An Oregon State University map shows the level of quagga and zebra mussel risk across the United States.

Invasive quagga and zebra mussels appear to be steadily making their way into new areas of California, with Southern California officials reporting new finds in previously unaffected reservoirs. {sidebar id=48}

On Dec. 24, the City of San Diego's Water Department reported that quagga mussels were found attached to dock and work floats in Miramar Reservoir.

The discovery of the large population of quaggas is the first in any city reservoir in California, the City of San Diego reported. Quagga velifers – or larvae – have been found in San Diego's Murray, Lower Otay and San Vincente reservoirs as well.

In the coming weeks, the City of San Diego will increase its inspections of watercraft used by the public at Miramar, the city reported.

Quaggas and their cousins, the zebra mussel, are both extremely damaging to waterways, changing the ecosystem, affecting water quality and causing damage to water systems, officials report.

The invasive mussels, which originated in Ukraine, can spread rapidly, with watercraft – both commercial and recreational – their main mode of transport, according to the California Department of Fish and Game.

The aquatic hitchhikers, which can be microscopic in size during the larval stage, can even travel in bait buckets, on natives clams mussels – even on larval dragonflies, according to researchers.

They also attach to, and weigh down, native freshwater clams and mussels, crayfish and even large aquatic insects like larval dragonflies. When they attach to native clams and mussels, the researchers say, these invaded compete directly for food.

Fish and Game reported that the quagga mussel was first discovered in California in January. The state reported that the mussel poses “significant environmental, recreational and economic impacts” for California once they become established.

Such is the case in the Great Lakes, where the quagga mussel first appeared in 1989, the US Geological Survey reported. By 1995, the mussels had spread to the Mississippi River, between St. Louis, Miss., and Alton, Ill.

Fish and Game reported that the mussels covered everything from boat engines to water transport facilities, disrupted the lakes' natural food chain, released toxins affecting other species. “Spread of the quagga could result in millions of dollars in damage to water transport facilities,” Fish and Game reported.

The West Coast discovery “was an extremely large leap in their range and cause for much concern to limited water supplies and endangered fishes in the southwestern US,” according to a report from the US Geological Survey.

Since the mussels arrived on the West Coast earlier this year, researchers report they've been found in Nevada and Arizona as well as California, where they've spread not only to San Diego County but also to Riverside.

County emphasizes prevention

For Lake County, the mussels haven't yet been found in Clear Lake, which was tested for signs of quaggas and zebras over the summer, as Lake County News reported.

On May 22 the Board of Supervisors – sitting as the Board of Directors of Lake County Watershed Protection District – authorized the Water Resources Division to spend water quality improvement funds from the county's Marketing and Economic Development budget to test the 10 most used launch sites on Clear Lake for quaggas.

On June 5, the board also approved drafting a letter to state and federal legislators, surrounding counties, the California State Association of Counties and the Regional Council of Rural Counties asking for help to fight the mussel.

At the board's following meeting on June 12 members voted unanimously to pass a resolution declaring the need for emergency action to protect Clear Lake from the invasive species.

Water Resources Deputy Director Pam Francis told Lake County News in a summer interview that the county plans to continue testing on a monthly basis through the summer.

The county thus far is emphasizing prevention, which is the least expensive option, Francis told Lake County News over the summer.

As part of the prevention campaign, the county has taken a public education effort, from signs along area highways, to brochures, letters to boat owners and residents with buoy, dock or pier leases, Francis stated. The county also encourages anyone putting a boat in the water to making sure it has been allowed to dry completely – inside and out – before launching in area lakes.

In October, Fish and Game rolled out a new K-9 Program that will train as many as 24 dogs to serve the agency statewide. Among their skills will be detecting quagga mussels, as well as detecting ammunition and hidden firearms, and searching for missing persons and suspects.

Game Warden Lynette Shimek, who serves Lake County, was assigned a dog named Kyrie.

“A dog’s scent ability has been estimated to be up to a million times stronger than humans,” said Shimek. “When dealing with something as small as quagga mussels or waterfowl hidden in the trunk of a vehicle, a dog will let us know quickly that something is not right.”

New research points to seriousness of threat

On Dec. 3 Oregon State University, Corvallis, released the results of a new risk assessment study along with a new map outlining the risk of zebra and quagga mussel invasion in the United States.

Oregon State reported that, based on its assessment, the Great Plains and American Southwest could be next in line for invasion.

Researchers believe that the spread of quagga and zebra mussels may be controlled by calcium levels in streams and lakes, which puts the Plains states and the Southwest in a high-risk ecoregion.

“If there isn’t enough calcium in the water, you probably aren’t going to get zebra or quagga mussels,” said Thom Whittier, a faculty research assistant in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Oregon State University and lead author on the study. “If you have sufficient calcium, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have a problem. These mussels also need colonies in still water to maintain populations over the long term. In rivers, this means there needs to be an invaded upstream lake, canal or reservoir to supply new larvae.”

Whittier said a female zebra mussel may produce a million eggs a year, and can be hard to get rid of once established.

Quaggas, according to Oregon State, appear to be overcoming zebra mussels, especially in areas like the Great Lakes.

