LAKEPORT — The Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS) indicated support for a statewide declaration of a state of emergency regarding the threat of invasive mussels in California waters during Tuesday”s regular meeting.
However, the BOS fell short of declaring a state of emergency for prevention in local waters, a recommendation made by the Clear Lake Advisory Committee (CLAC) at last week”s BOS meeting.
“I don”t think it”s going to accomplish what we want,” District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown said of a local declaration. “I think it”s going to hurt us.”
Brown reiterated his concern about “unintended consequences” that could result from a local state of emergency declaration. Possible outcomes could range from the county receiving bad press to state agencies usurping local control over the watershed and potentially shutting down public access to Clear Lake, according to Brown.
Others disagreed, saying the local declaration could be the best option available.
“I don”t know if there”s another approach other than the alarmist approach,” District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington said.
A local declaration could get the attention of state officials and help the county get much-needed funding for its local program while ensuring other jurisdictions get the financial support necessary to address the threat in all California waters, according to CLAC chair Melissa Fulton.
“It”s time to stop doing this ourselves,” Fulton said.
Fulton and other CLAC members tried to impress upon the BOS the importance of bringing the threat to Gov. Jerry Brown”s attention, which they argued was a key to preventing quagga and zebra mussels from entering non-infested waters.
District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing agreed county officials need to meet with Brown”s staff about the issue but said the BOS should first develop a communication strategy and establish explicit requests. “We need to have a specific ask,” she said.
In the end, the BOS opted against an immediate local declaration, though not ruling out the possibility of taking such an action later in the year.
The BOS instead directed staff to draft a resolution calling for a statewide declaration of a state of emergency regarding the threat the mussels pose to all California waters.
The resolution could also include language urging the state to develop a prevention strategy and an avenue by which to get funding to local jurisdictions for prevention programs.
The BOS will consider the drafted resolution during its Aug. 9 meeting.
The BOS also directed staff to come up with statistics pertaining to the threat that could be used as part of a larger communication plan. As part of its strategy, the BOS would urge other local jurisdictions to sign on to the idea of a statewide declaration.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
