NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Caltrans has started the summer construction phase of the State Route 29 (SR-29) Troutdale Creek Bridge Replacement Project in northwest Napa County between Calistoga and Middletown.

Crews have now configured traffic for this summer’s work and are now constructing abutments, and retaining walls for the new bridge.

All work is weather permitting.

Temporary traffic signal light-activated

To ensure worker and public safety, motorists approaching the Troutdale Creek Bridge are now routed onto one lane with alternating northbound and southbound traffic on SR-29 controlled by a traffic signal.

The signal was activated in early June and will be in operation until further notice.

Crews have also restriped the lanes approaching the bridge.

Motorists should allow for extra travel time, and watch for the new signal light, and new lane configuration. Please #BeWorkZoneAlert.

SR-29 Troutdale Creek Bridge Project

Caltrans will replace the existing Troutdale Creek Bridge with a new bridge and will widen the northbound and southbound SR-29 bridge approaches.

The existing bridge must be replaced because of years of wear at its base from the Troutdale Creek. The bridge approaches will also be realigned to conform to the new bridge, and improve sight-lines for motorists.

The project is scheduled to be completed as early as late 2016.                      

For additional information visit http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist4/29troutdalecreek/ or follow Caltrans District 4 on Twitter, https://twitter.com/CaltransD4 .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This week Lake County Animal Care and Control is planning an adoption event for cats and dogs, with reduced costs.

The agency is starting out the week with two adult cats available for adoption, one male and one female.

For information about the adoption event and the reduced costs, see www.bit.ly/1R6ObFe .

In addition to spaying or neutering, cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.

In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen here: http://bit.ly/Z6xHMb .

The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).

Female domestic short hair mix

This pretty cat is a domestic short hair mix with calico markings.

Shelter staff said she is affectionate and loving.

She's in cat room kennel No. 27, ID No. 2213.

Male domestic short hair mix

This male domestic short hair mix has a gray tabby and white coat.

He's in cat room kennel No. 88, ID No. 2496.

Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .

Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

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. – This month we turn our attention to the constellation Scorpius the Scorpion.

Look to the south – Scorpius crawls close to the horizon. It is one of the few constellations that actually looks like what it represents.

From the giant claws, to the long body, and finally the curved tail, Scorpius appears as though he is ready to strike!

In Greek mythology, Scorpius was the creature that was sent to kill Orion the Hunter. He succeeded, and was placed in the summer sky in recognition of his great feat.

Orion was placed in the winter sky so that he and Scorpius would not continue to fight.

Scorpius is host to Antares, the 17th brightest star in the sky. Also known as the Heart of the Scorpion, Antares is a supergiant red star, 883 times larger than our sun.

Scorpius lies in the Milky Way (see this month’s star chart). As such, a number of beautiful deep sky objects can be viewed through a telescope.

Most notable is M4, a globular cluster of stars, located near Antares. It is the closest object of this type, a mere 7,500 light years away.

M4 has over 20,000 stars – through even a small telescope it is a fascinating object.

Close to Scorpius is the beautiful planet Saturn, always a rewarding sight through a telescope.

Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun and is distinguished by its beautiful rings.

John Zimmerman is a resident of Lake County and has been an amateur astronomer for more than 50 years. For more information about Astronomy and local resources, visit his Web site at www.lakecountyskies.com .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Planning Commission this week will meet to discuss a fence that's proposed to be built above the city's height limitation.

The commission will meet beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St. Documents for the meeting can be found at http://www.cityoflakeport.com/departments/docs.aspx?deptID=68&catID=31 .

Community Development Director Kevin Ingram's report to the council explains that Stephanie and Steve Williamson have applied for approval to construct a new 6-foot-tall wrought iron fence together with a 13-foot wrought iron sliding electronic gate in excess of the 3-foot height limit within the front yard setback at 4 16th St.

He said the new fence is proposed to replace an existing 4-foot-high picket fence along both the front and eastern side property boundaries. The fence and automatic gate will be located just over 10 feet from the front property line.

Staff is suggesting approval, with Ingram's report noting, “The fencing is attractive and it will provide a benefit to the applicants and the adjacent property located at 2 Sixteenth Street.”

The commission is next set to meet on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee will hear the latest on city projects and upcoming events when it meets this week.

LEDAC will meet from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

Lakeport City Manager Margaret Silveira will give the committee an update on the Carnegie Library, business loans, downtown improvements and waterfront development planning.

There also will be an informational presentation regarding art in public places, the Lake Leadership Summit and the regional collaboration/organizational structure.

LEDAC advocates for a strong and positive Lakeport business community and acts as a conduit between the city and the community for communicating the goals, activities and progress of Lakeport’s economic and business programs.

