LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Commission has begun tagging and removing vehicles in the county and in the cities of Lakeport and Clearlake.

Officials offered the following details on what community members need to know about these activities.

When a vehicle is tagged for removal, the last registered owner is notified by mail at their last known address. They are granted a period of 10 days in which to remedy the related code violation and legally park the vehicle.

If, after 10 days, insufficient action has been taken by the owner, the vehicle will be towed.

Vehicle information is logged with the placement of each tag. If a vehicle is moved to a different location and dumped illegally, the jurisdictions will know where it came from.

Abandonment of any vehicle is presumed the responsibility of the last registered owner under the California Vehicle Code.

As of May 17:

• The county of Lake had tagged 59 vehicles, towed 10 and impounded two.
• The city of Lakeport had tagged three, towed two and had five more ready to be tagged.
• The city of Clearlake has now tagged greater than 160, and towed more than 35.

Efforts are ongoing to identify vehicles eligible for removal.

As a reminder, it can cost between $4,000 to $6,000 to remove an abandoned motorhome, and there are many environmental concerns associated with such a vehicle’s disposal.

Funds available through the Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Program are limited, and one individual’s choice to abandon an RV could mean that multiple smaller vehicles will remain alongside Lake County roads.

For more information about abandoned vehicles in the county, contact Lake County Code Enforcement at 707-263-2309.

For abandoned vehicles within either of the city limits, please contact your city offices: city of Clearlake, 707-994-8201; city of Lakeport, 707-263-5615.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – With the West Coast’s salmon fisheries in crisis, on Thursday California Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross requesting declaration of a catastrophic regional fishery disaster and commercial fishery failure for salmon in their states.

Officials report that there has been an unprecedented collapse in the salmon population in California and Oregon.

Tribal allocations are at an all-time low, and the proposed closures and minimal open salmon fishing seasons will have significant negative impacts on thousands of West Coast residents.

The declaration the governors are seeking begins the process for requesting federal aid to assist commercial salmon anglers and salmon-dependent business who continue to suffer from declining salmon populations.

“California salmon fishermen are facing an unprecedented crisis and we are grateful for the governor who is standing strong for the hard-working men and women of California’s salmon fleet,” said Sen. Mike McGuire, who represents California’s North Coast, including Lake County.

“The California salmon fishery is our state’s oldest and it’s one of the most iconic fisheries in America. Thousands of working families on the North Coast are in crisis and desperately need our help – today’s action by the governor brings us one step closer to providing that support,” McGuire said Thursday.

Last month, the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s projections for salmon in these states were dire.

In the 2017 season, many miles of coastline will be closed to commercial salmon fishing and allowable catch will be greatly reduced, compounding the already significantly lower economic returns seen in 2016.

The drought, poor ocean conditions and federal water management policies caused high mortality and very low survival of juvenile salmon resulting in low adult numbers and devastating closures for the 2017 salmon season.

For more information about declared West Coast disasters, visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration list at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/management/disaster/determinations/wcro.html .

The governors’ letter can be seen below.

052417 California and Oregon governors salmon disaster letter by LakeCoNews on Scribd

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – California agencies combatting the spread of invasive quagga and zebra mussels remind boaters to remain cautious over Memorial Day weekend.
 
Quagga and zebra mussels are invasive freshwater mussels native to Eurasia.
 
They multiply quickly, encrust watercraft and infrastructure, alter water quality and the aquatic food web, and ultimately impact native and sport fish communities.
 
These mussels spread from one body of water to another by attaching to watercraft, equipment and nearly anything that has been in an infested waterbody.
 
Microscopic juveniles, invisible to the naked eye, are spread from infested waterbodies in water entrapped in boat engines, bilges, live-wells and buckets.
 
Quagga mussels have infested 31 waterways in Southern California and zebra mussels have infested two waterways in San Benito County.
 
To prevent the spread of these mussels and other aquatic invasive species, people launching vessels at any body of water are subject to watercraft inspections and are strongly encouraged to clean, drain and dry their motorized and nonmotorized boats, including personal watercraft, and any equipment that contacts the water before and after recreating.
 
"The public plays a critical role in preventing the spread of quagga and zebra mussels," said California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham. "The public should remember to Clean, Drain, and Dry their watercraft to prevent the further spread of quagga/zebra mussels, and other invasive species."
 
To ensure watercraft are clean, drained and dry, many local agencies conduct boat inspections.
 
The CDFW Web site provides a list of these inspection programs, along with additional information about the invasive mussels and what people can do to help prevent their spread in California.
 
