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Entomologist Brian Lovett examines flea beetle-infested potatoes in Morgantown, West Virginia. Matt Kasson, CC BY-ND

Home gardening is having a boom year across the U.S. Whether they’re growing their own food in response to pandemic shortages or just looking for a diversion, numerous aspiring gardeners have constructed their first raised beds, and seeds are flying off suppliers’ shelves. Now that gardens are largely planted, much of the work for the next several months revolves around keeping them healthy.

Contrary to the Biblical adage, we do not necessarily reap what we sow. As researchers specializing in plant pathology and entomology, we have devoted our careers to understanding and managing plant pests and pathogens. We are also gardeners with varying levels of experience and have seen firsthand the damage these insects and disease-causing agents can inflict.

Plant pathologist Carolee Bull works in her home garden in State College, Pennsylvania. Carolee Bull, CC BY-ND

Plant health is essential for seeing your garden succeed all the way to harvest. The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health to help bring needed attention to pests and diseases that threaten global food production.

Thousands of pests and pathogens are known to target commercial crops, but a few usual suspects are routinely responsible for havoc in gardens across the U.S. Although each organism’s preferences vary, a few common tactics can help you detect them and protect your plants.

Start with prevention

Just as preventive steps like maintaining a balanced diet help keep humans healthy, home growers can take many actions to help their gardens thrive.

One key step is assessing soil fertility – the ability of soil to sustain plant growth – which can vary widely depending on your location and soil type. Low soil fertility limits food production and predisposes plants to disease and pests. University extension soil testing labs can help evaluate the quality of garden soil and identify nutrient deficiencies and acidic soils, often at no charge.

Using weed barrier landscape cloth for planting rows and mulching between rows is an effective way to suppress weeds. Matt Kasson, CC BY-ND

Suppressing weeds, either through mulching or weeding by hand each week, increases air flow and reduces humidity around garden plants, making it harder for pests and pathogens to thrive. Weed control ensures that nutrients are available for the plants you want to grow.

Proper spacing between plants is also important. Crowding can contribute to disease and pest outbreaks, so check and follow recommendations on seed packs or online as you add and move plants throughout the season. You can always cull plants after they come up to help with spacing. In small gardens, fewer plants that are properly supported can produce a bigger harvest than many overcrowded plants.

[You’re smart and curious about the world. So are The Conversation’s authors and editors. You can get our highlights each weekend.]

And then there’s the weather. Frost, hail, drought and flooding all pose unique risks to plants. Inconsistent rainfall can kill thirsty plants more quickly than infertile soils. Both too little and too much water will stress plants and can make them more vulnerable to severe pest and pathogen outbreaks.

A general rule of thumb is to follow a consistent daily watering regimen – preferably first thing in the morning – and to avoid over-watering, which can encourage root pathogens in soil.

Frost-killed blackberries in Morgantown, West Virginia. Matt Kasson, CC BY-ND

Diagnosing problems

Common plant pathogens include viruses, bacteria, nematodes, oomycetes and fungi. All of these microorganisms, especially at an early stage of infection, are too small to see. But when they proliferate, they cause changes in plants that we can recognize.

Unlike insects, which move around on six legs or on wings through the air, pathogens can move unseen and unchecked from leaf to leaf on the wind, through the soil or in droplets of water. Some microbes have even formed intimate relationships with insects and use them as vehicles to move from plant to plant, which makes these pathogens even more challenging to manage. Unfortunately, by the time some pathogens make their presence known, the damage is already done.

We recently conducted a Twitter poll of gardeners nationwide to find out which culprits plagued their gardens. People named aphids, squash vine borers, squash bugs and flea beetles as the most problematic insect pests. Their most troublesome pathogens included powdery mildew, tomato bacterial wilt and cucurbit downy mildew.

To manage such perennial challenges, the first step is to spend time closely looking at your plants. Do you notice any insects consistently hanging around, or molds colonizing leaves or other plant parts? How about symptoms such as blight, stunting, or leaves that are yellowing, browning or wilting?

