LAKE COUNTY ?Solutions for improved lake quality was the topic of interest Tuesday among the public and the Lake County Board of Supervisors.
The board had an hour and a half discussion regarding issues related to lakebed management, including possible avenues for garnering funds for long term management of Clear Lake.
The discussion was brought to the table and led by District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith and District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington.
The purpose of the discussion was to begin a dialogue with the public for developing strategies and identifying funding sources for achieving better lake quality.
Some ideas presented included special taxes for watercrafts and boats, establishing launching fees, monitoring, shoreline education and continued wetland restoration. New technological initiatives, such as use of algae for bio-fuel production, were also discussed.
According to Farrington, there is $300,000 set aside for use in lakebed management. Funding sources include the sale of the Cove Resort property, Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) revenues and boat inspection sticker program. He said he would like to look closer at the existing revenue sources before adding burden to residents through special taxes.
North Lakeport resident Wayne Dickson added a suggestion for assessments on lakefront properties. He also voiced support for establishing launch fees. “I don”t think people driving a $20,000 wake boat or a $40,000 bass boat will mind paying a $10 launch fee to care for the lake,” he said.
Smith suggested an annual $25 fee per boat. “The people using the lake should help keep the lake clean,” he said. “Most any lake in the state, you”re paying (to use it).”
Board Chair Denise Rushing, third district supervisor, spoke to the nutrient load into the lake. She said there have been great strides in trying to control the nutrient load via the Full Circle Project (Pipeline), Middle Creek Restoration Project, the county”s grading ordinance and the stormwater plan. She voiced strong support for saving the tules and emphasized a need for increased rim land education. “If I can say one thing that I think we should do is save the tules,” Rushing said. “The tules are really the filters on this lake.”
Smith suggested consideration for purchasing four barges from vector control. He said the county could possibly get them all for a dollar. The barges, he said, are capable of running in high concentrations of algae in as little as 2.5 feet of water without overheating. He suggested the possibility of equipping those barges with spray systems that could be used to aerate the algae.
Pam Francis, deputy director of Lake County Water Resources, said she supports obtaining the barges and appreciates the board attention in lakebed management.
She said that two demonstrations will occur Wednesday that may be useful in dealing with the county”s aquatic weed and algae situation. The first will be at 11 a.m. at Sunset Fishing Resort in Clearlake. Aquatic Environments, of Martinez will be presenting a demonstration of an “aqua mog,” which is designed to pick up algae and move it. A second demonstration will follow in the Clearlake Oaks Keys, where the company will demonstrate a harvester. “We are trying to get folks up here to help us,” Francis said.
Francis continued stating that the media has not brought enough attention to the fact that the lake is useable in deeper areas. “Once you get out in open water you can really enjoy this lake,” she said. “What that tells me is we need to get some (navigation) lanes out into the lake.”
Another topic that was brought up was the use of algae in the production of bio-fuel and other products. Included in his suggestion to direct staff to develop recommendations for identifying tools, Farrington recommended that staff contact companies that are developing techniques to use algae in bio fuel production.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
