Earth’s global average surface temperature in 2021 tied with 2018 as the sixth warmest on record, according to independent analyses done by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA.

Continuing the planet’s long-term warming trend, global temperatures in 2021 were 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit (0.85 degrees Celsius) above the average for NASA’s baseline period, according to scientists at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, or GISS in New York.

NASA uses the period from 1951-1980 as a baseline to see how global temperature changes over time.

Collectively, the past eight years are the warmest years since modern record keeping began in 1880. This annual temperature data makes up the global temperature record — which tells scientists the planet is warming.

According to NASA’s temperature record, Earth in 2021 was about 1.9 degrees Fahrenheit (or about 1.1 degrees Celsius) warmer than the late 19th century average, the start of the industrial revolution.

“Science leaves no room for doubt: Climate change is the existential threat of our time,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “Eight of the top 10 warmest years on our planet occurred in the last decade, an indisputable fact that underscores the need for bold action to safeguard the future of our country — and all of humanity. NASA’s scientific research about how Earth is changing and getting warmer will guide communities throughout the world, helping humanity confront climate and mitigate its devastating effects.”

This warming trend around the globe is due to human activities that have increased emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.

The planet is already seeing the effects of global warming: Arctic sea ice is declining, sea levels are rising, wildfires are becoming more severe and animal migration patterns are shifting.

Understanding how the planet is changing — and how rapidly that change occurs — is crucial for humanity to prepare for and adapt to a warmer world.

Weather stations, ships, and ocean buoys around the globe record the temperature at Earth’s surface throughout the year. These ground-based measurements of surface temperature are validated with satellite data from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder, or AIRS, on NASA’s Aqua satellite.

Scientists analyze these measurements using computer algorithms to deal with uncertainties in the data and quality control to calculate the global average surface temperature difference for every year.

NASA compares that global mean temperature to its baseline period of 1951-1980. That baseline includes climate patterns and unusually hot or cold years due to other factors, ensuring that it encompasses natural variations in Earth’s temperature.

Many factors affect the average temperature any given year, such as La Nina and El Nino climate patterns in the tropical Pacific. For example, 2021 was a La Nina year and NASA scientists estimate that it may have cooled global temperatures by about 0.06 degrees Fahrenheit (0.03 degrees Celsius) from what the average would have been.

A separate, independent analysis by NOAA also concluded that the global surface temperature for 2021 was the sixth highest since record keeping began in 1880. NOAA scientists use much of the same raw temperature data in their analysis and have a different baseline period (1901-2000) and methodology.

“The complexity of the various analyses doesn’t matter because the signals are so strong,” said Gavin Schmidt, director of GISS, NASA’s leading center for climate modeling and climate change research. “The trends are all the same because the trends are so large.”

NASA’s full data set of global surface temperatures for 2021, as well as details of how NASA scientists conducted the analysis, are publicly available from GISS.

GISS is a NASA laboratory managed by the Earth Sciences Division of the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The laboratory is affiliated with Columbia University’s Earth Institute and School of Engineering and Applied Science in New York.

For more information about NASA’s Earth science missions, visit https://www.nasa.gov/earth.

LAKEPORT, Calif. — As it prepares for construction on its Lakefront Park to begin later this year, the city of Lakeport has announced new feature at the site.

The city said it has completed a new pedestrian bridge linking the Library Park parklands and the site of the future Lakefront Park along the Clear Lake shoreline. The park is located at 800 N. Main St.

The new pedestrian bridge is the first public improvement related to the new Lakefront Park slated to begin construction later this year.

The Lakefront Park project is being funded by a $5.9 million grant from the 2018 State of California Parks and Water Bond (Proposition 68).

The grant funded the acquisition of the 5.5-acre site and the development of a shoreline community park.

Park features will include a promenade lakefront walking path, basketball court, ninja gym, amphitheater, splash pad, skate park, multiuse lawn area, public parking, sheltered picnic area, restrooms and a concession building.

The new bridge, located on the north side of the Fifth Street public parking lot and extending across a seasonal stormwater drainage course, is now open for use.

The prefabricated bridge design was selected by Lakeport Public Works staff and was chosen for its rustic appearance which ties into the design theme of Library Park and the future Lakefront Park.

The bridge’s decorative stamped concrete walking surface accentuates the design and makes an attractive addition to the city’s park system.

Lakeport Public Works Department staff constructed the concrete and steel bridge footings, installed the bridge upon delivery and completed most of the finished concrete work.

City officials said they are very proud of the staff's collective efforts on the bridge project.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Clearlake Animal Control has new dogs waiting for homes this week.

The City of Clearlake Animal Association also is seeking fosters for the animals waiting to be adopted.

Call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about adoptions and schedule a visit to the shelter.

Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or on the city’s website.

The newest dogs are listed at the top of the following list.

‘Edgar’

“Edgar” is a male terrier-American pit bull mix with a black and cream coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 48634546.

‘Jaxx’

“Jaxx” is a male Doberman pinscher mix with a black and rust-colored coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 49022184.

‘Andy’

“Andy” is a male American pit bull mix with a short gray and white coat.

He is dog No. 48995415.

‘Arnold’

“Arnold” is a male American Staffordshire terrier mix with a short brindle coat with white markings.