This white fungal growth is an early sign of powdery mildew on a leaf of susceptible summer squash. Matt Kasson, CC BY-ND

There are countless resources online for keen-eyed and curious gardeners looking to identify and manage pests and diseases. Try uploading a photo to the iNaturalist app or a Facebook gardeners group that can offer a community-sourced ID. Plant disease clinics in your state will also diagnose plant damage from diseases and pests for free or at low cost.

Once you’ve identified a problem serious enough to intervene, the land grant extension system can provide solutions. Extension programs at land grant schools like West Virginia University and Penn State University offer critical information on agriculture and management of pests and diseases in multiple languages for commercial and home growers.

Their resources include information on safe and proper use of pesticides as part of integrated pest management strategies. This approach employs pesticides in a targeted way along with non-chemical control methods and cultural practices, such as choosing native plants. Our professional societies, including the American Phytopathological Society, also offer a compendium series to help users diagnose and treat pests and diseases.

 

Those who are serious about learning and sharing their experience with others may want to consider Master Gardener programs, which train and certify community members on the latest evidence-based gardening techniques, tailored to their growing area. Master Gardeners pay it forward by training new Master Gardeners and answering questions for any gardener.

Plant pests are a daily reminder that gardens do not exist in a vacuum, and gardeners shouldn’t struggle alone either. Joining the gardening community takes attentiveness and time, but we believe the investment required to become an active member of your local gardening community is well worth it. With experience, the nervous tightrope act of keeping pests at bay and food on the table becomes a delicate dance that can help us appreciate where our food comes from – and ultimately, our place in the global ecosystem.The Conversation

Matt Kasson, Associate Professor of Plant Pathology and Mycology, West Virginia University; Brian Lovett, Postdoctoral Researcher in Mycology, West Virginia University, and Carolee Bull, Professor of Plant Pathology and Systematic Bacteriology, Pennsylvania State University

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

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Fire season is here, and drier than usual seasonal fuel conditions and low humidity already led to portions of Lake County being subject to a red flag warning earlier this week.

“Our state, federal and local land management and fire agencies are outstanding partners,” said District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown. “Right now, they are working to remain prepared and prepositioned for future wildfire events throughout the state. We all have to do our part to help them out.”

Nearly 95 percent of wildfires in California are human-caused. Many result from events like equipment malfunctions, neglected heat sources, electrical or heating system issues and accidents of neglect, like improperly discarded cigarettes and metal objects (such as chains) left dangling from moving vehicles.

Particularly with the July 4 holiday on Saturday, it is critical all Lake County residents are vigilant in protecting against the threat of wildfire. Resources on topics including firework safety are available here.

“Resources are limited or uncertain for every public agency right now,” noted Brown, “and that includes some with responsibilities for fire suppression and mitigation. Inmate crews also do a lot of fire mitigation work, and we normally have four to five crews in Lake County, alone. Because of the early release of inmates, due to COVID-19, we will probably be down to one crew.”

Cleared brush visible from roadsides

The Bureau of Land Management is responsible for 200,000 square miles of federal land in Lake County, including areas near Buckingham (the Black Forest) and the Rivieras.

Recently, they contracted with Cal Fire to clear brush from areas visible from Lake County roadsides. While the vegetation was abated, a significant amount of brush has been piled and left in place. There is also some brush remaining from 2019’s 1,000 Hands Project.

Some county residents have expressed concern these piles may be hazardous, and asked that they be removed. Officials reassured the public that Cal Fire, BLM and the county are satisfied no significant fire hazard is present that warrants pulling Cal Fire personnel from their usual and customary duties during the active fire season.

BLM does not have vegetation management personnel available to remove the brush, and it is generally agreed to pose relatively limited fire risk in place.

Seeking an alternative contractor, one perhaps less familiar than Cal Fire with vehicle and equipment maintenance practices that limit the probability of sparks, may bring greater fire risk than leaving the brush in place, the county reported.

“Our local, state and federal partners are working collaboratively to prepare for this fire season but we can’t do it alone,” said Congressman Mike Thompson. “It is imperative that each of us as individuals remain vigilant and do our part to prevent devastating wildfires and help save lives.”

