Now that election season is upon us, I urge all Lake County voters to remember the gross inaction by the current Lake County Board of Supervisors with regard to removal of weed and algae in Clear Lake last summer.

The following facts bear remembering:

1. We had county health department warning against swimming in the lake.

2. We had major weed growth that prevented sail boating and limited use of personnel water craft.

3. We had significant downward economic impact on tourism facilities (motels) as a result of the bad smell of the algae growth.

4. We had county government telling us that the poor health, safety and economic conditions of Clear Lake were a natural occurrence and only limited action should be taken by residents, and that increasing wetlands over the next YEARS was the only appropriate action.

5. We had county government telling us the immediate solution to the poor condition of Clear Lake was self-help. We should break up and turn over the algae growth with our own boats and water hoses. Yet county government was collecting in excess of $250,000 each year in lake bed management fees in addition to the property taxes.

6. We had county government telling us that harvesting of weed and dredging and skimming algae in the lake was prevented by the State Department of Food and Agriculture. When contacted the CDFA supervising scientist said he had not considered harvesting, and it was the county government that had preventing regulations.

7. We had Supervisor Denise Rushing visiting Clearlake Oaks and expressing shock that the thick, dried up algae was like concrete.

8. On July 7, 2009, I reminded the supervisors that the county government was collecting over $250,000 for lake bed management, that they owned the lake, and the problems of eliminating weed and algae growth rightfully belong to the county government. Supervisor Rob Brown’s response was, “Your figures are a little wrong.” (My information comes from the Lake County Budget Book 2009-10, page A-10, item 133.)

The entire current Board of Supervisors was GROSSLY NEGLIGENT in not directing immediately and complete cleanup of Clear Lake. There is no budgetary reason this was not done with great urgency given the million of dollars in uncollected taxes, court fines and fees, plus the millions of dollars in energy royalties revenue spent on Mount Konocti.

The solution is for the tourism industry and chambers of commerce to fund a recall election campaign against the entire Board of Supervisors. Subsequently replace each with a pro business and jobs candidate.

John Daniels lives in Lakeport.