LAKEPORT — The Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS) discussed issues related to county watershed protection for nearly one hour Tuesday after receiving an annual report from the Clear Lake Advisory Committee (CLAC).
CLAC Chair Melissa Fulton presented a series of recommendations “strongly supported by every member of the committee” during the regular BOS meeting at the Lake County Courthouse.
CLAC suggested several actions to ensure the county”s quagga mussel prevention program does not fail.
The BOS should work to convince the state government of the dangers the mussels pose to watersheds throughout California and urge the state to fund prevention efforts, Fulton said. “An infestation is not acceptable,” she said.
The county should also continue to innovatively convey its prevention program, make sure all private boat ramps comply, develop an “access restriction plan” to prevent unsafe vessels from entering the lake and possibly reassess the volunteer system, Fulton said.
CLAC also urged the BOS to meet with the Robinson Rancheria Pomo Indians and the Army Corps of Engineers about the Middle Creek Marsh restoration project.
Finally, CLAC advocated the county create a system that requires property owners who have their lakeside waters chemically treated to notify their neighbors.
The discussion following Fulton”s presentation focused primarily on mussel prevention, with other CLAC members and the Supervisors introducing different ideas, such as inspection kiosks at the main entry points into the county or having the BOS meet with the governor to discuss the threats of infestations.
“This isn”t an easy challenge that we face,” District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing said. “Our watershed is our lifeboat.”
The Supervisors indicated support for the idea of meeting with state officials to ask for funding for prevention efforts but only after first developing a list of specific requests.
They also asked the Water Resources Department to present an update on several watershed issues, including department activities, the status of the Middle Creek project and potential access restriction options.
The BOS scheduled the Water Resources presentation for the July 26 regular meeting. A workshop between county staff, the BOS and CLAC members was also scheduled for July 26.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
