Sunday, 23 February 2025

Register

News

Posted On

As California continues to grapple with climate change and wildfires that are increasingly dangerous and destructive, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday released a progress report on recommendations laid out in his administration’s 60 Day Strike Force report.

In April, the Governor’s Strike Force charged with examining California’s catastrophic wildfires laid out five key areas where focus is needed:

– Catastrophic wildfire prevention and response;
– Mitigating climate change through clean energy policies;
– Fair allocation of catastrophic wildfire damages;
– A more effective California Public Utilities Commission with the tools to manage a changing utility market;
– Holding Pacific Gas and Electric accountable and building a utility that prioritizes safety.

The progress report released today shows the state’s progress in all of these areas and provides guidance on how the state can build a safe, reliable and affordable energy future – one that continues the state’s progress towards achieving its climate change goals.

“Climate change has created a new reality in the State of California. It’s not a question of ‘if’ wildfire will strike, but ‘when,’” said Gov. Newsom in the report’s introduction. “Our recent, terrifying history bears that out. Fifteen of the 20 most destructive wildfires in the state’s history have occurred since 2000 and 10 of the most destructive fires have occurred since 2015. Wildfires don’t discriminate – they are a rural, suburban and urban danger. We all have an individual responsibility to step up and step in for our communities as we confront new and growing threats.”

Newsom added, “My administration has welcomed support and guidance from the Legislature in crafting a framework around issues like power company accountability, wildfire safety investments and reform of the California Public Utilities Commission. In the coming days, I will continue working with the Legislature to turn this framework into a package of bills that make the changes we need.”

Gov. Newsom has made wildfire prevention and mitigation a top priority since taking office. The governor proactively declared a state of emergency to fast-track 35 critical forest-management projects to protect more than 200 of California’s highest-risk communities, redirected National Guard members from the border to undertake fire prevention activities throughout the state.

The governor also included $1 billion in additional funding in the state budget to enhance our state’s preparedness and expand our capacity to respond to emergencies.

During his State of the State Address, the governor announced the creation of a Strike Force to develop a comprehensive strategy within 60 days, to address the destabilizing effects of catastrophic wildfires on California’s energy future.

The full progress report can be seen below.



062119 Strike Force Progress Report by LakeCoNews on Scribd

Posted On



LAKEPORT, Calif. – With Pacific Gas and Electric warning of the potential for public safety power shutoffs this summer, the Board of Supervisors this week discussed backup generators and power infrastructure upgrades needed to keep county facilities going.

As the board grappled with the likelihood of high costs and the possibility of months-long delays in getting facilities prepped for the outages, it became clear that, while some departments – such as the sheriff’s office – will not have their services interrupted, the county has not completed a comprehensive operational plan for what facilities will be able to operate if PG&E cuts power due to concerns about wildfires.

On June 11, the board directed staff to return with information for a discussion on backup power generators, and Public Services Director Lars Ewing on Tuesday said his staff has been “feverishly” trying to size up generators and options for purchases and leases of equipment.

Ewing emphasized that he wasn’t presenting a recommendation, only options. He said his staff has looked at county facilities, and dozens of them don’t have backup generation. One of the questions they’re trying to answer is how to ensure those facilities can maintain operations during a shutoff.

For the Lake County Courthouse, the county government’s headquarters, Ewing said it will require 750 kilowatts of power to keep it fully operational.

While figuring out how much power the county facilities will need is one consideration, there is another necessity that has to be addressed: Ewing said all of the facilities need electrical upgrades in order to use backup generators.

The costs for those upgrades can range from $10,000 for a smaller building up to $75,000 for a larger facility like the courthouse, he said.

A generator sized to run the courthouse is estimated to cost $190,000, plus the cost for the power upgrade, he said.

Not only is the cost high, but there also is a lead time of between three and five months just to purchase such a generator, according to Ewing.

For a more temporary solution, Ewing said the county can rent a large generator on contingency for $5,000 per month, with the equipment available within 48 hours. To rent it on standby would range between $10,000 and $12,000 per month.

“That powers the whole building,” he said.