He is dog No. 49029348.

‘Bear’

“Bear” is a male Labrador retriever-American pit bull mix with a short charcoal and fawn coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 48443153.

‘Bear No. 2’

“Bear No. 2” is a male American pit bull mix with a short tan coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 48731556.

‘Bella’

“Bella” is a female American pit bull mix with a short gray brindle coat.

She has been spayed.

She is dog No. 48448381.

‘Holly’

“Holly” is a female terrier mix with a beige coat.

She is dog No. 49159116.

‘Isabella’

“Isabella” is a female Chihuahua mix with a short tan coat.

She is dog No. 49292130.

‘Levi’

“Levi” is a male golden retriever-Labrador retriever mix.

He has a short golden coat.

He is dog No. 48975687.

‘Maria’

“Maria” is a female Shar-Pei mix with a short tan coat.

She is dog No. 49047315.

‘Nala’

“Nala” is a 1-year-old female German shepherd mix.

She has a medium-length black and tan coat.

She is dog No. 48289638.

‘Priscilla’

“Priscilla” is a female Brittany spaniel mix with a white and copper coat.

She is dog No. 49089138.

‘Sassy’

“Sassy” is a female American pit bull mix with a short black coat.

She has been spayed.

She is dog No. 48443128.

‘Snowball’

“Snowball” is a male American Staffordshire mix terrier with a white coat.

He is dog No. 49159168.

‘Terry’

“Terry” is a male shepherd mix with a short brindle coat.

He is dog No. 48443693.

‘Turk’

“Turk” is a male chocolate Labrador retriever mix.

He is dog No. 48911836.

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.

The California Employment Development Department, or EDD, said it is working to address a new scam targeting disability insurance.

The EDD said it took action in recent weeks to clamp down on a new disability insurance identity theft scam involving suspected organized criminal elements filing false DI claims using stolen credentials of individuals and medical or health providers.

Disability insurance claimants have continued to receive payments if they were not associated with the recent scam attempts, the EDD said.

EDD suspended account activity for approximately 27,000 suspicious medical provider registrants and 345,000 claims associated with those providers or other suspicious activity.

While the majority of these providers and claims were likely fraud attempts, the department has partnered with state regulators and medical provider organizations to coordinate the verification process to clear any legitimate claims as quickly as possible. The EDD said this is its top priority and includes working to contact all claimants who have had their claim held up in this identity theft scam.

Purported medical providers must complete further identity verification with ID.me to potentially certify any disability claims. These personalized requests for medical provider verification through ID.me only come from an official EDD email address ending in @edd.ca.gov.

Medical providers who receive emails with information about how to verify identity through ID.me should carefully confirm the sender’s @edd.ca.gov email address.

Scammers attempt to impersonate government agencies in an attempt to trick people into clicking fake links. Such scam efforts are unfortunately common and slow verification and payment for legitimate claimants and providers.

Californians should safeguard financial and personal information online and elsewhere and remain vigilant to guard against identity theft. Those who receive communications from EDD regarding a medical provider online account being created in the DI system, or an application for public benefits (such as disability or unemployment insurance) and believe someone filed the claim falsely, should file a fraud report by visiting Ask EDD and selecting the Report Fraud category to complete the Fraud Reporting Form.

Identity theft victims may also want to file an identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission. EDD continues to enhance and update information on the Help Fight Fraud webpage.

 

Wishcycling is putting something in the recycling bin and hoping it will be recycled, even if there is little evidence to confirm this assumption.

Hope is central to wishcycling. People may not be sure the system works, but they choose to believe that if they recycle an object, it will become a new product rather than being buried in a landfill, burned or dumped.

The U.S. recycling industry was launched in the 1970s in response to public concern over litter and waste. The growth of recycling and collection programs changed consumers’ view of waste: It didn’t seem entirely bad if it could lead to the creation of new products via recycling.

Pro-recycling messaging from governments, corporations and environmentalists promoted and reinforced recycling behavior. This was especially true for plastics that had resin identification codes inside a triangle of “chasing arrows,” indicating that the item was recyclable – even though that was usually far from the truth. In fact, only resins #1 (polyethylene terephthalate, or PET) and #2 (high-density polyethylene, or HDPE) are relatively easy to recycle and have viable markets. The others are hard to recycle, so some jurisdictions don’t even collect them.

Wishcycling entered public consciousness in 2018 when China launched Operation National Sword, a sweeping set of restrictions on imports of most waste materials from abroad. Over the preceding 20 years, China had purchased millions of tons of scrap metal, paper and plastic from wealthy nations for recycling, giving those countries an easy and cheap option for managing waste materials.

The China scrap restrictions created enormous waste backups in the U.S., where governments had under-invested in recycling systems. Consumers saw that recycling was not as reliable or environmentally friendly as previously believed.

An unlikely coalition of actors in the recycling sector coined the term “wishcycling” in an effort to educate the public about effective recycling. As they emphasize, wishcycling can be harmful.

Contaminating the waste stream with material that is not actually recyclable makes the sorting process more costly because it requires extra labor. Wishcycling also damages sorting systems and equipment and depresses an already fragile trading market.

