LAKEPORT — The Clear Lake Advisory Committee (CLAC) asked the Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS) on Tuesday to declare a state of emergency in the county regarding quagga and zebra mussel prevention in Clear Lake.
CLAC chairperson Melissa Fulton proposed the BOS declare a state of emergency for the invasive mussels to make the state government acknowledge the threat the mussels present.
Fulton said that at a recent CLAC meeting, a representative from the Northern California Water Association, who was invited to speak, had no knowledge of quagga mussels. She said the committee members were “shocked” at this statement.
Fulton said CLAC members are frustrated and want to get the attention of Gov. Jerry Brown and his department heads by having the BOS declare a state of emergency.
Fulton said she spoke with Lakeport City Manager Margaret Silveira about bringing the issue before the Lakeport City Council to see if the council would join the county in declaring a state of emergency. Fulton said she also hoped to get the City of Clearlake on board in also declaring a state of emergency.
BOS Chair Jim Comstock said he believed declaring a state of emergency could be a good thing.
District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing said this was an idea to put on next week”s agenda as a discussion and action item.
District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown wanted to know if there were any possible downsides to declaring a state of emergency. He said the county needs to make sure it”s careful about any unintended consequences.
CLAC member Mike Dunlap said the state needs to realize Clear Lake is the monetary engine for the county and if it is shut down, the county cannot survive.
District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith said he would be in favor of declaring a state of emergency if he knew there would be no possibility the state could come in and shut down the lake.
Fulton said it is important to get the attention of the Governor and his department heads to make them recognize the threat the mussels pose to the entire state. She acknowledged the BOS and CLAC should examine any possible unintended consequences that could come along with declaring a state of emergency.
County Counsel Anita Grant said it is important for the BOS to assess the risk but to also provide alternative methods besides declaring a state of emergency.
County administrator Kelly Cox said the county can”t just ask the state for money to take care of the problem. He said the county needs to know how much money it needs from the state.
Rushing said the county needs to provide a budget for the state that will produce an exact monetary figure.
Smith said the most efficient way to combat the spread of the mussels is for the county to establish checkpoints at each entrance to the county. He said a figure for checkpoints had been calculated previously at $1.3 million per year.
Fulton requested to get representatives from the cities of Lakeport and Clearlake to be present at the next BOS meeting to get everyone on the same page on the issue.
The BOS will continue the discussion on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. and vote on further action on this issue.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly at 263-5636 ext. 14.
