Lucerne Harbor dredging project completed

LUCERNE, Calif. — The work to dredge the Lucerne Harbor has been completed, with the boat launch once again reopened.

The long-awaited project began on Nov. 4, when the boat launching ramp and portions of the parking lot at Lucerne Harbor Park were closed, as Lake County News has reported.

The project was needed to remove the silt that had filled in the harbor, which hadn’t been dredged since it was constructed in 1965, according to Public Services Director Lars Ewing.

Marz Engineering of Ukiah, which put in the lowest of two bids at $211,700, was awarded the project by the Board of Supervisors in October.

The company completed the project on schedule, with the harbor once again fully reopened earlier this month.

The work window extended from Oct. 15 and Dec. 31, which officials said was meant to protect the Clear Lake hitch.

Excavation and removal of the spoils were completed by the end of the first week of December.

Next, water sampling and testing had to be completed ahead of the sediment barrier being removed and the boat ramp being reopened, said Deputy Public Services Director Kati Galvani.

Galvani said the county parks team repositioned the docks to prepare for reopening.

The harbor was dredged to approximately 1,316 feet above sea level, the original construction depth when the harbor was built around 1965, Galvani said.

She said that depth was based on the 1929 National Geodetic Vertical Datum, a system that was long used by engineers and surveyors to measure elevations above sea level in the United States.

“Dredge quantities are estimated to be approximately 3,000 cubic yards,” Galvani said.

Galvani said the dredging included cultural and archaeological monitoring by both Robinson Rancheria and the county’s consulting archaeologist.

As for whether or not any artifacts or remains were discovered, “Robinson’s official stance is to remain silent about what they did or did not find on any monitoring job. The County honors that,” Galvani wrote in an email to Lake County News.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.

Storms forecast for Christmas week

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Forecasters said Christmas week will start off with a series of storms that are expected to bring rain through the weekend.

The National Weather Service said a series of three storms are forecast, the first of which arrived on Saturday and brought light precipitation.

A second atmospheric river storm is expected to arrive late Sunday morning, with continuing light showers on Monday.

The third storm will arrive on Monday afternoon and continue through Christmas Eve. That third storm system will be wetter, with moderate to heavy rain in lower elevations, and breezy to gusty southerly winds and isolated thunderstorms.

Sunday’s projected rainfall totals in Lake County are expected to be less than a tenth of an inch, with the same amount expected during the day on Monday.

The third, heavier storm is expected to bring an inch of rain on Monday night and a half an inch on Tuesday morning.

Christmas day, Wednesday, is forecast to be foggy in the morning, with rain in the afternoon.

Rainfall is in the forecast from Thursday through Saturday.

Winds are forecast through Tuesday, with the highest wind speeds predicted for Sunday, when gusts could reach about 20 miles per hour during the day and nearly 25 miles per hour at night.

Daytime temperatures this week are predicted to be in the 50s, with temperatures at night mostly in the 40s, with the exception of Christmas night, when they will drop into the 30s.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.

Helping Paws: Dogs for Christmas

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County Animal Care and Control has many dogs that are waiting to find their forever families this holiday season.

If you’re looking for a new friend to join your family during the holidays, consider a shelter dog.

The dogs available for adoption this week include mixes of Anatolian shepherd, Belgian malinois, boxer, bull terrier, cattle dog, Chihuahua, Doberman pinscher, German shepherd, German shorthaired pointer, husky, Labrador Retriever, pit bull terrier and terrier.

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

Those dogs and the others shown on this page at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption.

Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online for information on visiting or adopting.

The shelter is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.