Members do not have to be Lakeport residents.

Wilda Shock chairs LEDAC, the membership of which also includes Vice Chair Christine Hutt, Secretary Rebecca Southwick, and members Bill Eaton, Melissa Fulton, Rick Hamilton, Pam Harpster, Chris King, George Linn, Paula Pepper-Duggan and Taira St. John.

City Community Development Director Kevin Ingram and City Manager Margaret Silveira serve as ex-officio committee members.

LEDAC's next regularly scheduled meeting is Wednesday, Aug. 12, at Lakeport City Hall.

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 will be holding a special adoption event this week, with reduced adoption costs for the featured dogs.

This week's dogs include mixes of boxer, Chihuahua, chow chow, corgi, husky, pit bull and wirehaired terrier.

For information about the adoption event and the reduced costs, see www.bit.ly/1R6ObFe .

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.

In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen here: http://bit.ly/Z6xHMb .

The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).

Pit bull mix

This female pit bull terrier mix has a short gray and white coat.

Shelter staff said she is very affectionate and loving.

She's in kennel No. 25, ID No. 2536.

Husky mix

This male husky mix has a medium-length gray and white coat, with blue eyes.

He's in kennel No. 28, ID No. 2595.

'Rocky'

“Rocky” is a male boxer mix with a short tricolor coat.

Shelter staff said he's a sweet boy who does well with other dogs, male or female.

He's in kennel No. 29, No. 2523.

'Groot'

“Groot” is a male chow chow-corgi mix.

He has a medium-length brown coat.

He's in kennel No. 30, ID No. 2526.

'Toto'

“Toto” is a male wirehaired terrier mix.

He has a medium-length white coat.

Toto is in kennel No. 31a, ID No. 2525.

'Mimi'

“Mimi” is a Chihuahua mix.

She has a short white and tan coat. Mimi loves attention and being held.

Mimi is in kennel No. 32a, ID No. 2055.

Male Chihuahua mix

This male Chihuahua mix has a short white coat.

He's in kennel No. 32b, ID No. 2321.

'Toenail'

“Toenail” is a female pit bull terrier mix.

She has a short red and white coat, and perky ears, and loves tennis balls.

She's in kennel No. 33, ID No. 2455.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

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.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Next week the Clear Lake Area California Highway Patrol will offer a free “Start Smart” traffic safety class for soon-to-be-licensed, newly licensed and teenage drivers, and their parents or guardians.

The class will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, at the Clear Lake Area CHP office, located at 5700 Live Oak Drive in Kelseyville.

The leading cause of death for Americans age 15 to 20 is motor vehicle collisions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The CHP's goal is to reduce the death rate among young drivers as the result of these collisions.

“The CHP is committed to mitigating traffic collisions involving young, inexperienced drivers, because they are preventable,” said Lt. Hector Paredes, commander of the CHP's Clear Lake Area office. “Start Smart is an excellent program that promotes safe driving for young new drivers.”

The CHP’s “Start Smart” program is aimed at helping newly licensed and future licensed teenage drivers understand the critical responsibilities of driving and to understand that accidents happen, but collisions are 100-percent preventable. 

The program is designed to provide an interactive safe driving awareness class which will illustrate how poor choices behind the wheel of a car can affect the lives of numerous people. 

“Start Smart” also focuses on responsibilities of newly licensed drivers, responsibilities of parents or guardians and collision avoidance techniques. 

Space is limited for this class.

For more information or reservations, call CHP Officer Kory Reynolds at the CHP office in Kelseyville, 707-279-0103. 

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Fireworks displays in communities around Lake County lit up the sky this holiday weekend.

From Clearlake Oaks to Hidden Valley Lake, residents came out to watch shows reminiscent of the original “rockets' red glare” in celebration of Independence Day.

Featured here are selected photos of the weekend fireworks displays shared by readers and Lake County News staff, as well as a drone video by Phil Harris.

Algae are complicated. The little plants can be both good and bad.

Single-celled algae called phytoplankton are a main source of food for fish and other aquatic life, and account for half of the photosynthetic activity on Earth – that’s good.

But certain varieties such as some cyanobacteria produce toxins that can harm humans, fish and other animals.

Under certain conditions, algae populations can grow explosively – a spectacle known as an algal bloom, which can cover hundreds of square kilometers.

For example, in August 2014, a cyanobacteria outbreak in Lake Erie prompted Toledo, Ohio, officials to ban the use of drinking water supplied to more than 400,000 residents.

With support from NASA, the EPA has developed an app to track algae that can threaten fresh water supplies.