Tips for reducing many types of residential and other fire risk are also available from the National Wildfire Protection Association’s Firewise USA program.
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Bassmaster Magazine has released its rankings for 100 Best Bass Lakes of the past decade, and Clear Lake, Calif., has been named the No. 1 fishery in the country. In the background is the historic Beltramo ranch house. Photo by B.A.S.S.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Since 2012, Bassmaster Magazine has released annual rankings of the country’s best bass fisheries.

While tournament data could not be gathered because of the COVID-19 pandemic, crunching numbers gathered over the past eight years revealed a surprising Best Bass Lake of the Decade — California’s Clear Lake.

Overall, California had six fisheries on the Top 100 list — Clear Lake, Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta, Lake Havasu, Berryessa, Shasta and New Melones — creating a three-way tie for second place with Texas and Florida.

“Typically, creating the rankings takes more than two months as we dig through current tournament data as well as state fishery information on stocking efforts, catch rates and angler access,” explained Bassmaster Magazine Editor-in-Chief James Hall. “Instead, we used all of this research and rankings from the past eight years to create an incredible — and somewhat surprising — ranking of bucket-list destinations for anglers.”

While long-considered a West Coast powerhouse, Clear Lake has never topped the Best Bass Lakes list until this year.

However, in the past decade, California’s largest natural lake has also never ranked below 10th in the country and has been the top-ranked Western fishery for the past three years.

Anglers can expect to consistently catch big bass in a fishery where an average bass weighs in at over 5 pounds.

In fact, a bass over 16 pounds was landed at Clear Lake last year. Combine that production with a pristine setting in wine country, and you have the definition of a bucket-list fishing destination.

Alabama’s Lake Guntersville, home of the 2020 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, took the No. 2 spot, matching its 2019 rank. Like Clear Lake, the Big G has never been named the Best Bass Lake in the nation, but it is rarely out of contention.

Guntersville is known for its breathtaking scenery and easy access, but big fish swim there as well. Most big-bass prizes are awarded to fish topping the 8-pound mark, with 10-plus-pounders taking center stage on occasion.

True giants call the third-place fishery, Lake Erie, home. While most of the tournament data comes out of Buffalo, N.Y., anglers can expect smallmouth in the 6-pound range anywhere along the shoreline, which includes New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Michigan’s Lake St. Clair, where you can catch the smallmouth of a lifetime surrounded by Instagram-worthy scenery, is in the fourth spot.

Rounding out the remainder of the Top 10 lakes are the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta at fifth; Toledo Bend, on the Louisiana/Texas border, at sixth; Texas's Sam Rayburn Reservoir at seventh; Texas's Falcon Lake at eighth; Idaho’s Lake Coeur d’Alene at ninth; and Florida’s Lake Okeechobee at tenth.

The rankings identify the Top 25 lakes in the nation based on head-to-head comparisons, as well as the top lakes in four geographical regions — Central, Western, Southeastern and Northeastern.

“We divide the nation into four regions and rank the lakes in each region to give anglers perspective on the fisheries they can most likely reach,” Hall explained.

As for bragging rights on which state has the most fisheries in the all-decade rankings, that title goes to Michigan with seven lakes.

Bassmaster Magazine’s 100 Best Bass Lakes of the Decade

Top 25

1. Clear Lake, California

2. Lake Guntersville, Alabama

3. Lake Erie, New York/Ohio/Pennsylvania/Michigan

4. Lake St. Clair, Michigan

5. Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta, California

6. Toledo Bend, Louisiana/Texas

7. Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Texas

8. Falcon Lake, Texas

9. Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

10. Lake Okeechobee, Florida

11. Lake Champlain, New York/Vermont

12. St. Lawrence River (Thousand Islands), New York

13. Pickwick Lake, Alabama/Mississippi/Tennessee

14. Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees, Oklahoma

15. Chickamauga Lake, Tennessee

16. Lake Fork, Texas

17. Lake Havasu, Arizona/California

18. Oneida Lake, New York

19. Candlewood Lake, Connecticut

20. Columbia River, Oregon/Washington

21. Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota

22. Lake Seminole, Georgia/Florida

23. Santee Cooper Lakes (Marion/Moultrie), South Carolina

24. Lake Charlevoix, Michigan

25. Sturgeon Bay (Lake Michigan), Wisconsin
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has three new dogs ready to be adopted this week.

