A matter of time
The Conservative Republican party’s Clown Car members, lead by ‘pants on fire’ Trump has re-defined and age old word, “bull…” to be understood as “it’s true.” As time is the most important issue when you get to my age, I do have to thank Trump and the news media for shortening the their news programs by way of the fast forward button to a 5 minute broadcast, which allows me more time for an enjoyable dinner and viewing our beautiful sunsets here in Lake County.
Jim Hall, Clearlake Oaks
One thing or others
Quite honestly, I am tired of Benghazi. No question it was a sad incident, but it also was relatively insignificant and the result of the ambassador’s decision. But what really bothers me is that so many self-assumed authorities seem to place what they consider “lies” in that context on the same level of national importance as the much more significant lies that has cost our country some 50,000 killed and wounded , countless Iraqi casualties, the outing of a CIA operative, the resignation of a Secretary of State, and so on.
Because the administration at the time couldn’t be bothered to consider the nature, history, and religious/culture of the area, which, over time, has developed in to the current middle-east situation and the destruction of America’s reputation in the area. Little question that Mr. Hussein was an evil, nasty (by our standards) man, but he understood what was necessary to maintain order and a level of peace. Almost everything the (then) administration did worked out inappropriately to the area’s disadvantage. Oh, yes, let’s not forget the vaudeville act on the deck of the carrier under the “Mission Accomplished” banner and the several trillions of debt.
I cannot understand how people can “forget” this tragic era in our recent history, but “remember” so many lesser incidents. Politics maybe?
Guff Worth, Lakeport
Control fertilizers
Another consideration to mitigate the nutrient loading is to have the county ag department implement the monitoring of the amounts and types of fertilizers being applied to vineyards and other crops.
Currently the only monitored and regulated chemicals by the ag department are pesticides and herbicides. It is a well known fact that the increase of toxic algae blooms around the world can be contributed to the overuse of fertilizers.
It seems that Clear Lake’s toxic algae problem has increased within the last 12 years, possibly from the increased vineyard acreage we are currently seeing, especially on and/or in close proximity to the lake. Shouldn’t we consider this a possible reason as to what may be causing the lake’s toxic algae blooms?
I can justify my opinion because in an effort to help reduce the algae problem the county has acknowledged and recommended that residents reduce the amounts of fertilizers used on their lawns and gardens. That seems laughable and very hypocritical considering the tonnage of fertilizer being dumped on vineyards as well as the large lawns currently installed on many of the new parks around the lake.
Someone maybe able to correct me on this, but back in the late 60s the pear farmers switched to a different fertilizer and the increased algae problem in the lake temporarily subsided for several years. I seem to remember this vividly because the pear farmers objected strenuously because of the expected poor yield of their crops. The installation of the sewer systems during that time in some parts of the lake may also have contributed to the improvement of the algae problem.
Additionally the county could implement the same strict soil erosion controls as the county of Napa and Sonoma, especially applied to vineyards. It’s called v.e.s.c.o. (vineyard erosion sediment control ordinance). Some of those requirements are as follows. A cover crop between the rows of vines (holds in moisture and eliminates herbicides), engineered sloping and terracing, sediment/holding ponds, increase distances and vegetation barriers in proximity of water sources and encouragement of organic farming.
Algae blooms and mats have now been noted on Lake Pillsbury. Years ago it was determined that the lake bed of Lake Mendocino was too toxic to dredge to increase its capacity by the army corps of engineers.
There are already many vineyards encroaching too close to the shores of Clear Lake with little or no soil erosion control or sloped engineering implemented. It’s my understanding that a vineyard being developed on the sloped shores of Hidden Valley Lake has no terracing, sloped engineering or currently known soil erosion controls. I expect Hidden Valley Lake to be the next lake to experience toxic nuisance algae blooms in the near future.
Thomas Nickel, Lakeport