In the United States alone, freshwater degradation from “bad” algae costs the economy about $64 million a year.

NASA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and U.S. Geological Survey are doing something about it. NASA has long used Earth observing satellites to locate algal bloom outbreaks in the ocean.

But now, this unique satellite data will be routinely produced in a form that helps US water quality managers monitor our freshwater. Water quality managers will soon, with a peek at their cell phones, have an answer to “how's the water?”

The four agencies are working on a joint project, sponsored by NASA, to transform satellite data into an indicator of cyanobacteria outbreaks in our freshwater supply. The data will be integrated into an EPA Android smart phone application so environmental officials can see – at a glance – the condition of a specific water body.

“With our app, you can view water quality on the scale of the US, and zoom in to get near-real-time data for a local lake,” explains the EPA's Blake Schaeffer, Principal Investigator for the project. “When we start pushing this data to smartphone apps, we will have achieved something that's never been done – provide water quality satellite data like weather data. People will be able to check the amount of 'algae bloom' like they would check the temperature.”

Here’s how it works:

A harmful species of cyanobacteria emits chlorophyll and fluorescent light at various points in their life cycles.

Landsat and NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) can detect these “ocean color” signals, which reveal the location and abundance of cyanobacteria. 

The project team will collect this data for freshwater bodies and convert it into a form accessible through web portals and the EPA mobile app.

In addition to MODIS, they'll draw data from the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3.

With early warning about a developing bloom, officials at water treatment plants will be better able to determine when, where, and how much to treat the water to keep consumers safe.

That means unnecessary – and expensive – overtreatment may be avoided. The data will also help park managers alert swimmers, boaters, and other recreational users to hazardous conditions.

Says NASA Administrator Charles Bolden:  “We’re excited to be putting NASA’s expertise in space and scientific exploration to work protecting public health and safety.”

The project will also help scientists understand why “bad” algae outbreaks occur. By comparing the color data with landcover change data, they’ll learn more about environmental factors that spur algal growth.

The result: better forecasts of bloom events. So we’ll know when an algae bloom is safe or harmful.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Late Monday night authorities closed a portion of Highway 20 near Upper Lake in order to conduct an investigation into a roadside fatality.

The California Highway Patrol reported that the closure on Highway 20 at Saratoga Springs is to remain in effect until further notice, with officials unable to offer an estimate of when the highway would reopen.

In the meantime, motorists will be rerouted onto Scotts Valley Road, the CHP said.

The CHP reported that the closure is the result of a fatality, the facts of which are still being determined by investigators.

Just after 9:45 p.m. Northshore Fire Protection District personnel were dispatched to a medical aid on Highway 20 just west of Saratoga Springs on the report of an unresponsive subject down on the eastbound side of the road, according to radio reports.

Initial reports from the scene indicated the subject may have been hitchhiking close to the fog line and was hit by a vehicle.

Callers to Central Dispatch indicated that cardiopulmonary resuscitation was attempted on the subject before the individual was pronounced deceased.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office and Cal Fire also responded along with CHP, according to radio reports, and Caltrans was called to assist with the highway closure.

Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story had stated that a vehicle was being collected for evidence based on initial reports from the CHP, but a subsequent CHP report stated that the vehicle responsible for the crash fled the scene.

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.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The proposed Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument region provides unparalleled access to geologic features associated with an ancient tectonic system where one plate descended beneath another.

The Coast Range Fault, noted on the map above, represents the ancient boundary between the upper North American plate and the descending lower plate.

Rocks of the upper plate include Great Valley sedimentary and volcanic rocks overlying serpentine, that is, remnants of ancient oceanic crust.

The upper plate represents part of the western edge of North America that formed 140 to 200 million years ago.

Lower plate rocks include the Franciscan complex – deformed and metamorphosed (recrystallized) sedimentary and volcanic rocks – that were scraped off the down-going plate and buried up to 12 to 20 miles beneath the North American edge as the plate went down and then uplifted to the surface by erosion.

The active San Andreas fault family was superimposed more recently on this earlier convergent plate situation.

The Great Valley sedimentary rocks themselves were deposited originally on top of oceanic crust, which had previously been incorporated into North American continental rocks.

Great Valley sediments were laid down in some 3,000 feet of marine waters at the edge of the North American continent.

Subsequent earth movements tilted these rocks from their original horizontal position to steeply inclined vertical layers.

These rocks are well exposed along the western side of the Great Valley, including in the southeast part of the Berryessa Snow Mountain region.

The serpentine and related rocks of the down-going plate represent remnants of oceanic crust formed at an oceanic spreading center and subsequently added to the North American continent.