Dogs available for adoption this week include mixes of border collie and Labrador Retriever, pit bull and shepherd.

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.

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”).

Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm for information on visiting or adopting.

This male pit bull terrier is in kennel No. 18, ID No. 13772. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Male pit bull terrier

This male pit bull terrier has a black coat.

He is in kennel No. 18, ID No. 13772.

This female shepherd mix is in kennel No. 22, ID No. 13776. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Shepherd mix

This female shepherd mix has a brindle and white coat.

She is in kennel No. 22, ID No. 13776.

“Socci” is a female Labrador Retriever-border collie mix in kennel No. 25, ID No. 4924. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

‘Socci’

“Socci” is a female Labrador Retriever-border collie mix with a black and white coat.

She has been spayed.

She is in kennel No. 25, ID No. 4924.

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.
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Dennis Fordham. Courtesy photo.

Probate and trust administration are not the same. There are important differences and similarities between administering a decedent’s probate estate and administering a decedent’s trust estate.

Let’s begin with the differences.

Probate is court-supervised whereas trust administration is private. To commence probate one publishes notice in a newspaper and appears at a court hearing. To commence trust administration, however, one simply mails a notice letter – stating required information – to the decedent’s heirs and beneficiaries.

In probate, the decedent’s will, if any, and all other documents in the court file are available to the public to see.

Probate can also apply in the absence of any written will, i.e., intestacy (the heirs inherit). In trust administration, the decedent’s trust is only available to the decedent’s heirs and beneficiaries.

The expenses involved with a probate and trust administration also differ. A probate requires paying a court filing fee for each petition – there are at least two petitions from commencing to ending a probate – and a newspaper publication fee. Such expenses combined are often almost $1,500.

Then there are the attorney’s and personal representative’s fees, which are computed as a sliding scale percentage of the value of the estate under management: each is paid 4 percent of the first $100,000, 3 percent of the next $100,000 and 2 percent of any excess value of the estate under management.

Sometimes, at the court’s discretion, they may also be entitled to additional extraordinary fees for extraordinary work.

With a private trust administration there is no newspaper publication and no court petitions; except if such steps become necessary. The trustee and his or her attorney are typically paid on an hourly basis times a pay rate. Often, not always, the expenses associated with a probate significantly exceed those of a trust administration.

Next, there are also similarities between a probate and trust administration. There is a myth that if a person dies with their assets in a trust that nothing needs to be done; this is untrue.

Both probate and trust administration require the following: First, the decedent’s assets be collected, safeguarded, inventoried and appraised for tax and/or distribution purposes; second, that the decedent’s creditors be notified and all just debts be paid; third, that the decedent’s taxes obligations be settled; fourth, that the decedent’s debts and the expenses of administration be paid or guaranteed payment ahead of beneficiaries and heirs; and fifth, that the decedent’s beneficiaries be informed about the estate and its administration, including an accounting.

In California, there is a clear preference to avoid probate and to use a trust. Presently, if a decedent dies with an estate with a gross value over $166,250 then the estate is required to be probated, unless it is held in a trust or passes to surviving joint tenants or to designated transfer on death beneficiaries.

Sometimes, however, a trust is not a viable option. That is, a person must possess greater competency (mental understanding and comprehension) to execute a trust than to execute a will. If someone has borderline competency – such as may be due to dementia or senility – then that mental condition may be reason enough to use a will.

Other factors must also be considered. Such as, did the decedent receive Medi-Cal? Since January 1, 2017, a decedent whose estate is not subject to probate is also not subject to Medi-Cal estate recovery. Thus, holding one’s residence in trust avoids probate and Medi-Cal estate recovery claims.