The county has a cost-sharing agreement with the state for the Lake County Superior Court, housed on the building’s fourth floor. Ewing said that could provide a 30-percent share. Another cost-sharing option is to work with the cell carriers who have tower facilities on the building’s roof to get generators.

At most, Ewing said the county is looking at as much as $300,000 to keep the courthouse running in the event of a power shutoff. He said they could look at paring down certain circuits, running air conditioning less and turning off some lights to use less energy.

Ewing said his staff looked at every building on the courthouse campus, including Victim-Witness, Buildings and Grounds, and the Lake County Courthouse Museum, the latter which runs off the courthouse’s power. With the museum, he said they needed to consider if some artifacts will need power to protect them.

Other facilities reviewed included Special Districts, the Lakeport Library, Lake County Probation, the Agriculture Department, Animal Care and Control, Middletown Library and Senior Center, Behavioral’s Health’s Southshore office, Redbud Library and Child Support Services, he said.

Ewing said all of those facilities would be on propane. He estimated generators would range from $15,000 to $60,000, with installation from $10,000 to $25,000 each. At least a few months’ lead time will be required, and Ewing said both electricians and generator companies are facing high demand. One electrician he spoke to said he was scheduled six weeks out.

“It’s not something that we can pull the trigger on right now and have it done next week for any one building, much less all of them,” Ewing said, adding that his staff doesn’t have the capacity to address those needs right away.

Supervisor Rob Brown said the discussion was becoming much larger than originally intended. He asked about total fees for generators and installation.

Ewing said that, for all of the buildings – excluding the courthouse – it was $380,000 for generators and $160,000 for installation.

Brown said the county will need to let nonessential staff know at some point that if the power is shut off, they should stay home and not come to work. “It’s going to be a real hardship on everyone.”

Department heads report on capabilities, needs

Sheriff Brian Martin told the board that the jail has backup generation and his evidence facility should have a new generator installed soon. At its June 10 meeting, the board approved a $40,000 budget transfer for the sheriff’s office to purchase and install the propane-powered generator to keep evidence freezers and refrigerators operational during a power shutoff.

Martin said his administration office, the dispatch center and the emergency operations center all have generators, and work is under way to get a generator installed at a radio repeater site to back up communications. He said both the sheriff’s office and the Office of Emergency Services should continue operations uninterrupted.

Brown asked if they could start looking at permanent alternatives, spending more to get away from PG&E altogether by using solar, wind or other options. Ewing said they already are looking at solar power.

IT Director Shane French said his department has a backup generator and, to the extent that facilities are online, they will have services and the public will have access to the county’s Web site.

Ewing said he was stopping short of suggesting that certain facilities not have backup power, as he believed that isn’t his decision. Rather, the focus is on looking at what offices need to remain open. “That really is where we are.”

Supervisor Moke Simon said looking at rentals and leasing was the county’s most prudent route, and he suggested looking for US Department of Agriculture grants for help with addressing power alternatives.

Supervisor EJ Crandell said his tribe, Robinson Rancheria, has a generator for its casino that broke during last year’s fire. He asked about a maintenance package or someone on site to make repairs. “When it broke we were stuck.”

Ewing said all current backup generators are on a maintenance plan.

County Counsel Anita Grant told the supervisors that they needed to devise what the county’s operational plan is going to be.

Ewing said there is a lot that’s needed for planning at each location, which would allow him to refine costs.

Grant added that there is no problem having a large overarching plan that’s phased in, and it depends on where the board starts and where you want to end up. “Once you have a plan a lot of this will be easy to see,” as far as alternatives.

Board Chair Tina Scott asked for consensus to run the numbers on the backup generation measure. Brown suggested Ewing also take the consideration to the county’s space committee, which looks at issues surrounding facilities, and then bring back a recommendation to the board.

Offer of assistance

During public comment, Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg said he appreciated the board’s discussion.

“School districts are dependent on the county treasurer, county auditor-controller, as well as IT for a lot of our business operations. I think the fire districts are in a similar boat,” he said, adding districts are dependent on power to make payroll and meet local accounts payable obligations.

