With just a little more than an inch of rainfall to date this year many experts are saying that Lake County, and the rest of California, could be headed for a record drought.
A severe drought would not only impact Clear Lake and tourism but the surrounding community as well. Vineyard owners and area farmers would see their groundwater levels drop, which means less water for irrigation.
Normally the wettest months are December and January. The county”s average rainfall for December should be at least five inches, but so far this year it has received just a little more than inch of rainfall. The lowest rainfall on record for the county was 1976 when the county received only 12.19 inches during the official rainfall year. In 1977 the county received only 12.46 inches. The official rainfall year runs from July 1 to June 30. The normal amount of rainfall in Lakeport for an official rainfall year is nearly 30 inches.
It”s not only Lake County that is in a drought. Los Angles is on track to have the driest year on record and nearby Sonoma and Mendocino counties are also in a drought. State and county officials aren”t in a panic yet, but if January doesn”t produce substantial rainfall it could mean trouble for the area.