The foregoing is a generalized discussion only, and is not legal counsel. Anyone confronting these issues should discuss their particular needs and circumstances with a qualified attorney and obtain guidance.

Dennis A. Fordham, attorney, is a State Bar-Certified Specialist in estate planning, probate and trust law. His office is at 870 S. Main St., Lakeport, Calif. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and 707-263-3235.
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The fire at the Lakeport transfer station in Lakeport, California, on Wednesday, July 1, 2020. Photo by John Moorhead.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Firefighters were able to control a Wednesday evening fire that occurred at the Lakeport transfer station.

Lakeport Fire Chief Rick Bergem said the fire was first dispatched at around 8 p.m. Wednesday.

He said Lakeport, Kelseyville and Northshore Fire all sent resources to the fire.

Bergem said the fire was controlled fairly quickly, with units on scene for about two hours for cleanup.

There have been previous fires at the transfer station, including in September 2014 and June 2015, as Lake County News has reported.

The transfer station is owned and operated by C&S Waste Solutions.

“There is no major structural integrity damage to the building, just some siding that needs to be replaced at this time,” Linsey McCollough, the company’s operations manager, told Lake County News.

McCollough said the cause of the fire is likely improperly disposed of rechargeable batteries or barbecue ashes.

The company asked community members to remember that certain items are a fire hazard and should not be placed in garbage, yard waste or recycling carts, or mixed into loads at the transfer station.

Those hazardous items include:

– Flammable or combustible liquids, such as gasoline, oil-based paints or kerosene;
– Hazardous materials, including items such as ammonia, bleach, pool chemicals, pesticides and paint thinners;
– Canisters containing propellants, including butane or propane;
– Cylinders containing compressed gas, such as propane, helium, oxygen, acetylene or fire extinguishers;
– Rechargeable batteries, which contain heavy metals, including lithium, nickel-cadmium or lead-acid;
– Ashes, from fireplaces, fire pits or barbecue grills.

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.
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This illustration shows how planet KELT-9 b sees its host star. Over the course of a single orbit, the planet twice experiences cycles of heating and cooling caused by the star’s unusual pattern of surface temperatures. Between the star’s hot poles and cool equator, temperatures vary by about 1,500 F (800 C). This produces a “summer” when the planet faces a pole and a “winter” when it faces the cooler midsection. So every 36 hours, KELT-9 b experiences two summers and two winters. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA).

Measurements from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, or TESS, have enabled astronomers to greatly improve their understanding of the bizarre environment of KELT-9 b, one of the hottest planets known.

“The weirdness factor is high with KELT-9 b,” said John Ahlers, an astronomer at Universities Space Research Association in Columbia, Maryland, and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “It’s a giant planet in a very close, nearly polar orbit around a rapidly rotating star, and these features complicate our ability to understand the star and its effects on the planet.”

The new findings appear in a paper led by Ahlers published on June 5 in The Astronomical Journal.

Located about 670 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus, KELT-9 b was discovered in 2017 because the planet passed in front of its star for a part of each orbit, an event called a transit.

Transits regularly dim the star’s light by a small but detectable amount. The transits of KELT-9 b were first observed by the KELT transit survey, a project that collected observations from two robotic telescopes located in Arizona and South Africa.

Between July 18 and Sept. 11, 2019, as part of the mission’s yearlong campaign to observe the northern sky, TESS observed 27 transits of KELT-9 b, taking measurements every two minutes. These observations allowed the team to model the system’s unusual star and its impact on the planet.

KELT-9 b is a gas giant world about 1.8 times bigger than Jupiter, with 2.9 times its mass. Tidal forces have locked its rotation so the same side always faces its star. The planet swings around its star in just 36 hours on an orbit that carries it almost directly above both of the star’s poles.

KELT-9 b receives 44,000 times more energy from its star than Earth does from the Sun. This makes the planet’s dayside temperature around 7,800 degrees Fahrenheit (4,300 C), hotter than the surfaces of some stars. This intense heating also causes the planet’s atmosphere to stream away into space.