He said the Lake County Office of Education is investing more than $100,000 for permanent backup generation, “and by July 1 I can assure you that we will have temporary generation in place so that we’re able to move forward.”

He said he wants to be able to assure our school employees they will get their paychecks on time. “This is a critical situation. It’s a unique situation.”

Falkenberg said the Office of Education is willing to step up to help offset some of the backup power costs – in particular, for the courthouse – so the county can move forward.

Crystal Markytan, director of Social Services, said her goal is to keep staff working in order for benefits to go out for foster parents, aid and CalFresh.

Markytan said the cost for backup generation at the Anderson Ranch offices in Lower Lake is $250,000. She wants to put forward a plan for working in the offices without power, which would be voluntary, adding her staff has some good ideas on how to do that.

Ewing said the generator for Anderson Ranch would be the same size as the generator needed for the courthouse. It would be noted later in the discussion that, since that is a leased building, the county should coordinate backup power generation upgrades with the building’s owners.

County Librarian Christopher Veach said he wants to do whatever possible to keep libraries open, even if the power is out, and he asked for guidelines from the board on how to operate if the power is out for a long period of time.

He said he has surveyed some libraries from around the state; some have backup generation and stay open, some don’t and close immediately.

As the discussion closed, Grant told the supervisors, “I think your board’s made it clear that there’s a lot of planning and work to do to come back to your board with some recommendations regarding short-term and long-term plans using solar, wind and any other alternatives.”

She added, “If that sums it up, we’ll get on it.”

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.
Posted On

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Animal Control is featuring a group of mostly large dogs needing homes.

The kennels also have many dogs that need to be reunited with their owners. To find the lost/found pet section, click here.

The following dogs are ready for adoption.

“Cadbury.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Cadbury’

“Cadbury” is a female Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix with a smooth medium-length beige coat.

She is No. 1215.

“Hamilton.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Hamilton’

“Hamilton” is a male German Shepherd with a medium-length brown and black coat.

He is No. 2177.

“Jason.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Jason’

“Jason” is a male pit bull mix with a short blond and white coat.

He is No. 1663.

“Lexi.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Lexi’

“Lexi” is a female German Shepherd with a medium-length black and tan coat.

She is No. 2262.

“Scorpio.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Scorpio’

“Scorpio” is a male American Bulldog mix with a brindle coat.

He is No. 2269.

“Snowflake.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.


‘Snowflake’

“Snowflake” is a male Chihuahua with a white coat.

He is No. 1864.

“Truffle.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Truffle’

“Truffle” is a female American Staffordshire Terrier mix with a brown coat.

She is No. 2270.

“Tyson.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Tyson’

“Tyson” is a male American Staffordshire terrier mix with a medium-length gray and white coat.

He is No. 1863.

“Wynn.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Wynn’

“Wynn” is a male American Staffordshire Terrier with a short brindle coat.

Staff said he has been at the shelter for more than 100 days. He loves affection and is available for adoption or through the foster to adopt program.

He’s believed to be about 6 to 7 years old.

He is No. 969.

Clearlake Animal Control’s shelter is located at 6820 Old Highway 53, off Airport Road.

Hours of operation area noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The shelter is closed Sundays, Mondays and major holidays.

Call Clearlake Animal Control at 707-994-8251, Extension 1, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about adoptions.

Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or at the city’s Web site.

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.
Blog Left ad
Posted On

A constant outflow of solar material streams out from the Sun, depicted here in an artist's rendering. On June 20, 2019, NASA selected two new missions – the Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) mission and Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites (TRACERS) – to study the origins of this solar wind and how it affects Earth. Together, the missions support NASA’s mandate to protect astronauts and technology in space from such radiation. Image courtesy of NASA.

NASA has selected two new missions to advance our understanding of the sun and its dynamic effects on space.

One of the selected missions will study how the sun drives particles and energy into the solar system and a second will study Earth’s response.

The sun generates a vast outpouring of solar particles known as the solar wind, which can create a dynamic system of radiation in space called space weather.