Huge waste management companies and small cities and towns have launched educational campaigns on this issue. Their mantra is “When in doubt, throw it out.” In other words, only place material that truly can be recycled in your bin. This message is hard for many environmentalists to hear, but it cuts costs for recyclers and local governments.

[Over 140,000 readers rely on The Conversation’s newsletters to understand the world. Sign up today.]

We also believe it’s important to understand that the global waste crisis wasn’t created by consumers who failed to wash mayonnaise jars or separate out plastic bags. The biggest drivers are global. They include capitalistic reliance on consumption, strong international waste trade incentives, a lack of standardized recycling policies and the devaluation of used resources. To make further progress, governments and businesses will have to think more about designing products with disposal and reuse in mind, reducing consumption of single-use products and making massive investments in recycling infrastructure.

Jessica Heiges, PhD Candidate in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley and Kate O'Neill, Professor of Global Environmental Politics, University of California, Berkeley

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lakeport City Council and the Board of Supervisors have approved a tax sharing agreement that will support the city’s proposed annexation of the South Lakeport area.

The council and board held a joint 70-minute-long meeting at City Hall on Tuesday night, at the end of which they voted unanimously — first the council, then the supervisors — to approve the agreement.

Both sides called the agreement a “win-win,” for the two governments, the business owners and residents of the 135-acre South Lakeport Annexation Project area, consisting of 50 parcels, that runs along South Main Street and onto a portion of Soda Bay Road.

The tone of the meeting was both collegial and complimentary, a far cry from the tenor of interactions between the county and city on the topic since Lakeport first began to discuss pursuing the annexation a decade ago.

“It’s a very good moment for us,” Board Chair EJ Crandell noted at the meeting’s beginning.

During the course of the discussion on Tuesday, both Supervisor Tina Scott and Councilwoman Mireya Turner noted that annexation had previously been a bad word, with Turner adding that it had been a problem in an otherwise functional relationship between the two governments.

The city has maintained that the proposed annexation area, while outside of the city limits, has been in its sphere of influence since at least the 1980s.

For the county, the loss of the most lucrative commercial area in its jurisdiction — and the associated tax revenue — was a major concern, and it led to serious contention between the two governments.

At one point in 2016, the county asked the Lake Local Area Formation Commission, or LAFCo, the agency which is responsible for reviewing and approving spheres of influence and annexations, to remove the proposed annexation area from the city’s sphere of influence.

As recently as February 2019, the two sides had indicated that their deep disagreements continued. Then, in December 2020, LAFCo asked the city and council to participate in a good faith process to resolve the ongoing dispute over the proposed annexation.

A hang-up was a series of previous tax sharing agreements the two governments had reached in previous decades that were meant to address the county’s potential revenue losses.

The city would later, at LAFCo’s request, agree to pay for another fiscal analysis conducted by a third party, which contributed to the new negotiations.

Those previous disagreements have now been resolved with the new agreement. However, officials caution there are many steps still ahead for annexation to be approved, with property owners and registered voters in the area able to challenge the action.

An outline of the agreement

The negotiating team whose work resulted in the proposed agreement included, on the city side, Mayor Stacey Mattina and Councilman Kenny Parlet, City Manager Kevin Ingram, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Nick Walker and City Attorney David Ruderman, and from the county, supervisors Tina Scott and Moke Simon, County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson and two of her deputies, Susan Parker and Steve Carter, Tax Administrator Patrick Sullivan and County Counsel Anita Grant.

“It’s a complicated agreement,” and it took a while to work out the various aspects of it, Ingram told Lake County News.

It will provide for basic services in the area, like hydrants, a public water system and a commitment to finishing the South Main Street-Soda Bay Road Corridor Project, and includes incentives for the city and county to work together, Ingram said.

The tax sharing agreement runs from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2040, and applies to both sales and property tax.

From July 2022 to June 2029, the county will receive 80% of Bradley-Burns sales tax from the area and the city will receive 20%.

Bradley-Burns sales tax is the 1.25% statewide rate; of that, 1% is allocated to cities or counties. Ingram said that for every dollar of sales tax, that percentage equates to 2.5 cents for local jurisdictions. “The rest of it all goes to Sacramento.”

While the lion’s share of the Bradley-Burns sales tax would go to the county in that initial seven-year period, Ingram said the city would receive 100% of its Measure I and Z sales taxes, which is a key part of the agreement and is what he said made the negotiations possible.

From July 2029 to June 2039, the county will receive 50% plus 50% of the cumulative growth of the Bradley-Burns sales tax since the final year of the first period.

After the agreement’s end, the city would continue to pay that share of Bradley-Burns sales tax to the county indefinitely, at the same amount received for the final year of the second phase.

Ingram said the county will receive 65.3% and the city 34.7% during the agreement, which is the same split for any property in city jurisdiction.

“The real winner there on the property tax side is the fire district,” said Ingram, noting the district will receive more money for the new land added to the city.

He said a fiscal analysis showed revenue neutrality, and the amounts established in the agreement give the city and county enough to cover their services.

That includes taking over policing in the area, with Ingram pointing out that the Lakeport Police Department already responds to assist the sheriff’s department on mutual aid. “It’s not that large of an impact.