Its host star is an oddity, too. It’s about twice the size of the Sun and averages about 56 percent hotter. But it spins 38 times faster than the Sun, completing a full rotation in just 16 hours.

Its rapid spin distorts the star’s shape, flattening it at the poles and widening its midsection. This causes the star’s poles to heat up and brighten while its equatorial region cools and dims – a phenomenon called gravity darkening. The result is a temperature difference across the star’s surface of almost 1,500 F (800 C).

With each orbit, KELT-9 b twice experiences the full range of stellar temperatures, producing what amounts to a peculiar seasonal sequence. The planet experiences “summer” when it swings over each hot pole and “winter” when it passes over the star’s cooler midsection. So KELT-9 b experiences two summers and two winters every year, with each season about nine hours.

“It’s really intriguing to think about how the star’s temperature gradient impacts the planet,” said Goddard’s Knicole Colón, a co-author of the paper. “The varying levels of energy received from its star likely produce an extremely dynamic atmosphere.”

KELT-9 b's polar orbit around its flattened star produces distinctly lopsided transits. The planet begins its transit near the star's bright poles and then blocks less and less light as it travels over the star's dimmer equator.

This asymmetry provides clues to the temperature and brightness changes across the star’s surface, and they permitted the team to reconstruct the star’s out-of-round shape, how it’s oriented in space, its range of surface temperatures, and other factors impacting the planet.

“Of the planetary systems that we've studied via gravity darkening, the effects on KELT-9 b are by far the most spectacular,” said Jason Barnes, a professor of physics at the University of Idaho and a co-author of the paper. “This work goes a long way toward unifying gravity darkening with other techniques that measure planetary alignment, which in the end we hope will tease out secrets about the formation and evolutionary history of planets around high-mass stars.”

TESS is a NASA Astrophysics Explorer mission led and operated by MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Additional partners include Northrop Grumman, based in Falls Church, Virginia; NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley; the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts; MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory; and the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. More than a dozen universities, research institutes and observatories worldwide are participants in the mission.

Francis Reddy works for NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.



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What's up for July? How about some moons with those giant planets? Mars after midnight. And are the stars of Mars the same as ours?

In the first week of July, enjoy Jupiter, Saturn and the moon late into the night. The trio rises in the couple of hours after sunset, and is well placed for viewing between about 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. They form their closest grouping over the July 4 weekend.

And as you're marveling at this celestial celebration, remember, you're not looking at just one moon, but well over a hundred. At present count, Jupiter and Saturn have 161 moons between them.

You can see Jupiter's four largest moons with a basic pair of binoculars, and at least one of Saturn's moons with a basic telescope. Up close, these moons are richly varied worlds in their own right – with ice-covered oceans, volcanoes, deep chasms and one with an atmosphere and seas of liquid hydrocarbons.

NASA's Mars 2020 mission is planned to launch this summer, sending the Perseverance rover and the first-ever Mars helicopter to the Red Planet. So if you're a Mars exploration fan, this month is a great time to spot Mars yourself.

In July, Mars rises just before midnight and is visible until dawn. It's rising earlier now than it was a few months ago, making it easier for those who are more night owls than early birds. Just look low in the east after midnight for a relatively bright object with a distinct reddish hue. And for an extra treat, take a look on July 11 to find the Moon very close by.

You might not have considered it before, but would it surprise you that the night sky on Mars is quite similar to Earth's in many ways?

Sure, there's sometimes a lot of dust in the thin air, and there are two little moons rather than one big one. But the stars we see from Earth are so very distant that they appear the same as seen from Mars, and you'd have no trouble finding your favorite constellations and asterisms like the Big Dipper.

Plus, with no humans there (yet), there's absolutely zero light pollution to interfere with your view of the Milky Way!

One big difference would be the positions of the planets in the sky. And instead of a ruddy red planet, there would be a dazzling bluish-white one to try and spot while stargazing.