Scientists emphasize the importance of prevention, cleaning equipment to help prevent the mussels spreading.

“As scientists, when we do our research, we scrub and disinfect our boots, our nets and all of our equipment,” said Alan Herlihy, an Oregon State research professor in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. “We take this threat seriously.”

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“At this point we do plan to move Code Enforcement over there,” Community Development Director Rick Coel told Lake County News.

Code Enforcement's staff of 10 employees will be located on the second story of the Lucerne Visitor Information Center, located at 6110 E. Highway 20, Coel said.

The sheriff's office currently is using the visitor center's upstairs space, said Coel.

However, with the Board of Supervisors' Dec. 18 approval of an option agreement to buy property at 6222 and 6224 E. Highway 20 – where the sheriff's substation would be housed – the visitor center space will become available for Code Enforcement, said Coel.

Code Enforcement likely won't make the move until February or March, Coel added.

There are several reasons for the move, said Coel.

For one, he said, county government would like to have a presence in Lucerne. He suggested that having government offices there could help the town's economy, especially as county employees patronize local businesses.

Another reason is purely practical: “We have a shortage of space in our department,” said Coel, and the new location will solve that problem.

The entire Northshore – not just Lucerne – is a high priority for Code Enforcement, Coel explained, so the move make sense from that perspective.

“There is a certain efficiency to it because we've been focusing on the visible community, especially the highway corridors,” he said.

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Earlier this year, the board had voted to give $30,000 to KPFZ/Lake County Community Radio to match a federal grant of more than $90,000, as Lake County News previously reported.

The station is in the final process of getting on the air at full power at 88.1 FM.

The funds were budgeted by the county this summer, with Tuesday's vote the final step before disbursing the money.

Linda Guebert, KPFZ's vice president, gave the board a report on the radio station's progress.

Since the county agreed to give the station the funds, Guebert said the station had a contract for placement of its antenna on top of Mt. Konocti.

“The antenna is installed and we are currently installing the transmitter,” said Guebert.

Board Chair Jeff Smith said he thought the $30,000 figure was the ceiling, and that the amount might have been less due to the radio station's fundraising efforts.

Guebert said the station has had ongoing fundraising activity in the community. Station representatives also met with the City of Lakeport. “At the present time they say they have no funds available.”

Supervisor Ed Robey asked her how much money the station has raised from other sources. Guebert estimated it was between $30,000 and $40,000 overall.

“Fundraising is ongoing with an organization like this,” said Guebert.

The station also has underwriters lined up to offer financial support going forward, Guebert added.

Supervisor Denise Rushing asked County Counsel Anita Grant if it would be appropriate to include in the funding agreement guidelines for what the county might receive for the funds, including air time.

“It seems like they would have to do that anyway,” said county Chief Administrative Officer Kelly Cox.

Grant said language could be included that the county would receive a certain number of hours in return. Cox added that during a previous funding discussion with the board the station encouraged the county to take advantage of its services.

Supervisor Anthony Farrington said he received calls from community members with more conservative viewpoints who believe the station is too left-leaning. Guebert read the station's mission statement, which emphasizes representing the views of the entire community. She encouraged anyone interested in being on the station to get involved and sign up for a show.

Guebert said the station has a deadline to be on the air in late April 2008; if they don't meet that goal, the Federal Communications Commission will pull the station's permit.

“It’s a crisis time for us right now,” she said.

The situation hasn't been helped by unexpected costs, such as expensive equipment replacement, said Guebert.

Guebert told the board that if the station doesn't go on the air, it would have to pay back the county's $30,000.

Station volunteer Taira St. John told the board during public comment that the station's transition to high power “is highly significant.”

Lake County Community Radio's story is a “magical” one, St. John added.

Guebert said when the station goes on the air at full power, it will broadcast at 100 watts, and then will apply to go up to 500 watts.

“I think you all should be commended for your diligence and hard work,” said Robey.

The board voted 5-0 to approve the agreement with the station for the $30,000 grant.

Hospice Services of Lake County also was scheduled to go to the board to finalize an agreement for $50,000 for a feasibility study that will help the group design a new facility.

However, Hospice Services representatives were not able to attend and the board decided to hold the item over until its next meeting on Jan. 8 in order to seek more information on Hospice's plan.

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Lakeport's Carnegie Library can't receive national historic status unless the Lakeport City Council supports the application. Photo by Elizabeth Larson.

LAKEPORT – The Lakeport City Council put off a decision Tuesday night on whether or not to pursue a national historic designation for Lakeport’s Carnegie Library.

At the Dec. 3 meeting the council found out that the Carnegie Library had been nominated for the National Register of Historic Places, as Lake County News has reported.

Lakeport Community Development Director Richard Knoll presented a report to the council at Tuesday's meeting that explained the nomination and what it might mean to the city.

The Friends of the Lake County Museum and the Lakeport Women’s Civic Club submitted an application in October to State Historic Preservation Officer Milford Donaldson to have the library included on the National Register of Historic Places, Knoll explained.