Serpentine, scientifically called “serpentinite,” is a rock formed by combining water with rock that originally was part of the Earth's mantle, the layer beneath the Earth's crust.

Soils formed from serpentinite rocks lack certain elements required by most plants. Thus it is not surprising that the Berryessa Snow Mountain hosts unique plant species in a variety of landscapes and microclimates that have adapted to serpentine-derived soils.

Some rocks of both the Franciscan and Great Valley units constitute blocky landscapes formed by a chaotic mixture of diverse rock types.

Some of these rocks, often called “melange” after a French word meaning mixture, apparently formed as deposits of “mud volcanoes.”

Mud volcanoes are widespread in the Marianas trench area, where fluids derived from the down-going plate incorporate blocks of rock as they rise to the surface and spill over to form submarine earth flows some 20,000 feet or so on the ocean floor.

Some complex chaotic rocks found in the Great Valley and Franciscan units may have a similar origin. Other on-land exposures of similar mud volcano deposits may be present in Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and southwest Pakistan, but none of these areas is as well-documented or as accessible as the Berryessa Snow Mountain area.

Similar tectonic processes are active today in various locations, such as off the Pacific Northwest and in the Marianas Trench National Monument.

Such modern geologic rock-forming processes lie below thousands of feet of water and are not directly observable.

To study such rocks, geologists employ deep-sea drilling and geophysical techniques of remote sensing, small deep-diving two to three-person submarines, or remotely operated submersible vehicles.

In contrast, one can walk across the preserved fossil boundary between the two former plates in the Berryessa Snow Mountain and see the rocks and geologic structures that formed during ancient plate interactions.

Snow Mountain itself represents a special feature. It contains submarine volcanic rocks, not more than 140 million years old, that look as if they were laid down only a few years ago.

However, minerals identified in the rocks indicate that they formed as an oceanic submarine volcano (seamount) far west of California, then migrated with the down-going plate to the continental edge, were buried 12 to 20 miles deep, and rose again to the Earth's surface.

Also, the Berryessa Snow Mountain area exhibits clusters of invertebrate fossils that apparently grew in deep water around chemical seeps.

Such clusters are widespread on some modern plate boundaries. The fauna live in the dark thousands of feet deep around cold to warm submarine springs that typically contain methane or hydrogen sulfide.

The animals thrive, however, using the chemicals as nutrients. About six such ancient sites lie in the Berryessa Snow Mountain area, enabling one to see such features closely and on land.

In summary, the geology of the Berryessa Snow Mountain region provides valuable instructive exposures of features and processes of a convergent tectonic plate margin. Nowhere else in the world are such features as well developed, preserved or accessible.

The proposed Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument region is a unique region with world-class geology and biology. It is well worth national monument designation.

Eldridge Moores is a professor emeritus at the University of California, Davis. He is joined in writing this article by wife, Judith.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Library invites the public to get to know about Kelseyville’s Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium in the July installment of the library’s free lecture series Know Lake County.

Eduardo Alatorre will describe the observatory’s programs and functions at the Lakeport Library, 1425 N. High St., at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 18.

Beneath Lake County's coal black skies, where stars shine like precious gems, sits Taylor Observatory at 5725 Oak Hills Lane in Kelseyville.

As a program of the Lake County Office of Education for the past 35 years this remarkable facility has thrilled thousands of students and families with entertaining and educational astronomy programs.

In recent years Taylor has expanded into robotics and other sciences to help the students of Lake County jump into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, or STEM.

More information and a printable brochure can be found at http://www.lakecoe.org/programs/taylor_observatory .

Alatorre had a strong interest in astronomy and physics from a young age. In high school he volunteered as a high school docent for Taylor Observatory for more than a year and half.

Since November 2013 he has been working for Taylor Observatory as an observatory assistant and he is on the Friends of Taylor Observatory Board of Directors.

He is currently studying for an AA degree in mathematics with plans to transfer to a university.

The Know Lake County programs take place on the third Saturday of each month from February through December at 2 p.m. at Lakeport Library.

Know Lake County delves into many facets of Lake County with family-friendly programs designed to inform and entertain local residents about Lake County.

Lectures scheduled in coming months will feature the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association; Lake County’s pre-history; the Konocti Regional Trails, the Soper-Reese Theatre and the Children’s Museum of Art and Science.

Know Lake County’s full schedule is posted on the Know Lake County Web site at http://co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Lake_County_CA__Library/KLC.htm . The schedule is subject to change without notice.

The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.co.lake.ca.us and Facebook at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary .

Library events are also posted at www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Lake_County_CA__Library/Calendar.htm .

For more information about Know Lake County and other library programs call 707-263-8817.

Jan Cook works for the Lake County Library.