The agreement establishes that the city will offer water services to the area, but that it will be optional, not required.

There also is the matter of wastewater services expansion, an area which still has to undergo a separate negotiation.

Ingram said the city and county have an existing agreement for wastewater in place that runs through the end of 2026. The county currently maintains the infrastructure, with the city maintaining the pump station at 16th Street. The city takes the flows during the low months and the agreement calls for the county to take some of the flow into its system.

“We want to start looking at it sooner rather than later,” Ingram said of that agreement.

Common ground

During Tuesday’s meeting, Ingram acknowledged, “For many years this issue has been both challenging and controversial.”

Now, however, for the first time, Ingram said the city and county have found some common ground.

In discussing aspects of the agreement, Ingram touched on the South Main Street-Soda Bay Road Corridor Project.

“There have been significant delays to this project. It has been going on for quite some time,” he said.

While it’s been moving forward at a slow pace, he said they are nearing a point where they want to get water into the area. However, they don’t want to burden businesses by digging up the road twice.

Once the right of way acquisition is completed, undergrounding of utilities can start. Ingram expected that to happen around the end of 2023 or early 2024.

Mattina said it was exciting to see the level of cooperation between the city and county, and she noted what they could accomplish in Lake County if they’re working together.

Supervisor Bruno Sabatier gave kudos to the city for forcing the conversation with the LAFCo application. “The past was haunting the conversation in the first place.”

While officials are enthusiastic, there is the community response to consider.

Ingram said he and Parker walked the annexation area on Friday to share information and answer questions with residents and business owners.

He said the response was “mixed,” with some remaining adamantly opposed and others excited about the possibility of a reliable water supply to be provided by the city.

One property owner who came to the meeting to express support was Scott Lotter, who owns Lakeport Cinema 5 and Lakeport Auto Movies. He is the largest property owner in the annexation area, making up 20% of the land area.

“We’re delighted,” he said, explaining that when he built the theater 25 years ago, he signed an agreement to support the annexation. “We still support the annexation.”

Lotter said he’s looking forward to improved water service. He now spends a lot of money to get the water service he needs.

During the meeting, Ingram read a letter from Lakeport Fire Chief Jeffrey Thomas, who emphasized that having a reliable water supply is critical for the department and those who rely on them to “quickly and efficiently put out fires.”

“Considering normal modern day house fires, we have about five minutes before the combustible fire gases can completely involve the interior of a structure,” he said.

Thomas said the area’s water supply has a direct influence on insurance premiums and cost of doing business.

“I do feel a sense of collaboration with the county that was absent just a short time ago,” said Councilman Michael Green, adding there are compelling reasons for the city and county to move forward.

He said cities need to grow and he wanted the community to have every confidence that this is a very public, transparent and complicated process.

On the city side, Turner moved to approve the agreement, with the council voting 5-0. That was followed by Scott moving approval by the board, also accepted with a unanimous vote.

The annexation application itself is separate and must go through a process that still has several steps ahead, including consideration by LAFCo and then responding to any potential challenges.

It’s expected that the annexation application could be reviewed by LAFCo by March or April.

Ingram said there will be more opportunities for public outreach, including plans for a community meeting in the annexation area in the near future.

More information is available on the process at www.lakeportannexation.org.

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.

South Lakeport Annexation Tax Exchange Agreement_Final Version 1-6-21 (Revised 1-11-21 CLEAN) v2 by LakeCoNews on Scribd

LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lake County Fair Foundation is hosting a February fundraiser to support the goal of improving the county’s fairgrounds and hosting educational events.

The third annual Wrangler Round-Up Dinner and Dance will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at Fritch Hall at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St. in Lakeport.

The evening will include a barbecue meal and a no-host bar, plus live music provided by a local band, the Time Travelers.

There also will be a live auction, raffle, and a dessert auction.

The cost is $50 per person or $90 per couple. Table sponsorships also are available.

Proceeds support the nonprofit foundation’s efforts at the fairgrounds, which include raising funds to purchase equipment, renovate facilities, and provide outreach to the community regarding agriculture and natural resources.

To purchase tickets or for additional information, visit https://www.lakecountyfairfoundation.com.

You can also contact Jeff Warrenburg at 925-381-0359 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Blair Smith at 209-269-6766 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Wine Alliance recently held their check presentation ceremony for the beneficiaries of the 2021 Lake County Wine Auction, where over $250,000 was given to local organizations whose mission is to support those in need within the community.

Through the hard work of volunteers, board of directors, donors, sponsors, and auction attendees, the Lake County Wine Alliance was able to donate substantial amounts to several organizations.

This latest group of beneficiaries includes LC Rural Arts Initiative, Lake County Symphony Association, Adventist Shower/Trailer Project, Yuba Community College District, all LC FFA and Arts Programs, Lake County Senior Centers, Lake County Youth Services, Lake County Sheriff’s Activities League, Lake County Channel Cats, Totes for Teens, Hospice Services of LC, People Services, Lake Family Resource Center, Mother-Wise and Operation Tango Mike.

This year’s sponsors donated enough to cover the cost of the event, so all funds raised were able to go directly to these organizations.