Prior to traveling, boaters should contact destination waterbodies directly to check for restrictions and requirements.
 
Take the following steps both before traveling to and before leaving a waterbody to prevent spreading invasive mussels, improve your inspection experience and safeguard California waterways:
 
– CLEAN: Inspect exposed surfaces and remove all plants and organisms;
– DRAIN: All water, including water contained in lower outboard units, live-wells and bait buckets; and
– DRY: Allow the watercraft to thoroughly dry between launches. Watercraft should be kept dry for at least five days in warm weather and up to 30 days in cool weather.
 
In addition, to the video above demonstrating the ease of implementing the clean, drain and dry prevention method, a detailed guide to cleaning vessels of invasive mussels is available at https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=4957&inline .
 
Additional information is available on the Division of Boating and Waterways Web site at http://dbw.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=28996 .
 
Travelers are also advised to be prepared for inspections at California Department of Food and Agriculture Border Protection Stations.
 
Over the past nine years, more than one million watercraft entering California have been inspected at the Border Protection Stations.
 
Inspections, which can also be conducted by CDFW and California State Parks, include a check of boats and personal watercraft, as well as trailers and all onboard items.
 
Contaminated vessels and equipment are subject to decontamination, rejection, quarantine or impoundment.
 
Quagga and zebra mussels can attach to and damage virtually any submerged surface. They can:
 
– Ruin a boat engine by blocking the cooling system and causing it to overheat.
– Jam a boat's steering equipment, putting occupants and others at risk.
– Require frequent scraping and repainting of boat hulls.
– Colonize all underwater substrates such as boat ramps, docks, lines and other underwater surfaces, causing them to require constant cleaning.
– Impose large expenses to owners.
 
A multi-agency effort that includes CDFW, DBW, CDFA and the California Department of Water Resources has been leading an outreach campaign to alert the public to the quagga and zebra mussel threats.
 
A toll-free hotline, 1-866-440-9530, is available for those seeking information on quagga or zebra mussels.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Authorities are investigating a boat crash on Thursday afternoon that led to a man’s death.

Sgt. Andy Davidson of the Lake County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol told Lake County News that a single boat with two people on board was involved, with one fatality.

The incident was first reported just after 3:45 p.m. Thursday, according to radio traffic.

The initial report came in to Lake County Central Dispatch as a vessel crash with a 57-year-old male with a possible head injury, based on radio traffic. The specific location of the crash was not reported.

Lakeport Fire Protection District Chief Doug Hutchison said firefighters were told that the boat would be coming to Library Park, so that is where they responded minutes later.

However, Hutchison said when firefighters arrived, the boat wasn’t there.

He said they located the boat a short time later at the Skylark Motel, with two individuals – both male adults – on board, one of them seriously injured.

“The boat was definitely damaged, it had some kind of collision,” Hutchison said.

He said the man who drove the boat in said the other man had been driving the boat when it hit a tree, dropping him between the seats.

“We confirmed him dead right there,” Hutchison said of the man who had been injured in the crash.

At that point, Hutchison said the incident was turned over to the sheriff’s office.

Davidson told Lake County News Thursday evening that the sheriff’s office was in the middle of the investigation, and he had no other details to release yet.

He said he expected more information on the incident would be available on Friday.

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office reported that the body of a male subject was found Friday in the Cache Creek Recreation Area.

Lt. Corey Paulich said that at approximately 11:30 a.m. Friday the sheriff’s office received a report of possible human remains located in a remote area on the Judge Davis Trail.

The trail is within the Cache Creek Recreation Area, which is located in eastern Lake County near the Colusa County line.

Paulich said deputies responded to that area and located a deceased male approximately two miles from Highway 20.

The deputies were able to recover the deceased male with the assistance of the California Highway Patrol helicopter H16 out of Sacramento, Paulich said.

Caltrans spokesman Phil Frisbie said Highway 20 was shut down for about 25 minutes Friday afternoon while the CHP copter transferred the body to a vehicle at the Cache Creek Recreation Area parking lot.

There were no obvious signs of foul play, according to Paulich’s report.

Paulich said the cause of death and positive identification are pending an autopsy scheduled for next week.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – It’s cap-and-gown time once again at Lake County’s high schools and community colleges.
 
Several hundred graduates will be celebrating the end of their high school years or will receive college certificates and degrees in events planned through the middle of June.
 
Some commencement events already have taken place. Commencement ceremonies for Marymount California University’s Lakeside Campus in Lucerne were held on May 13, and at the Lloyd P. Hance Community School in Lakeport and Lakeport Alternative Education on Wednesday, local school officials reported.
 