To see noticeable changes in the positions of the stars, you'd have to travel much farther than Mars, Jupiter, even Pluto. In fact, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, speeding through the outskirts of the solar system, has only seen the slightest shift in the positions of a couple of nearby stars, despite being more than 4 billion miles away from Earth.

You can catch up on all of NASA's missions to explore the solar system and beyond at www.nasa.gov .

Preston Dyches works for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Several more COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Lake County, the Public Health Department reported.

On Thursday, six additional cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 85, Public Health said.

No specific details were released about the cases.

Of Lake County’s 85 cases, 44 are active, 41 are recovered and four are hospitalized, Public Health reported.

As of Thursday night, more than 245,000 COVID-19 cases and approximately 6,262 deaths had been reported statewide, based on a survey of the 58 county Public Health departments conducted by Lake County News.

Case totals for neighboring counties are Colusa, 70; Glenn, 122; Mendocino, 85; Napa, 344; Sonoma, 1,267; and Yolo, 583.

In Lake County to date, 5,069 tests have been conducted, with Public Health reporting that the results of 906 of those tests are pending.

The California Department of Public Health said that the latest numbers, as of July 1, put total statewide testing at 4,338,718 tests conducted, an increase of 84,542 tests over the prior 24-hour reporting period.

As of July 1, local health departments have reported 15,379 confirmed positive cases in health care workers and 91 deaths statewide, the California Department of Public Health 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.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Updated results from water quality testing at numerous locations on Clear Lake have confirmed several sites are at the “danger” level for cyanotoxins.

Clear Lake is a national treasure, and was recently named Best Bass Lake of the past decade by Bassmaster Magazine, as Lake County News has reported.

“It is also a large and biologically diverse natural body of water, and therefore dynamic in water quality,” said Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace.

“Given the warm weather and the long hours of sunlight this time of year, we are seeing large cyanobacteria/blue-green algae blooms at various places around the lake. In some locations, cyanotoxin has been detected at ‘danger’ levels,” Pace said.

Lake water monitoring is regularly conducted by the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians and Elem Indian Colony at approximately 30 Clear Lake sites.

During June 23 sampling, Pace said worrisome levels of cyanotoxin were detected at 10 sites, which are shown on the map above. Based on lab testing results, four sites reached the “danger” level.

Those sites at the danger level are:

· Austin Park (AP01, Lower Arm);
· Buckingham (BP, Lower Arm);
· Jago Bay (JB, Lower Arm);
· Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine shoreline (SBMMEL01, Oaks Arm).

Other sites of concern are:

· Lily Cove (LC01, Lower Arm): Warning.
· CL-4 (Oaks arm, center of arm): Caution.
· CLV7: Caution.
· Elem Indian Colony shoreline (ELEM01, Oaks Arm): Caution.
· Keeling Park (KP01, Upper Arm): Caution
· Lucerne (LUC01, Upper Arm): Caution.

While much of the aquatic plant growth visible in the lake right now is harmless, cyanobacteria, when present in sufficient abundance, can produce cyanotoxins, which pose health hazards to humans, livestock and pets, said Pace.

“Varying levels of the toxin can be detected at different locations, so there is no need to be overly concerned about activities in areas of the lake where algae blooms are not present,” Pace said.

At the “danger” and “warning” levels, Pace said toxins from algae in the water can harm people and kill animals.

“Everyone should stay out of the water in those areas and not touch scum in the water or on the shore. Pets should stay out of the water, not drink the water, and avoid the scum. Fish and shellfish should not be eaten from those areas,” Pace said.

Symptoms of exposure include skin rashes, eye irritation, diarrhea, and vomiting. Pace said pets who contact the toxin can experience seizures and death.

Pace said to contact a medical provider or veterinarian if symptoms due to exposure are suspected.

For current cyanotoxin lab results, please visit the Clear Lake Water Quality Facebook page and Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians’ cyanotoxin monitoring website.

Further resources are available at the county’s pages on cyanobacteria and cyanohealth.

CDC guidance regarding harmful algal blooms can be found here.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County’s Public Health officer on Friday reported that the county has had its first death from COVID-19.