Sponsors are Adventist Health, Sysco, California Exterminators, Six Sigma Ranch and Winery, Beckstoffer, Travel Center, Richard Knoll Consulting, Pabst Blue Ribbon Construction, Reynolds Systems, Sutter Health, Bella Vista Farming, Tribal Health, Cork Supply, Tricobraun WinePak, Calpine and West Coast Fire and Water.

 

The omicron variant quickly took over the global coronavirus landscape after it was first reported in South Africa in late November, 2021. The U.S. became the 24th country to report a case of omicron infection when health officials announced on Dec. 1, 2021, that the new strain had been identified in a patient in California.

How do scientists know what versions of the coronavirus are present? How quickly can they see which viral variants are making inroads in a population?

Alexander Sundermann and Lee Harrison are epidemiologists who study novel approaches for outbreak detection. Here they explain how the genomic surveillance system works in the U.S. and why it’s important to know which virus variants are circulating.

What is genomic surveillance?

Genomic surveillance provides an early warning system for SARS-CoV-2. The same way a smoke alarm helps firefighters know where a fire is breaking out, genomic surveillance helps public health officials see which coronavirus variants are popping up where.

Labs sequence the genome in coronavirus samples taken from patients’ COVID-19 tests. These are diagnostic PCR tests that have come back positive for SARS-CoV-2. Then scientists are able to tell from the virus’s genome which coronavirus variant infected the patient.

By sequencing enough coronavirus genomes, scientists are able to build up a representative picture of which variants are circulating in the population overall. Some variants have genetic mutations that have implications for prevention and treatment of COVID-19. So genomic surveillance can inform decisions about the right countermeasures – helping to control and put out the fire before it spreads.

For example, the omicron variant has mutations that diminish how well existing COVID-19 vaccines work. In response, officials recommended booster shots to enhance protection. Similarly, mutations in omicron reduce the effectiveness of some monoclonal antibodies, which are used both to prevent and treat COVID-19 in high-risk patients. Knowing which variants are circulating is therefore crucial for determining which monoclonal antibodies are likely to be effective.

How does genomic surveillance work in the US?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads a consortium called the National SARS-CoV-2 Strain Surveillance (NS3) system. It gathers around 750 SARS-CoV-2-positive samples per week from state public health labs across the U.S. Independent of CDC efforts, commercial, university and health department laboratories sequence additional specimens.

Each type of lab has its own strengths in genomic surveillance. Commercial laboratories can sequence a high number of tests, rapidly. Academic partners can provide research expertise. And public health laboratories can supply insight into local transmission dynamics and outbreaks.

Regardless of the source, the sequence data is generally made publicly available and therefore contributes to genomic surveillance.

What data gets tracked?

When a lab sequences a SARS-CoV-2 genome, it uploads the results to a public database that includes when and where the coronavirus specimen was collected.

The open-access Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID) is an example of one of these databases. Scientists launched GISAID in 2008 to provide a quick and easy way to see what influenza strains were circulating across the globe. Since then, GISAID has grown and pivoted to now provide access to SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences.

The database compares a sample’s genetic information to all the other samples collected and shows how that particular strain has evolved. To date, over 6.7 million SARS-CoV-2 sequences from 241 countries and territories have been uploaded to GISAID.

Taken together, this patchwork of genomic surveillance data provides a picture of the current variants spreading in the U.S. For example, on Dec. 4, 2021, the CDC projected that omicron accounted for 0.6% of the COVID-19 cases in the U.S. The estimated proportion rose to 95% by Jan. 1, 2022. Surveillance gave a stark warning of how quickly this variant was becoming predominant, allowing researchers to study which countermeasures would work best.

It’s important to note, however, that genomic surveillance data is often dated. The time between a patient taking a COVID-19 test and the viral genome sequence getting uploaded to GISAID can be many days or even weeks. Because of the multiple steps in the process, the median time from collection to GISAID in the U.S. ranges from seven days (Kansas) to 27 days (Alaska). The CDC uses statistical methods to estimate variant proportions for the most recent past until the official data has come in.

How many COVID-19 samples get sequenced?

Earlier in 2021, the CDC and other public health laboratories were sequencing about 10,000 COVID-19 specimens per week total. Considering that hundreds of thousands of cases have been diagnosed weekly during most of the pandemic, epidemiologists considered that number to be too small a proportion to provide a complete picture of circulating strains. More recently, the CDC and public health labs have been sequencing closer to around 60,000 cases per week.

Despite this improvement, there is still a wide gap in the percentages of COVID-19 cases sequenced from state to state, ranging from a low of 0.19% in Oklahoma to a high of 10.0% in North Dakota within the past 30 days.

Moreover, the U.S. overall sequences a much smaller percentage of COVID-19 cases compared to some other countries: 2.3% in the U.S. compared to the 7.0% in the U.K., 14.8% in New Zealand and 17% in Israel.

Which COVID-19 tests get sequenced?

Imagine if researchers collected COVID-19 tests from only one neighborhood in an entire state. The surveillance data would be biased toward the variant circulating in that neighborhood, since people are likely transmitting the same strain locally. The system might not even register another variant that is gaining steam in a different city.