Near Earth, where such particles interact with our planet’s magnetic field, the space weather system can lead to profound impacts on human interests, such as astronauts’ safety, radio communications, GPS signals, and utility grids on the ground.

The more we understand what drives space weather and its interaction with the Earth and lunar systems, the more we can mitigate its effects – including safeguarding astronauts and technology crucial to NASA’s Artemis program to the Moon.

“We carefully selected these two missions not only because of the high-class science they can do in their own right, but because they will work well together with the other heliophysics spacecraft advancing NASA’s mission to protect astronauts, space technology and life down here on Earth,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “These missions will do big science, but they’re also special because they come in small packages, which means that we can launch them together and get more research for the price of a single launch.”

PUNCH

The Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere, or PUNCH, mission will focus directly on the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona, and how it generates the solar wind.

Composed of four suitcase-sized satellites, PUNCH will image and track the solar wind as it leaves the Sun.

The spacecraft also will track coronal mass ejections – large eruptions of solar material that can drive large space weather events near Earth – to better understand their evolution and develop new techniques for predicting such eruptions.

These observations will enhance national and international research by other NASA missions such as Parker Solar Probe, and the upcoming European Space Agency/NASA Solar Orbiter, due to launch in 2020.

PUNCH will be able to image, in real time, the structures in the solar atmosphere that these missions encounter by blocking out the bright light of the Sun and examining the much fainter atmosphere.

Together, these missions will investigate how the star we live with drives radiation in space. PUNCH is led by Craig DeForest at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado. Including launch costs, PUNCH is being funded for no more than $165 million.

TRACERS

The second mission is Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites, or TRACERS.

The TRACERS investigation was partially selected as a NASA-launched rideshare mission, meaning it will be launched as a secondary payload with PUNCH.

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate is emphasizing secondary payload missions as a way to obtain greater science return.

TRACERS will observe particles and fields at the Earth’s northern magnetic cusp region – the region encircling Earth’s pole, where our planet’s magnetic field lines curve down toward Earth.

Here, the field lines guide particles from the boundary between Earth’s magnetic field and interplanetary space down into the atmosphere.

In the cusp area, with its easy access to our boundary with interplanetary space, TRACERS will study how magnetic fields around Earth interact with those from the sun.

In a process known as magnetic reconnection, the field lines explosively reconfigure, sending particles out at speeds that can approach the speed of light. Some of these particles will be guided by the Earth’s field into the region where TRACERS can observe them.

Magnetic reconnection drives energetic events all over the universe, including coronal mass ejections and solar flares on the Sun. It also allows particles from the solar wind to push into near-Earth space, driving space weather there.

TRACERS will be the first space mission to explore this process in the cusp with two spacecraft, providing observations of how processes change over both space and time.

The cusp vantage point also permits simultaneous observations of reconnection throughout near-Earth space. Thus, it can provide important context for NASA’s Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, which gathers detailed, high-speed observations as it flies through single reconnection events at a time.

TRACERS’ unique measurements will help with NASA’s mission to safeguard our technology and astronauts in space. The mission is led by Craig Kletzing at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Not including rideshare costs, TRACERS is funded for no more than $115 million.

Launch date for the two missions is no later than August 2022. Both programs will be managed by the Explorers Program Office at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

The Explorers Program, the oldest continuous NASA program, is designed to provide frequent, low-cost access to space using principal investigator-led space science investigations relevant to the work of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in astrophysics and heliophysics.

The program is managed by Goddard for the Science Mission Directorate, which conducts a wide variety of research and scientific exploration programs for Earth studies, space weather, the solar system and the universe.

For more information about the Explorers Program, visit https://explorers.gsfc.nasa.gov .
Posted On

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The National Weather Service has placed Lake County and other parts of the region under a red flag warning through Saturday evening, but so far no power outages have been announced for the county.

The warning went into effect at 11 p.m. Thursday and will remain in effect until 6 p.m. Saturday.

A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly, the National Weather Service said.

