LAKEPORT ? Chairwoman Denise Rushing presented the possibility of declaring algae in Clear Lake Keys a state of emergency Tuesday at the Lake County Board of Supervisors meeting.
Rushing questioned whether a declaration of emergency is necessary for the county to receive state funding to eradicate the algae. She asked the board to consider short and long term plans to clean up the muck that she said looks like “broken concrete.”
After discussion on economic and health impacts, the board voted 5-0 to move forward with short-term efforts to eradicate algae on Clear Lake.
Supervisor Rob Brown asked if an emergency declaration was necessary.
“Believe me, I”m not trying to minimize what”s going on down there but it”s always bad,” Brown said of the algae in Clear Lake Keys. “Is this truly an emergency or is it an inconvenience?”
The board and public discussed aerators, silt screens with booms to quarantine the algae mats. Supervisor Jeff Smith said he used his boat Monday to break up and circulate algae, although his boat overheated four times, it worked.
Eric Jensen, assistant to the directors of the Keys Property Owners Association, said the equipment they”ve been using is old and costs money to maintain. He thinks algae impacts business, fishing and tourism. People driving into Lake County on Highway 20 can”t miss the algae and its smell, Jensen said. Mosquitoes and bugs nest on the thick green scum.
About two hours before the discussion began, the Boy Scout who led the pledge of allegiance asked what was being done about algae and how young people can help.
The board heard from the Genetically Engineered Crops Advisory Committee, which has yet to come to a decision on all aspects of growing genetically engineered crops in Lake County. The committee will attempt to have a finished proposal for the board”s Oct. 13 meeting.
The board voted unanimously to support the state designation of Highway 53 as a Veterans Memorial Highway at the request of the Rotary Club of Clearlake.
Supervisors voted 5-0 to allow Sheriff Rod Mitchell to appoint the Operator of Emergency Services director, rather than having a set deputy position assigned to the job.
The board certified the Lake County Community Wildfire Protection Plan with unanimous approval. In order to follow through with plans such as controlled burns, weather conditions have to be perfect on the day planned, said Doug Gearhart, air pollution control officer for the Lake County Air Quality Management District.
“If anything burns, it flows right down and takes out Lakeport,” he said.
Contact Katy Sweeny at ksweeny@record-bee.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
