SACRAMENTO >> Assemblymember Bill Dodd (D-Napa) announced the introduction of new legislation that will help repair and revitalize Clear Lake. The bill, AB 367, would allocate $2.4 million for the purposes of restoring Clear Lake’s wetlands, maintaining its water quality, and preserving its ecosystem.
“Clear Lake is the heartbeat of Lake County, and it is time for the state to step up its investment in protecting this incredible environmental and economic resource,” said Dodd. “The lake helps fuel the local economy, provides outstanding outdoor recreation, and creates habitat for numerous plant and animal species.”
California’s largest natural body of fresh water, Clear Lake is home to a number of fish species and boasts some of the best bass fishing in the nation. The lake supports other wildlife, such as pelicans, blue herons, egrets, ospreys and bald eagles. However, over time, Clear Lake has developed a number of serious environmental problems that threaten the fish and wildlife of the lake, diminish the quality of water, and hinder recreational opportunities. One of the problems facing Clear Lake is the presence of cyanobacteria, often referred to as blue-green algae, which can produce harmful toxins. Another crucial challenge facing the Clear Lake is preventing the introduction of invasive Quagga and Zebra Mussels into the lake.
The most serious issue is the presence of mercury in both lake sediment and in the lake’s food chain. The state’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment issued advisory warning aimed at limiting the consumption of fish from the lake in 1987. This was updated twice, in 2005 and 2009. A 1990 study found that Pomo with fish as part of their diet showed mercury levels three times higher than normal. And a 2009 CBS News report referred to Clear Lake as “the most mercury-polluted lake in the world.”
Much of the problem stems from mining at what is now the Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine Superfund Site near Clearlake Oaks. The site was mined for sulphur starting in 1856 and mercury ore beginning in 1873 and lasting to 1905. It was then an open pit mine until 1957.
The Environmental Protection Agency found high levels of mercury and arsenic in the refuse from the mine site and mercury in lake sediments. By 2009 the EPA had spend $40 million in efforts to contain and limit the extent of ground contamination.
In February of 2013, the EPA completed the installment of a test cap at the bottom of the lake near its southern end, hoping to permanently cover mercury-laden sediment. The initial review of the project, completed last fall, suggested the cover was holding up. A second review will be conducted later this year.
Clear Lake remains one of the world’s top bass fishing draws, with 68 square miles of surface area. Lake County often cites the body as the oldest in the country. Geologists trace parts of the lake back 450,000 continuous years. Lakes have existed in one form or another at the site for some 2.5 million years.
“This legislation represents one important step towards greater investment in the future of Clear Lake,” said Dodd. “I am committed to advancing the health of the lake and ensuring the state is a good partner with our local communities in this effort.”
Dodd was joined in introducing the legislation by Senator Mike McGuire, who is a principal co-author of the bill.