The warning is triggered by a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures that forecasters said can contribute to extreme fire behavior. The National Weather Service said wildland fuels below the 2,000 foot elevation mark are generally near or below the seasonal average and susceptible to rapid spread of fire.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has warned that such conditions can trigger public safety power shutoffs, but so far the company has not announced plans for any such action in Lake County – or in areas that would impact the county – as a result of this warning.

Northshore Fire Chief Mike Ciancio confirmed on Thursday that no power shutoff to the area is planned due to the weekend weather conditions.

The National Weather Service said a low pressure system is bringing breezy north winds behind the departing low pressure system, which in turn is resulting in elevated fire weather concerns through Saturday.

Conditions are forecast to be warmer than normal over the weekend with cooling again next week.

The specific Lake County forecast expects winds into the low teens on Friday, with gusts up to 20 miles per hour in the south county. Lighter winds are forecast for Saturday.

Temperatures on Friday are forecast to range into the high 80s and drop into the low 50s at night, with Saturday, Sunday and Monday having highs in the low 90s in the south county and high 80s elsewhere, and similar nighttime temperatures to Friday.

Conditions are forecast to cool next week, with daytime temperatures dropping into the 80s in Middletown and the high 70s in other parts of the county from Tuesday through Thursday. Nighttime temperatures will hover in the low 50s.

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.
Posted On

Pacific Gas and Electric officials on Wednesday reported on the company’s efforts to improve safety and conditions for its power facilities, which have included increased inspections and repairs, and, in some cases, permanently deenergizing transmission lines.

The safety work is running parallel with the company’s plans for public safety power shutoffs which could potentially deenergize large portions of the state – particularly high risk areas shown in the California Public Utilities Commission's fire threat map – in the case of serious weather conditions and fire danger.

As part of its Community Wildfire Safety Program – implemented after the wildland fires of 2017 and 2018 – PG&E said it has accelerated safety inspections and repairs across its vast 72,000-square-mile service area.

Through the end of May, PG&E has completed visual inspections of approximately 99 percent of its distribution infrastructure and visual or aerial inspections of approximately 98 percent of its transmission infrastructure in high-fire threat areas.

This includes approximately 50,000 electric transmission structures, 700,000 distribution poles and 222 substations, covering more than 5,500 miles of transmission line and 25,200 miles of distribution line.

In the course of inspection, the company identified 53,000 corrective actions needed on transmission structures, with 100 found to be high priority. PG&E said all necessary high priority repairs have been addressed.

Another 207,000 corrective actions on distribution poles with nearly 1,000 conditions identified as highest priority were found with 97 percent of those highest-priority conditions repaired or made safe. The remaining high priority conditions are currently in the process of being repaired.

There also are 3,000 corrective actions within substations with approximately 100 conditions identified as highest priority. PG&E said all of those highest-priority conditions have been repaired or made safe.

“The number of safety risks found through these inspections is unacceptable. We need to do better,” Sumeet Singh, PG&E’s vice president of the Community Wildfire Safety Program, told reporters on Wednesday.

When Lake County News asked about specific findings for Lake County, PG&E said that information is not yet available.

However, PG&E said it has provided results of the enhanced and accelerated inspections to the California Public Utilities Commission and will be making the status of the high-priority repairs, organized by city and county, publicly available on its Web site on or before July 15.

Throughout the inspection process, PG&E said it has been addressing and repairing conditions that pose an immediate safety risk, while completing other high-priority repairs on an accelerated basis. Repairs for all other conditions are scheduled to be completed as part of PG&E’s work execution plan.

They’ve brought in 2,000 qualified line workers from out of state and implemented best practices from agencies in Southern California as well as Australia, Singh said.

PG&E also has permanently deenergized the Caribou-Palermo transmission line, which Cal Fire identified as an ignition point of the Camp fire. Singh said the line has been out of service since
December.

During its inspections, PG&E identified a significant number of high-priority conditions on the Caribou-Palermo line, Singh said.

At the request of the California Public Utilities Commission, PG&E retained Exponent, an independent third-party scientific and engineering consulting firm, to conduct a records-based review of the transmission line. PG&E expects that Exponent will conclude its review over the next couple of months.

