With the spring and summer months just around the corner, local businesses are preparing for the summer tourist season. Last year was a terrible one in regard to tourism, in fact many of the local businesses that cater to tourists said it was one of the worst in memory. There are several things government and businesses can do to improve tourism.
The first thing is advertising. When you travel out of the county you hear very little about Lake County. That has to change. Studies have shown that marketing an area has positive results in attracting people. For example, earlier this week I received a telephone call from an individual in Southern California who had no idea where Lake County was located and he is a hunter and fisherman. He thought that Clear Lake was in Napa County.
Lake County has received a bad name in the press down through the years. Some of the newspapers clam the county is nothing more than a haven for drug users and vagrants. These same newspapers claim Clear Lake is a cesspool filled with weeds and algae.
Lake County and Clear Lake have much to offer the tourists but you rarely hear about it. Take Clear Lake for example. It’s one of the oldest lakes in the world and one of the richest in fish and wildlife. The lake is also ranked No. 2 in the world for bass fishing. In fact, Clear Lake has more fish of different species than any other lake in the country. This year the crappie fishing has been literally off the hook. The past two bass tournaments have produced some huge bass. Where at most lakes a 4-pound bass is considered a trophy, at Clear Lake 5- and 7-pounders are considered the norm. It is also the only large lake in the state that doesn’t charge a fee to launch a boat. There are 11 public ramps located around the lake and they are all free. Lake Berryessa charges $25 to launch a boat and other lakes charge from $10-$30.
The bird life on the lake is just as spectacular as the fishing. There are literally thousands of birds that call Clear Lake home and birdwatchers from around the world come to the lake just view the abundant and unusual bird life. Where else can one see a bald eagle or osprey dive from a great height to catch a fish? The long flights of graceful pelicans are a sight to behold. The colorful western grebe is found throughout the lake, There are now an estimated 20,000 grebes swimming in Clear Lake. Clear Lake State Park sits on the shores of Clear Lake and is one of the finest state parks in the state. There is camping, boating, picnicking and a wide range of hiking trails.
There are weeds and algae in the lake but they have been part of Clear Lake for millions for years. The algae is only a problem for a few months during the summer. For nine months of the year there is little algae and the lake is normally clear. Mount Konocti stands guard over the lake and is another of the county’s treasures. The top of the mountain is now a county park with a spectacular view from the summit. I have hiked to the summit several times and I’m also in awe of the view.
The Mendocino National Forest in the northern part of the county also has an abundance of wildlife and is just waiting to be explored. Lake Pillsbury, Hull Mountain and Snow Mountain offer the perfect vacation spots. Upper Blue Lake is a perfect lake for a vacation. The water is clear and the lake is full of trout and bass.
There are things local residents can do to keep our county beautiful. One is to pick up any trash you see along the roads and trails. It’s true there are areas in the county that have become dumps for old refrigerators, washing machines and other garbage. We must not allow that.
Improving the image of the county is a win-win situation for everyone. As more tourists visit, new stores and restaurants will open. Resorts will be built. Lake County is now becoming known for its fine wines. Add that to our other assets and it is the perfect place to live or visit on vacation.