This Friday, Clear Lake and Upper Lake High hold their graduations.
 
On the same day, the 44th annual Mendocino College Commencement will take place, as well graduation for the Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College.
 
Carlé Continuation High School follows on May 31, followed by Lower Lake High and Middletown High on June 2.
 
Kelseyville High will bring the commencement season to a close on June 16 with its usual bang – as a fireworks display is once again planned for this year’s graduation.
 
The ceremonies are listed below in order of date, with times and locations.
 
Friday, May 26
 
Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College: 3 p.m. certificate ceremony, 7 p.m. graduation ceremony for those who have earned an associate in arts or associate in science degree, Konocti Education Center Cornelison Event Center, 15850 Dam Road Extension in Clearlake.
 
Mendocino College: 6 p.m., main campus athletic field, 1000 Hensley Creek Road, Ukiah.
 
Upper Lake High School: 7 p.m., football stadium, 675 Clover Valley Road.
 
Clear Lake High School: 7:30 p.m., football stadium, 350 Lange St., Lakeport.
 
Wednesday, May 31
 
Carlé Continuation High School: 6 p.m., new Lower Lake High School gym, 9430 Lake St.
 
Friday, June 2
 
Middletown High School: 6:45 p.m., Foltmer Field, 20932 Big Canyon Road.
 
Lower Lake High School: 7:30 p.m., football field, 9430 Lake St.
 
Friday, June 16
 
Kelseyville High School: 8 p.m., football field, 5480 Main St. This year’s event will once again include fireworks.
 
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 Lake County Office of Education has named its new assistant superintendent.

The Office of Education announced this week that Cynthia Lenners will be taking on the role as of July 1.

She will succeed April Leiferman, who has been hired as the new superintendent of the Lakeport Unified School District.

District officials said Lenners has been in education for more than 35 years.

For the past two years she has served Lake County students as the Lake County Office of Education’s senior director of school and district support services.

She started her career as a science and social studies teacher in the Salinas Union High School District, where she also served as an education specialist.

Lenners later worked as an educational consultant, focusing on school and district accountability and reform.

Prior to coming to the Lake County Office of Education, Lenners served as a teacher and principal in the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District.

She has single subject credentials in science, history/social studies and physical education; special education and administrative services credentials, and she is also a language development specialist.

“We could not have asked for a better educator or more dedicated person to take the helm of LCOE’s Ed Services,” said Ryan Mahan, director of human resources and operations.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Animal Control has a big group of dogs of many kinds ready for new homes this week.

Available canines this week range from Chihuahuas and terriers up to German Shepherds and Labrador Retriever mixes.

To meet the animals, call Clearlake Animal Control at 707-994-8201, Extension 103 or 105, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, or leave a message.
 
Below are this week's available pets.

‘Boots’

“Boots” is a male Chihuahua puppy.

He has a short black coat.

Shelter staff said that since Boots is just a baby, he needs lots of love and attention.

‘Brandy’

“Brandy” is an adult female Chihuahua with a short white coat with red markings.

Shelter staff said she’s sweet and would make a great companion.

‘Carmel’

“Carmel” is an adult female Chihuahua.

She came in with “Brandy” and the puppy, “Boots.”

She has a short red and white coat.

 
‘Courtney’
 
“Courtney” is a female Catahoula mix.
 
She has a short brown brindle coat and big brown eyes.

Shelter staff said she is about 2 years old and very sweet.

‘Jack’

“Jack” is a young Parson Russell Terrier mix.

He has a short white and red coat.

Shelter staff said he is a shy boy because he was abused. He is a very sweet dog but is worried he will be hurt again. Once he knows he is safe he warms up.

He needs someone to show him that all humans don't hurt.

‘Joseph’

Joseph is a young boxer and terrier mix.

He has a short black coat with white markings.

Shelter staff said he is ready to go home with his new family today.

‘Lucky Boy’

“Lucky Boy” is a young German Shepherd. Shelter staff estimates he is about 9 months old.

He has a short black and tan coat.

Lucky Boy gets along with other dogs and like people. German Shepherds make wonderful family dogs, and he will make a great friend for life.

 
‘Mya’
 
“Mya” is a female mastiff-Labrador Retriever mix with a short black coat.
 
Shelter staff said her owner moved and couldn’t take her. She is very sweet.

 
‘Xena’
 
“Xena” is an American Staffordshire Terrier and Labrador Retriever mix with a short tan and white coat.
 
Shelter staff said she is a kind 2-year-old who loves to go for walks and is very well-mannered.
 
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.