During the WSIP repair work, PG&E also identified several high-priority issues on one section of the Ignacio-Alto-Sausalito transmission line that runs through areas of the Golden Gate National
Recreation Area and serves the city of Sausalito.

Ten of the line’s 11 towers in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area with high-priority conditions will require complete replacement. PG&E has commenced preparations for repair work, which will require the construction of a temporary transmission line to provide electric service while the towers on the permanent transmission line are replaced and repaired.

PG&E is in the process of assessing additional structures on the line to determine if additional corrective actions are needed.

Inspectors looked at all aspects of PG&E assets including cross-arms, insulators and footings, along with critical electrical components and equipment. PG&E and contract crews inspected electric towers and poles from top to bottom through ground, climbing, helicopter or drone inspections.

Inspection findings were documented, particularly through high resolution images, and reviewed by dedicated teams with experience in system maintenance, engineering and maintenance
planning to evaluate identified conditions.

This process included reviewing millions of high-definition photographs taken from the ground, qualified personnel climbing towers, drones and helicopters, PG&E reported.

PG&E said photographs were evaluated by experts who rate the severity of the condition found, assign a priority level and begin the process of dispatching corrective notifications for repair.
Posted On

A helicopter works on the East fire in the Yolla Bolly Wilderness in Northern California. Photo courtesy of the Mendocino National Forest.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Mendocino National Forest officials said growth is slowing on the lightning-caused East fire burning in the Yolla Bolly Wilderness.

As of late Friday morning, the East fire had burned 200 acres with little growth reported.

To the southeast, the Haynes fire is estimated at 23 acres and 80 percent contained, officials said.

The fires started June 17 approximately 23 miles northeast of Covelo in Trinity County.

Forest officials said there are 145 personnel working on these fires including smokejumpers, hotshot crews, wildland fire modules, helicopters and support personnel.

On the East fire, crews will continue to reinforce a designated confinement area between East Ridge, Buck Ridge and Wrights Ridge as the fire moves southward. Officials said crews on the Haynes fire plan to extinguish burning logs and vegetation near the containment lines.

During the Friday morning briefing, Agency Administrator Frank Aebly thanked the crews for protecting wilderness values and having a light impact on the land while they work on the two fires.

Crews are using minimum impact suppression tactics or MIST such as using natural barriers where possible, moving or rolling material out of the intended confinement area, reducing the amount of trees cut and minimizing fireline construction.

The weather forecast for Friday into Saturday includes a red flag warning with strong winds for the northern Sacramento Valley below 2,000 feet.

The gusty winds in the valley are not expected to occur on the East and Haynes fires during this wind event.

For the fire area, the weather forecast shows temperatures in the mid-60s with north winds from 11 to 18 miles per hour.

Wilderness hikers are asked to avoid travel near Buck Ridge and Wrights Ridge.

Maps and photos are available at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6394/ .

Fire support staff on the East fire in the Yolla Bolly Wilderness in Northern California. Photo courtesy of the Mendocino National Forest.
Posted On

The California Department of Water Resources announced Thursday that it will increase the 2019 State Water Project allocation to 75 percent from 70 percent.

This is the final allocation for the calendar year. The initial allocation in November 2018 was 10 percent.

The 2019 allocation of ­­75 percent amounts to 3,145,105 acre-feet of water.

“This winter’s robust storms resulted in above average snowpack and reservoir levels bringing California a much-improved water year from last year,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “The full reservoirs will provide a healthy buffer for if we return to drier conditions next year.”

Clear Lake also is part of the Sacramento River Watershed, one of the major sources of water supply for the Bay Delta, which supplies the State Water Project. Specifically, water from Clear Lake flows into Cache Creek and from there eventually makes its way into the Sacramento River.

California’s reservoirs continue to remain above their historical average thanks to the more than 30 atmospheric rivers since the start of the water year.

Earlier this month, the statewide Sierra snowpack was 202 percent of normal. It’s California’s fifth largest snowpack dating back to 1950.

The increase in water deliveries to the 29 SWP contractors will provide additional water supply for more than 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland.

