However, the discussion of what measures to take to protect Clear Lake and other county bodies of water will continue at the board's next meeting.
At 10:30 a.m. Aug. 9 the board will consider a proposed resolution asking the state of California to declare a state of emergency regarding the threat of dreissenid mussels – specifically, the quagga and zebra – to the state's water bodies.
The board also will consider selecting two of its members to present to state officials the resolution and justifications for the action.
At its July 26 meeting the board was asked by the Clear Lake Advisory Committee to consider the state of emergency, which led to a lengthy discussion at that meeting and another on Tuesday.
On Tuesday all of the board members raised concerns about what such an action could mean to the entire county.
Supervisor Jeff Smith recalled the impact of bad press because of algae a few years ago, when local residents called in a Bay Area television station. The algae itself impacted 10 percent of the lake, while the bad publicity hit the entire county, he said.
Melissa Fulton, chief executive officer of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and a Clear Lake Advisory Committee, told the supervisors that it was time that Lake County stopped trying to confront the mussel prevention issue itself.
She pointed to an overall lack of a coordinated approach to preventing the mussels that is evident around the state.
She said at Lake Shasta they are monitoring for the mussels but don't have an actual program to go with that effort. “What good is that going to do? They've not done anything.”
Fulton also criticized Assemblyman Wes Chesbro and state Sen. Noreen Evans. “I don't think they've done anything for us, or darn little. They've done nothing for us in this program.”
Clearlake Oaks resident Jim Steele, a retired California Department of Fish and Game staffer, said the county needs to do a risk analysis. So far, he said, one hasn't been done locally to his satisfaction.
Having worked at the state level, Steele said, “They need some leadership, even there.”
Steele suggested that Lake County is in a better position in the effort than the rest of the state. He said he's looked at the state Department of Water Resources' program to deal with the mussels and told the board, “You're already ahead of it.”
He said the county could improve its program – he had seven areas in which he said it could be improved – and become a leader statewide in fighting the mussels.
Supervisor Denise Rushing said during the discussion that the Lake County community has done a lot to protect its lake. So far, she said, the only feedback they've gotten from state officials when they've asked for help is advice to call a state of emergency.
Rushing asked Steele and Public Works Director Scott De Leon to come up with four to five recommendations on how to improve the county's prevention program, along with cost estimates.
In addition, she suggested that the Board of Supervisors needs to implement a communications strategy for working with other agencies and the state.
Kelseyville resident Anna Ravenwoode told the board, “This is a big deal, we need state aid, we need federal aid.”
She said the federal government has experience dealing with the mussels, which have infested bodies of water in the easter United States. “If they're pretending they don't know about it, that's not true.”
Lower Lake resident Victoria Brandon, who sits on the California Invasive Species Advisory Committee, assured the board that the state thinks the mussels are a big problem.
Clear Lake Advisory Committee member Mike Dunlap said it was his idea to propose that the board declare a state of emergency.
Dunlap also criticized the board for not doing more, including not approaching the state within the last month.
Rushing replied that people like to criticize the board for what it's not doing, rather than what it is, and she pointed to the need for more information and a planned approach to working with the state.
Ultimately, the board did not go ahead with the local state of emergency proposal, opting to look at pushing for a statewide approach.
On Wednesday, Chesbro was in Lake County for one of his regular visits in order to meet with local officials.
In an interview with Lake County News, he expressed his concern about protecting the lake and suggested local and state officials could be brought together for a sitdown discussion on the issue.
Responding to statements about lack of leadership on the state level, Chesbro indicated it wasn't for lack of awareness or concern, but rather a result of the state's tough fiscal reality.
“Many, many problems are being left unaddressed because of the state budget problem,” he said.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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