LAKEPORT – On Tuesday the Board of Supervisors will receive a report on Tuesday that looks at strengthening the county's strategies to fight invasive mussels.

The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors chambers, 255 N. Forbes St. TV Channel 8 will broadcast the meeting live.

The Lake County Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee will make the presentation to the board at 10:30 a.m.

The committee has prepared an 18-page white paper titled “Identifying risk factors to strengthen current strategies aimed at minimizing the introduction of quagga and zebra mussels.”

The paper identifies positive actions the county has taken and prioritizes the risk factors associated with each of the county's water bodies.

It also provides guidance on how the county can approach the requirements of AB 2065, which took effect last month. According to the report, the new legislation requires public reservoirs where recreation is allowed “to assess their vulnerability to mussel infestation and develop and implement a program to prevent their introduction.”

The county's three “primary locations of concern” are Clear Lake, Lake Pillsbury and Indian Valley Reservoir.

“Because of year round access, the large size of the lake and the relative ease of access to the water, Clear Lake is at the highest risk of infestation of any of the at risk water bodies found within the county,” the report states. “The sheer number of access points warrants a discussion of risk factors associated with each type as a means to identify those potential access points that pose the highest risk of introduction and where limited resources can be targeted.”

The report also looks at risky entry points, of which public improved trailer vehicle access points appear to be of the most concern as they pose the greatest risk of introducing quagga and zebra mussels.

“By identifying potential risks associated with each type of access point, Lake County can begin to effectively address the multifaceted approach needed to engage various user groups, agencies and members of the public in their attempt to minimize the likelihood of mussel introduction,” the report explains.

The report finds that the local sticker program and the state's inspection efforts appear to be working, but it suggests that the out-of-county sticker program must be improved, and there should be a statewide system for identifying zones of infestation, much as has been done with such invasive species as hydrilla and medfly.

Because the threat is too big for Lake County to deal with alone, the report suggests continuing collaboration with other agencies and points to the need to have a lead state agency. In the latter case, the report states that the Department of Fish and Game should be reevaluated as lead agency to ensure it has the resources to address the threat.

Other items on the agenda include the following.

Timed items:

9:15 a.m.: Discussion/consideration of proposed resolution allowing lease of Holiday Harbor in Nice, providing for a discounted annual rate in the amount of $5 per month, which is equivalent to one month free rent to year-long tenants.

9:25 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of February 2009 as Children's Dental Health Month in Lake County.

9:30 a.m.: Update on the Clear Lake Aquatic Plant Management Program and presentation on the 2008 California Food and Agriculture Hydrilla Eradication Program.

11 a.m.: Discussion/consideration of request from the Lake County Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee to donate $1,000 to support the Sunset Fishing Resort Annual Youth Fishing Derby in Clearlake.

11:15 a.m.: Consideration of proposed budget transfer B-120 in the amount of $5,380 for purchase of one stabiscope (gyroscopic binoculars, in lieu of forensic software previously budgeted), to be used during overflight of marijuana gardens during eradication efforts, Budget Unit No. 2203 – Sheriff/Marijuana suppression

Untimed items:

– Update on the emergency action taken by the Lake County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 9, 2008, declaring the continuance of the existing local emergency in regards to the court order issued by the Sacramento Superior Court which prohibits fish stocking by the Department of Fish and Game in

water bodies in Lake County.

– Consideration of applications from members of the public for appointment to miscellaneous Lake County committees, commissions and advisory boards.

– Consideration of request for out-of-state travel for an investigator to Weippe, Idaho, to complete a background investigation of a communication operator candidate.

The board also will hold a closed session to discuss labor negotiations, conduct a performance evaluation for Agricultural Commissioner Steve Hajik, and discuss existing and potential litigation, as well as the county's initiating litigation against the state controller.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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