Lake Oroville, the SWP’s largest reservoir, is currently at 98 percent of capacity and 118 percent of average for this time of year.

Shasta Lake, the largest reservoir in the Central Valley Project, or CVP, is at 98 percent of capacity and 118 percent of average.

San Luis Reservoir, the largest off-stream reservoir in the United States where water is stored for the SWP and CVP, is at 75 percent of capacity and 108 percent of average. In Southern California, SWP’s Castaic Lake is at 94 percent of capacity and 107 percent of average.

Statewide snow water content, reservoir storage, precipitation, and releases to meet water supply and environmental demands are among several factors used in determining allocations.

Even in wet years, a 100 percent allocation is rare due to Delta pumping restrictions to protect threatened and endangered fish species. The last time the Project was able to allocate 100 percent was 2006.
Posted On

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Summer road trips are a well-loved tradition for many.

To make sure a trip is enjoyable, the California Highway Patrol reminds everyone that prevention and planning for summer driving may take time up front, but can spare drivers from dealing with the consequences of a breakdown or worse.

“Get your vehicle ready, plan your route, and above all, drive safely,” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley said. “When you are the driver, your only responsibility is to keep your eyes on the road, hands on the wheel, and concentrate on the task of driving.”

Summer driving can be more dangerous than other seasons for several reasons.

Vacationing drivers, unfamiliar with an area, may also drive erratically or unpredictably.

More teenagers, who are inexperienced drivers, are also more likely to be on the road.

The CHP recommends:

• Make sure vehicle maintenance is up-to-date. Summer temperatures can put serious stress on engines. Tires, air conditioning, belts and hoses, fluid levels, interior and exterior lights, and wiper blades must all be in good condition.

• Program any global positioning systems, whether in your phone or in your car, in advance. The California Department of Transportation, or Caltrans, has a mobile app for traffic information, or visit http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov for highway conditions. Prepare for device malfunctions or loss of connection by knowing your route before you leave and packing maps.

• Buckle up! Be sure everyone in your vehicle is wearing a seat belt. Check that young passengers are using the correct child safety seat for their height and weight.

• Never leave pets, children, or the elderly alone in a car for any length of time. California laws address how to handle situations in which children or animals are left in vehicles. However, the best approach if you see an unattended child or animal is to call 9-1-1.

• Expect road construction and plan for delays. Remember to “be work zone alert” and move over or slow down when passing any stationary vehicle displaying emergency or warning lights, including emergency vehicles, Caltrans vehicles, and tow trucks.

The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of safety, service and security.
Posted On

Adriana Lopez along with Sen. Mike McGuire, her mother and father, and other state senators in the California Senate on Thursday, June 20, 2019. Photo courtesy of the office of State Sen. Mike McGuire.

State Sen. Mike McGuire honored and celebrated Upper Lake High School student and state wrestling champion Adriana Lopez during a ceremony on the California State Senate Floor Thursday morning.

Lopez isn’t just the top female wrestler in her weight class in the Golden State – she is a trailblazer.

She made school history by being the first student to ever hold a state title across any sport from Upper Lake High and she is the first-ever student to hold a state title from the entire county of Lake.

“She’s fierce, wicked smart, crushes the competition and she has made California proud. We congratulate her on her success, and wish her the best as she heads to college this fall to continue to compete with the best,” Sen. McGuire said.

She was joined in the Senate ceremony by her father Joe Fernandez – who also is her wrestling coach – and her mother, Jamie.

This spring, Lopez won the California Interscholastic Federation Girls’ Wrestling State Championship in the 121-pound division, making her the top female wrestler in California in her weight class.

She was previously a state wrestling medalist, having placed third in the 2018 CIF Girls’ Wrestling State Championship, and she wasn’t going to accept anything but the top spot in her senior year.

Lopez was also the first Coastal Mountain Conference state champion in wrestling.

Lopez has received a combined athletic and academic scholarship to attend Campbellsville University in Campbellsville, Kentucky, where she will both wrestle and pursue a career in nursing.
Posted On

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Unified School District is preparing to transition to the leadership of its new superintendent as the new school and fiscal year begins next month.

