LAKEPORT >> Proclamations declaring local emergencies because of drought conditions, as well as winter storm damages, were continued by the Lake County Board of Supervisors Feb. 17.
The drought proclamation was first approved by the supervisors last March and has been continued 11 times so far, as rainfall has failed to dent the parched landscape or fill groundwater sources. The county is required by state law to renew emergencies every 30 days.
“We had recent rains, however they are not enough to declare the drought over,” Lake County Office of Emergency Services (OES) Deputy Director Christopher Shaver said. “We have to prepare throughout the year for drought impacting the county from this point forward.”
According to OES Director Marisa Chilafoe, the preliminary snowpack survey shows a multi-year average that is 50 percent of normal levels. A total of 150 percent is needed to recover from the drought.
“The U. S. Drought Monitors reports northern California to still be in an extreme drought and conditions to continue for the next year or more,” Chilafoe stated in a memorandum presented to the board.
Additionally, Lake County has been declared a primary natural disaster because of losses in agriculture from the drought by the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). A total of 55 other counties have also been declared as such, meaning all qualified farm operators are eligible for low interest emergency loans from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency.
As for the winter storm emergency proclamation, approximately $4 million in damages resulted from the December storm that flooded roads and some homes.
The declaration was originally proclaimed on Dec. 11, after the storm began the prior evening. It was ratified by the board on Dec. 16.
In order for the county to qualify for funding and reimbursements for both the drought and storm emergencies, the emergency declarations must be continued.
No members of the public offered any comments.
The board unanimously approved the continuation with a 5-0 vote.
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
