LAKEPORT, Calif. – A group of stakeholders in the petition for the Clear Lake hitch’s endangered species status review will meet on Thursday, May 16.

The meeting will take place beginning at 3:30 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

Co-chairs of the group include Peter Windrem of the Chi Council for the Clear Lake Hitch; Lake County Farm Bureau Executive Director Claudia Street; and Lake County Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Melissa Fulton.

Last fall, the Center for Biological Diversity submitted petitions at the state and federal levels to list the Clear Lake hitch – a fish native to Clear Lake – as an endangered species.

On March 6, the California Fish and Game Commission made a determination that the state petition had merit and directed that a one-year review period begin. That review take place prior to making a final determination for the endangered species designation.  

The Thursday meeting will include representatives of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which will provide an opportunity for Lake County stakeholders to ask questions concerning the petition.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking input from any and all Lake County residents, businesses, organizations pertaining to the listing petition.

The deadline for all input for the review process is Friday, June 14. Input should be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The Lake County Chamber requests that they be copied on any input by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

If you are not sure how about why this California endangered species listing may impact you, make sure to attend the meeting.