The district has hired several new school administrators, and next week interim Superintendent Patrick Iaccino will be at his last meeting, during which the new fiscal year budget will be considered.

The board hired Iaccino in January and since then he’s worked on addressing key district needs, including leading the recruitment for the new superintendent.

In May, the board hired longtime district educator Jill Falconer, the Clear Lake High School principal, to fill that post, as Lake County News has reported.

Iaccino said his last meeting will be on Wednesday, June 26. Falconer takes over on July 1.

He said he and Falconer have been meeting as part of the leadership handoff. They’ve discussed staffing, worked on recruitments and she’s had a one-day retreat with the administrative team.

Iaccino and Falconer have collaborated on deciding administrative assignments, in particular, determining principal and vice principal jobs.

Earlier this year, the district reached a settlement that reinstated Rachel Paarsch, formerly the principal of Terrace Middle School who was removed from that post in the fall.

The agreement calls for Paarsch to remain on paid administrative leave until the end of the year – June 30 – and then for her to be assigned to a new administrative job at the discretion of the superintendent.

Iaccino said he and Falconer determined that Paarsch will be the principal over the alternative program at Natural High School and the Community Day School. In that capacity, she will oversee pupil services, attendance and chronic absenteeism.

Among other key hires, Iaccino said Falconer served on the interview panel for a new Lakeport Elementary School principal. Aaron Carter, who has been principal there, was notified this spring that he was to be reassigned to another administrative job.

Iaccino said the new Lakeport Elementary principal is Talin Tamzarian, who comes from Pine Ridge School in Magalia. That school and its students were impacted by the Camp fire in November, which destroyed the nearby town of Paradise.

With Falconer succeeding to the superintendent’s post, a new Clear Lake High School principal needed to be selected.

Iaccino said he took the lead on that hire because Falconer did not feel comfortable doing so.

He said they selected Jennifer Scheel as the new high school principal. She has served as Falconer’s assistant principal.

A new assistant high school principal will be discussed at the June 26 meeting, Iaccino said.

In other news, Dave Norris, the district’s longtime director of maintenance, operations and transportation, has resigned, Iaccino confirmed.

Norris has served with the district for nearly 40 years.

Iaccino said Norris has taken a job in Southern California involving school districts. “He didn’t share a lot with me.”

Norris’ position hasn’t yet been posted on the district’s Web site.

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.
Posted On

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Mendocino National Forest officials on Wednesday said a lightning-sparked fire in the Yolla Bolly Wilderness has tripled in size.

The East fire on Wednesday was estimated to be up to 125 acres, the forest reported.

The fire is located 43 miles west of Red Bluff. It was reported by the Anthony Peak Lookout June 17 at 4 p.m.

Forest officials reported that they’ve chosen to use a confinement strategy in fighting the fire.

That strategy involves determining firefighter safety, access to the fire, its location, potential areas of concern, likely growth over time and current and forecast weather.

The designated confinement area is between East Ridge, Buck Ridge and Wrights Ridge.

Forest officials said their objectives include reducing exposure to firefighters, removing hazardous fuels, protecting wilderness characteristics and decreasing the probability for high severity wildfires in the future.

Approximately 100 resources are managing the East fire, including smokejumpers, hotshot crews and aircraft.

On Wednesday, fire crews plan to remove brush and reinforce the confinement area boundary along the East Ridge.

There is another wildfire southeast of the East fire called the Haynes fire. Several crews are taking actions to suppress this 10-acre fire. Crews report minimal activity on the Haynes fire.

In order to protect wilderness characteristics, crews are using minimum impact suppression tactics or MIST.

These tactics include using natural barriers, minimizing tree cutting, using aircraft and water drops to slow fire spread and constructing the minimum amount of fireline needed to maintain the confinement area.

The use of chain saws in the wilderness is authorized when necessary, officials said.

A cold front is forecast starting Wednesday evening through Thursday, with fire behavior expected to increase during that time, according to forest officials.

LCNews

Responsible local journalism on the shores of Clear Lake.

 

Memberships:

 

Search