That’s why scientists aim to gather a diverse sample from across a region. Random geographically and demographically representative sampling gives researchers a good sense of the big picture in terms of which variants are predominant or diminishing.

Why don’t patients in the US get variant results?

There are a few reasons patients are generally not informed about the results if their specimen gets sequenced.

First, the time lag from specimen collection to sequence results is often too long to make the information clinically useful. Many patients will have progressed far into their illness by the time their variant is identified.

Second, the information is often not relevant for patient care. Treatment options are largely the same regardless of what variant has caused a COVID-19 infection. In some cases, a doctor might select the most appropriate monoclonal antibodies for treatment based on which variant a patient has, but this information can often be gleaned from faster laboratory methods.

As we begin 2022, it is more important than ever to have a robust genomic surveillance program that can capture whatever the next new coronavirus variant is. A system that provides a representative picture of current variants and fast turnaround is ideal. Proper investment in genomic surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens and data infrastructure will aid the U.S. in fighting future waves of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

Alexander Sundermann, Clinical Research Coordinator & DrPH Candidate in Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences and Lee Harrison, Professor of Epidemiology, Medicine, and Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — On Wednesday morning the Lake County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Clearlake Oaks man who authorities said was responsible for shooting at homes and who attempted to assault a deputy with bear spray.

Benjamin Wilkinson, 62, was taken into custody in the case.

The sheriff’s office said deputies were dispatched to the area of the 11000 block of Garden Court in Clearlake Oaks shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday on reports of shots being fired but were unable to identify the responsible party.

At 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, Central Dispatch received numerous reports of shots being fired in the same area, the sheriff’s office reported.

Deputies arrived on the scene and set up a perimeter to ensure the community’s safety, the agency reported.

The sheriff’s office said deputies were able on Wednesday morning to identify Wilkinson as having been responsible for the shooting.

While deputies were arresting Wilkinson, he attempted to spray a deputy with bear spray. The sheriff’s office said a short struggle ensued before deputies took Wilkinson into custody.

No injuries related to the shots fired or Wilkinson being taken into custody were reported, the sheriff's office said.

Wilkinson was later transported and booked at the Lake County jail for felony shooting at inhabited dwellings, resisting arrest and misdemeanor illegal use of tear gas.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the incident and asks anyone with information related to this incident to contact Det. Jeffrey Mora of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — New legislation introduced Tuesday by Lake County’s two members of Congress seeks to expand the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to protect the Walker Ridge area, which will be renamed in honor of the area’s tribal history.

Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA-03) introduced the “Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act” (H.R.6366) with Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA-05) as the bill’s original cosponsor.

This legislation would expand the National Monument designated by President Obama in 2015 by nearly 4,000 acres to include an adjacent federally owned land parcel in Lake County known as the “Walker Ridge” tract.

The 330,780-acre National Monument covers Napa, Yolo, Solano, Lake, Colusa, Glenn and Mendocino counties. Two-thirds of it is located within Lake County.

In November 2019, the Board of Supervisors presented a proclamation declaring the town of Lucerne as the gateway to the National Monument following action by the Lucerne Town Hall in September.

“Conserving California’s special places has been a lifelong passion throughout my tenure in the state legislature, as deputy secretary of the Interior to President Clinton, and now as a member of Congress representing Lake County. Walker Ridge is one of those special places, and I am thrilled to continue working in Congress to conserve this unique landscape for future generations of Californians to enjoy,” said Garamendi.

“In 2016, I worked to designate the Berryessa Snow Mountain region as a National Monument to protect the pristine landscape and biodiversity of the region while creating countless recreational opportunities and boosting our local economy. This legislation will expand the Snow Mountain region to include Walker Ridge, protecting even more public land. I’m honored to work with Congressman Garamendi to ensure that our public lands are protected for generations to come,” said Thompson.

Congressman Garamendi’s bill also renames the entire ridgeline in Lake and Colusa counties from “Walker Ridge” to “Condor Ridge — which means “Molok Luyuk” in the Patwin language — befitting the area’s cultural significance to Native Americans like the federally recognized Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.

“Molok Luyuk — or Condor Ridge — is a special part of Northern California and deserves special protections. We appreciate Congressman Garamendi’s leadership on this and his insistence that Native American voices be part of the conversation,” said Chairman Anthony Roberts of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. “Our ancestors traveled and traded there for centuries. With these protections, the unique resources on Molok Luyuk will endure, and Californians will be able to enjoy its natural beauty for generations to come.”

Today, the area known as Walker Ridge attracts a wide range of people who use the Bureau of Land Management, or BLM, property to hike, ride horses, cycle, birdwatch, and drive legal off-highway vehicles.

The legislation would provide much-needed, lasting protection for Molok Luyuk along with the requirement for a Monument Management Plan within one year.

The legislation also would secure ongoing comanagement with affected federally recognized tribes by requiring federal agencies to consult with tribes in the development of the management plan, subsequent management decisions, and “continued meaningful engagement” in the implementation of the plan.

Don Amador, a longtime trail recreation and resource management professional, explained that Molok Luyuk’s management plan would make it easier for the BLM to designate routes that provide connectivity to increase public access and enhance recreation opportunities for all user groups.

