LAKEPORT ? Algae blooms and murky waters have been a problem for Clear Lake since at least 1873, county staff told the Lake County Board of Supervisors Tuesday.
Pam Francis, deputy director of water resources, gave the board a presentation on the history of what people have done to mitigate algae buildup and what the county should do. Because Clear Lake is nutrient rich with a large amount of phosphorus, the lake will probably always have algae, Francis said.
“If you set out a dog dish and you get a little dirt in it it”s going to grow algae in your dog dish,” Francis said. “It”s what happens when you have nutrients in water.”
The board discussed funding possibilities such as taxes or adding a charge to the invasive species sticker program in order to help the county pay for algae mitigation.
Board members addressed a few other issues during the meeting in the County Courthouse in Lakeport. The board postponed the creation of the Water Resources Department separate from the Public Works Department until February 2010 to allow the county to hire a department head, which staff will begin recruiting. The water resources director will have a monthly salary of $6,184 to $7,517. The salary will be equal to that of similar department heads.
Board members said they were interested in the county applying for a grant to help finance energy efficiency and alternative energy projects for homeowners and business owners. Staff will bring the issue back to the board Nov. 17.
The board reinstated measures for the Bottle Rock Geothermal Power Plant and staff will look at steam field operations in the watershed.
Board members approved bylaws for the Clear Lake Advisory Subcommittee so it can report back to the board, among other things.
Contact Katy Sweeny at ksweeny@record-bee.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
