Repealing and Replacing Chapter 13.08 of Title 13 of the Lakeport Municipal Code to adopt a cross connection control program to protect the public water system; and approval of amendment No. 1 to the employment agreement with City Manager Kevin M. Ingram and authorize the mayor to sign.
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.
Extinction is part of life on Earth. Through much of our planet’s history, species have been forming, evolving and eventually disappearing. Today, however, human activities have dramatically sped up the process. The Earth is losing animals, birds, reptiles and other living things so fast that some scientists believe the planet is entering the sixth mass extinction in its history.
On Dec. 7, 2022, the United Nations will convene governments from around the world in Montreal for a 10-day conference that aims to establish new goals for protecting Earth’s ecosystems and their biodiversity – the variety of life at all levels, from genes to ecosystems. There’s broad agreement that there is a biodiversity crisis, but there are many different views about why protecting it is important.
Some people, cultures and nations believe biodiversity is worth conserving because ecosystems provide many services that support human prosperity, health and well-being. Others assert that all living things have a right to exist, regardless of their usefulness to humans. Today, there’s also growing understanding that nature enriches our lives by providing opportunities for us to connect with each other and the places we care about.
As a conservation biologist, I’ve been part of the effort to value biodiversity for years. Here’s how thinking in this field has evolved, and why I’ve come to believe that there are many equally valid reasons for protecting nature.
Biodiversity describes the amount of genetic diversity within species and the range of species that make up ecosystems.
In a 1985 essay, Michael Soulé, one of the field’s founders, described what he saw as the core principles of conservation biology. Soulé argued that biological diversity is inherently good and should be conserved because it has intrinsic value. He also proposed that conservation biologists should act to save biodiversity even if sound science isn’t available to inform decisions.
Soulé’s essay spurred many researchers to push for a more science-driven approach to conservation. They sought to directly quantify the value of ecosystems and the roles species played in them. Some scholars focused on calculating the value of ecosystems to humans.
They reached a preliminary conclusion that the total economic value of the world’s ecosystems was worth an average US$33 trillion per year in 1997 dollars. At the time, this was nearly twice the global value of the entire world’s financial markets.
This estimate included services such as predators controlling pests that would otherwise ruin crops; pollinators helping to produce fruits and vegetables; wetlands, mangroves and other natural systems buffering coasts against storms and flooding; oceans providing fish for food; and forests providing lumber and other building materials.
Researchers have refined their estimates of what these benefits are worth, but their central conclusion remains the same: Nature has shockingly high economic value that existing financial markets don’t account for.
Many experts say that conventional economic thinking fails to recognize the cost of damaging nature – but calculating values for biodiversity could change that.
This research found that spending time in nature tended to reduce blood pressure, lower hormones related to stress and anxiety, decrease the probability of depression and improve cognitive function and certain immune functions. People exposed to nature fared better than others who took part in similar activities in nonnatural settings, such as walking through a city.
Losing species weakens ecosystems
A third line of research asked a different question: When ecosystems lose species, can they still function and provide services? This work was driven mainly by experiments where researchers directly manipulated the diversity of different types of organisms in settings ranging from laboratory cultures to greenhouses, plots in fields, forests and coastal areas.
By 2010, scientists had published more than 600 experiments, manipulating over 500 groups of organisms in freshwater, marine and land ecosystems. In a 2012 review of these experiments, colleagues and I found unequivocal evidence that when ecosystems lose biodiversity, they become less efficient, less productive and less stable. And they are less able to deliver many of the services that underlie human well-being.
For example, we found strong evidence that loss of genetic diversity reduced crop yields, and loss of tree diversity reduced the amount of wood that forests produced. We also found evidence that oceans with fewer fish species produced less-reliable catches, and that ecosystems with lower plant diversity were more prone to invasive pests and diseases.
A standard lawn, at left, is a monoculture that supports very little life. A more mixed, diverse version, at right, offers food for pollinators.woodleywonderworks/Flickr, CC BY
We also showed that it was possible to develop robust mathematical models that could predict reasonably well how biodiversity loss would affect certain types of valuable services from ecosystems.
Many motives for protecting nature
For years, I believed that this work had established the value of ecosystems and quantified how biodiversity provided ecosystem services. But I’ve come to realize that other arguments for protecting nature are just as valid, and often more convincing for many people.
I have worked with many people who donate money or land to support conservation. But I’ve never heard anyone say they were doing it because of the economic value of biodiversity or its role in sustaining ecosystem services.
Instead, they’ve shared stories about how they grew up fishing with their father, held family gatherings at a cabin or canoed with someone who was important to them. They wanted to pass on those experiences to their children and grandchildren to preserve familial relationships. Researchers increasingly recognize that such relational values – connections to communities and to specific places – are one of the most common reasons why people choose to conserve nature.
I also know many people who hold deep religious beliefs and are rarely swayed by scientific arguments for conservation. But when Pope Francis published his 2015 encyclical Laudato si’: On Care for Our Common Home and said God’s followers had a moral responsibility to care for his creation, my religious relatives, friends and colleagues suddenly wanted to know about biodiversity loss and what they might do about it.
Surveys show that 85% of the world’s population identifies with a major religion. Leaders of every major religion have published declarations similar to Pope Francis’ encyclical, calling on their followers to be better stewards of Earth. Undoubtedly, a large portion of humanity assigns moral value to nature.
Research clearly shows that nature provides humanity with enormous value. But some people simply believe that other species have a right to exist, or that their religion tells them to be good stewards of Earth. As I see it, embracing these diverse perspectives is the best way to get global buy-in for conserving Earth’s ecosystems and living creatures for the good of all.