“The expanded monument also would mark an important step toward helping the State of California and the Biden Administration meet the critical goal of protecting 30% of U.S. lands and waters by the year 2030,” added Elyane Stefanick, California program director for the Conservation Lands Foundation, in reference to California’s 30x30 Initiative and the federal America the Beautiful call-to-action.

"Conservation Lands Foundation supports Congressman Garamendi’s goal to expand the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument and ensure this remarkable landscape has a robust management plan,” Stefanick said. “The history of public lands is complex. The addition of Molok Luyuk honors the original stewards and caretakers of these lands and will help protect the area’s rich biodiversity.”

Many years of effort

Currently managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the area currently known as Walker Ridge is “a jewel of biodiversity,” said Nick Jensen, conservation program director for the California Native Plant Society, referring to Molok Luyuk’s 30 species of rare plants, ancient blue oak woodlands, rugged rock outcrops, wildflower meadows and extensive stands of McNab cypress.

For years, advocates called for lasting protection of Walker Ridge, helping to deter repeated development proposals for large-scale wind energy.

The wind energy proposals persist, despite the California Energy Commission’s finding that the area had only moderate to low energy potential.

In 2005 and again in 2011, CNPS submitted proposals to designate the region an Area of Critical Environmental Concern over worries that the area’s irreplaceable habitats would be permanently altered.

In 2014, Congressman Thompson championed bicameral legislation to establish the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, with then-Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Congressman Garamendi.

In July 2015, President Obama declared the federal land surrounding Lake Berryessa as a National Monument, at the Congressmen’s urging.

On July 29, 2021, Congressman Garamendi announced a public comment period on this draft legislation to expand the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.

Over the nearly 200 public comments submitted to the Congressman’s office, all but one supported the proposed expansion.

“Congressman Garamendi has given California a precious gift by working to secure permanent protection for Molok Luyuk,” said Jensen. “We thank him for listening and responding to our Tribal partners and coalition of scientists, outdoor enthusiasts, and conservation advocates.”

“The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act will safeguard Molok Luyuk’s natural beauty, wildlife, rare plants, and indigenous treasures while respecting Tribal stewardship over the lands,” said Tuleyome Executive Director Sandra Schubert. “It will also secure continued recreation opportunities in the area while providing a boost for local communities that have long called for permanent protection of the area. We commend Congressman Garamendi for this historic legislation protecting Molok Luyuk and all of the Monument’s treasures.”

The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act would:

• Expand the existing National Monument to include approximately 3,925 acres of adjacent public land administered by the BLM in Lake County known previously as the “Walker Ridge” tract.

• Not impact privately owned, state, tribal, or nonfederal land in any way and does not include the portion of the BLM’s Walker Ridge tract in Colusa County.

• Direct the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service, or USFS, to finally complete the management plan for the National Monument, unfinished since 2015.

• Require the federal land management agencies (BLM and USFS) to engage in meaningful consultation with federally recognized Indian tribes regarding the development and implementation of the National Monument’s management plan.

• Provide opportunities for federal land management agencies (BLM and USFS) to enter into voluntary agreements with federally recognized Indian tribe for day-to-day management of the National Monument, including historic preservation, archaeological sites and forest health.

• Rename the BLM’s entire “Walker Ridge” tract in Lake and Colusa counties to “Condor Ridge” translated from “Molok Luyuk” in the Patwin language of the Yocha Dehe and other federally recognized tribes indigenous to the area.

Those endorsing the bill include the Lake County Board of Supervisors, Yocha Dehe, Sierra Club, California Wilderness Coalition, California Native Plant Society and the Woodland-based nonprofit, Tuleyome.

Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act text by LakeCoNews on Scribd

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday got an update from Public Health about the county’s COVID-19 situation and later in the meeting decided against closing its chambers to the public once again in response to concerns about an Omicron-driven case surge.

Dr. Gary Pace, who continues to serve as interim Public Health officer, gave the board its first COVID-19 update of the year.

“The situation’s really changing quickly,” said Pace, noting the large spike in cases due to the Omicron variant across the state and nationwide.

He said questions revolve around how protective the vaccine will be, how bad the hospitalization and death rates could be from the variant and how society will be impacted.

Schools and businesses are struggling with staffing; Pace said no lockdowns are being considered in Lake County due to Omicron.

Pace said that so far Omicron hasn’t been identified in Lake County through genetic sequencing. However, he said that’s a function of not doing a lot of sampling and having a testing lag.

Elsewhere around the region, however, Pace said he believes the spiking case numbers are due to Omicron. “It’s incredibly contagious” and the spread is “remarkable.”

Because of that spread, which is unlike that seen in previous variants, “You can’t really rely on your previous habits to keep you safe,” Pace said.

He urged people to continue to use masks — in particular, N95s — and to take part in fewer gatherings.

“There’s a lot of worry, there’s a lot of concern about what may be coming in the coming weeks,” he said, explaining that people who are vaccinated can get the variant and spread it.

Since July 1, 85% of people hospitalized for COVID-19 in Lake County were not vaccinated while 15% had received the vaccine, said Pace.

He told the board he expects to see case numbers rising, noting that 200 cases are now being processed.