Dr. Gary Pace confirmed the death in an afternoon statement.

“The exact circumstances are still being investigated, but this person became ill at home, was transported by ambulance, and died in the emergency department; they later tested positive for COVID-19,” Pace said. “Our sincere condolences go out to family and friends in this deeply sad situation.”

Pace said COVID-19 infections continue to rise in Lake County.

As of Friday morning, Pace said Lake County has a total of 86 cases, with 39 considered active and 46 recovered.

He said four of the cases are currently hospitalized, with two in-county and the other two transferred to a higher level of care out of the county. One of the individuals transported out of the county is now considered COVID-19-free, but remains under hospital care.

“Investigation into the outbreak in the farmworker community remains ongoing, and we are grateful both workers and employers have been highly responsible and cooperative in managing this challenging situation. All of those infected are on home isolation, and cooperating with Public Health,” Pace said.

Several other cases have been identified from various sources, according to Pace’s report. “Many of them have been traced to known cases; either household members or cases from out of the county.”

He added, “A handful of the recent cases, though, have no identifiable source. Community transmission is presumed.”

Lake County’s first death has occurred in the midst of the largest spike in cases Lake County has seen since the pandemic began, with cases more than doubling over the past week.

Similarly, the state of California is seeing a large increase in cases. Case totals by Friday afternoon topped 246,000 with more than 6,270 deaths, based on reports from the 58 county Public Health departments.

Lake County Public Health reported on Friday that 5,163 tests have been conducted in the county, with results from 760 of those tests pending.

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.
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MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – National Forests have a proud tradition of hosting Americans for Independence Day.

The Mendocino National Forest reminds residents and visitors to recreate responsibly and do your part to help everyone enjoy a safe and fun holiday weekend.

“We anticipate that Independence Day 2020 will be a very busy one on the Mendocino National Forest. National forests provide a great way to enjoy the outdoors but it is important that everyone recreate safely,” forest officials said in a Thursday statement.

The Mendocino National Forest increased public access this week by providing additional recreational opportunities. Forest Order No. 08-20-08 for the Ranch Fire area opened several campgrounds and a selection of trails. The forest website has the most up-to-date information on reopenings.

Under Forest Order No. 08-20-08, the following remain closed: Cedar Camp Campground, Dixie Glade Campground, Lower Nye Campground, Lower Nye Trailhead and select OHV trails on Upper Lake Ranger District.

“Visitors should come with all the essentials for their stay, including food, emergency supplies, and be prepared to pack-out trash,” said acting Mendocino National Forest Supervisor Shannon Pozas. “Certain services may still be unavailable. Visitors are asked to plan accordingly.”

Pozas added, “Please recreate responsibly to help ensure that expanded access to recreational facilities, services and opportunities continues.”

Please remember:

– Only gather with people from your household and maintain a minimum of at least six feet of physical distance from other visitors.
– Communicate with others as you pass on trails or step aside and allow others to pass.
– Pack out your trash and leave with everything you bring in and use.
– If you or anyone in your household is feeling sick, please remain at home and plan your trip for another time.

Everyone can help prevent wildfires by being extra careful with campfires, stoves and other ignition sources. Fire restrictions are in place to protect the health and safety of employees and communities.

Outside of developed campgrounds and wilderness, igniting, building, maintaining or using a fire on the Mendocino National is prohibited. Fire restrictions are posted here.

Before traveling to your favorite spot, Forest officials encourage visitors to check the Mendocino National Forest website and social media platforms – including Facebook and Twitter – or call one of the ranger district offices for information.

Additionally, a web map is available to help visitors find out which recreation areas are open on nearby forests, including campgrounds, day-use sites, and trails on National Forests in California. View the GIS map at https://go.usa.gov/xwurX .

Fire restrictions are in effect on the Mendocino National Forest. Campfires are only permitted in open developed campgrounds and within the wilderness. Additionally, please note that fireworks are not permitted on any National Forest.

Visitors are also urged to take the precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with local health and safety guidance. Visit the CDC website for tips from the CDC on preventing illnesses like the coronavirus.

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