Looking at previous case increases, particularly in the late summer and fall due to the Delta variant and a year ago due to the original virus, Pace believes Lake County will surpass those totals in the coming weeks.

“This is not something to ignore or minimize,” he said.

Case data shows the highest case numbers now are in the 18 to 34 and 35 to 49 age groups. The middle and high school age groups also are seeing increases, Pace said.

He said 60% of Lake County residents, or 36,500 people, are fully vaccinated. Of that group, 36% have had boosters. Another 32%, or 19,500, remains unvaccinated and 8%, or 4,500 people, are partially vaccinated, Pace said.

From the public health viewpoint, Pace said the big question is, are enough people in Lake County vaccinated to keep the hospitals from being overwhelmed.

While people feel it’s their right to protect themselves in their own way, Pace referred to a “community responsibility” in protecting against the virus.

In addition to being vaccinated, he encouraged people to wear N95 masks, stay home when sick and not participate in large gatherings.

He noted that on Monday night, Sonoma County announced it was shutting down large gatherings and asking people to stay at home for the next few weeks.

While Pace said he didn’t see the same thing happening in Lake County, “This is the level of concern that we’re seeing in the area.”

He said Sonoma County is where a lot of Lake County patients go when hospitalized. “They’re kind of raising the red flag right now.”

The question, said Pace, is how to live life in this surge. “It’s a good time to lay as low as possible for the next four to six weeks,” especially if you have underlying health conditions or are unvaccinated.

Pace said there is a lot of interest in looking back now to see how useful the lockdowns were and how well vaccinations have helped fight the pandemic. “It seems like it has helped quite a bit” and more death and misery were avoided.

He said moving forward, the longer-term approach is living with COVID-19 like the flu, but it’s too early to make that shift.

Jennifer Baker, interim deputy director for Lake County Health Services, reported to the board during the update that they are working with the California Department of Public Health on sewage testing for COVID-19.

The testing will begin at the county’s wastewater treatment facility in Clearlake, the most populous area, and will take place three days a week starting at the end of this month. They expect to get the data in early February, Baker said.

She said other wastewater facilities are on a list of sites to be added as the testing is expanded.

Supervisors decide against closing chambers

In a later discussion, due to concerns of an impending Omicron surge, such as Pace described, County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson asked the board to consider closing the board chambers to the public again as it had last year, having the public participate virtually.

“I wish we weren’t back having this conversation. I have to start by saying that,” said Huchingson, noting they took action to close the board chambers at this time last year due to a growing number of cases in county facilities.

She recounted having more employees do work remotely in order to reduce in-office density, with the board chambers reopening later in the spring and summer months, at which time most county offices returned to work full time once conditions improved.

“In light of the impending Omicron surge, I’m asking you to look at that again,” she said, and to ask department heads to have employees work remotely to the amount that it’s reasonable.

Huchingson was concerned that if they wanted until things were out of control, they'd have waited too long.

She said she’s aware of 17 employees who have tested positive since Jan. 4, with the most recent positive test coming in on Tuesday morning.

The county’s workforce also has a low vaccination rate of less than 50%, which is less than the general public, she said. “We’re probably more susceptible to transmission.”

Huchingson said the vast majority of participation through board meetings — at 90% — is coming through Zoom.

As such, she recommended the board close the chambers to the public and reevaluate the action in 30 days.

She said they were planning to have 21 department heads in the chambers — which now has a COVID-related capacity of 24 — for a Jan. 20 governance workshop. “Bringing a lot of people into one room is a big concern.”

Huchingson said one county department now has six or seven employees who have tested positive and they had attended a large meeting or training together.

At the very least, Huchingson asked the board to remind department heads of their authority to have staff work remotely as much as possible to keep offices open.

Ultimately, board members decided against closing the chambers.

“It’s not a perfect situation, but it’s as safe as it can be,” said Supervisor Jessica Pyska, who added that staff is likely getting infected when not at work.

Supervisor Tina Scott suggested limiting the number of people who could come in the chambers at any one time, including having some supervisors attend virtually. She also wanted department heads to do their due diligence with staff and explore who could work from home.

Supervisor Bruno Sabatier said he felt it would be a mistake to close the chambers and that it would send the community a message that they haven’t learned anything over the course of the last two years.

Board Chair EJ Crandell said he supported the remote work policy as long as it was productive and there’s a way to measure it. He also worried about the impact if staff get the fast-moving variant and are unable to work.

Supervisor Moke Simon suggested moving the date of the governance workshop, which Huchingson said had been scheduled early in the year, before department heads start formulating their budgets, which are due around April 15.

Simon said that in every other year he would agree with that, and in 2023 it would be the plan to be on a normal schedule. “Fingers crossed.”

The rest of the board agreed to postpone that meeting. Huchingson said they will plan to determine a new date for the workshop at the board’s Jan. 25 meeting.

The board also reached consensus to have Huchingson write a message to department heads encouraging them to use the remote work policy based on their own judgment.

There also won’t be a special requirement for management — which Huchingson said had arisen during informal discussions — to be in the office a larger portion of the time when compared to other staff, due to the surge.

In other COVID-related business, the board on Tuesday voted unanimously to update the county’s COVID-19 workplace protocols to be in line with the latest state and federal rules.

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.