Documents accompanying Knoll’s report showed that Donaldson sent Lakeport City Manager Jerry Gillham a letter dated Nov. 5 notifying him of the nomination.

Responding to a request from the council, Knoll explained what the designation might mean and the implication for the city.

The nomination, he said, “is actually an appropriate action,” as it doesn’t require the property owner’s consent.

“Any group or individual can act nominate or submit a request to nominate a building or a site for national recognition,” said Knoll.

After the nomination goes to the state historical preservation officer, it is then referred back to the owner for review and consent, said Knoll. At the same time, the historic preservation officer also must go through a process to determine a site’s eligibility.

At some point, said Knoll, the City Council will need to decide whether or not to consent to the historic designation, although they were not required to make a decision Tuesday.

The documentation he provided to the council said a property owner’s consent is required for a designation to move forward, and owners can fight and prevent the historic status.
 
Knoll’s report explained that the designation on the National Register would recognize the library as being a site “of local, state and national significance and would only be approved if the building is determined to have retained enough physical integrity to accurately convey its appearance during the period of historical significance.”

The designation has a number of effects, among them tax incentives which, because the library is owned by a city government, may not apply, said Knoll. It also would mean the library would automatically be listed with the California Register of Historic resources.

Knoll said that property owners don’t have an obligation to maintain, restore or open to the public buildings included on the register.

He said it wasn’t clear to him how that would apply to the Carnegie Library, which is publicly owned.

City Councilman Bob Rumfelt questioned how that might affect what the city could do with the building.

“There has been some conversation in the past about moving the library for whatever reason we may decide to do that,” he said.

“It’s been talked about enough that it’s out there in somebody’s scheme of things,” Rumfelt added.

He asked if the historic listing would prevent the city from moving the library from its present site.

Gillham said it would not.

Rumfelt suggested the building “might be even more historical” if the city moved it.

He added that it’s a beautiful building, but “there were thousands of them” at one time, although he added that not a lot of them are left.

The council decided against action, with memberse saying they wanted more information.

However, the application can’t go forward until the City Council approves it, according to information contained in Knoll’s report packet.

Asked after the meeting about who was talking about moving the library, Gillham told Lake County News that those were past discussions from long ago, and he didn’t know who was involved.

He added that he didn’t think the building could be moved.

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The council agreed that, once the park is ready to reopen following repairs, skateboards and BMX riders will use the facility on alternate days.

The park was shut down earlier this fall due to unsafe conditions, City Administrator Dale Neiman told the council.

Despite city concerns about the budget, repairs are under way, said Neiman.

However, the main issue that remained related to concerns that allowing both BMX bikes and skateboarders to use the park at the same time created liability for the city, said Neiman.

“Basically, our insurance group has told us they don’t want us to allow the facility to be used by both groups at the same time,” Neiman said, because it creates a dangerous situation.

Ronda Mottlow, who worked for the city when the park was constructed in the late 1990s, said the park’s problems are from lack of maintenance, not bikes.

Mottlow serves on a committee to develop and raise funds for the skateboard park repairs. That group started in November following the last council meeting, during which the need to find ways to fund the park's maintenance was a topic.

While the park originally was constructed for skateboards, Mottlow said she believes BMX riders outnumber skaters in usage.

She emphasized the park’s importance to local children and teens. “These guys have nowhere else to ride.”

Mottlow also disputed the notion that the surface is damaged by bikes.

Rather, she said the surface is made for both bikes and skateboards.

Because BMX riding is considered a hazardous activity by state law, it removes liability from the city, she said.

It’s the only skateboard park in the county, said Mottlow, and is a tourist draw because people come from all over the state to ride bikes and boards.

Councilman Chuck Leonard asked Mottlow about how to get the bikers and boarders to wear their safety equipment. She responded that the teens on the committee had made a commitment to self-police themselves if the park is reopened.

Leonard suggested having them ride on alternate days, saying it looks dangerous to have them all riding together.

Mottlow said there have been no claims for injuries thus far. The teens, she said, work together and cooperate. “There’s never been an incident. Not once.”

Some of the facility's issues appear to go back to its original installation, said Neiman.

When city workers took the park apart for repairs they found that some of the blocking underneath was installed incorrectly, causing slippage and resulting in a damaged surface, said Neiman.

“When it was built it wasn’t inspected as well as it should have been by the city,” he said.

Mottlow said other cities put up proper signage warning of the hazards and personal liability. Neiman replied that signage won't protect the city against being sued in this instance.

Mottlow said that the BMX riders feel discriminated against, and she asked the city to find a way to make the park work for everyone. She suggested they research how other cities manage similar questions of usage and liability.

Police Chief Allan McClain received a round of applause from the audience of parents and teens when he threw his support behind the park.

He said he's watched activities at the park, and noted the children and teens that use it are respectful of one another. He said he's seen no trouble there, and added that his only concern was that some park users aren't using their safety equipment.

McClain told the council that these are “the good kids,” and they needed the city's support.

Community asks for park to be reopened

Parents and community members asked the council to find a compromise, citing the park's importance to Clearlake's youth. In a city where there is little organized and constructive activities for children, being able to skate at the park is critical, parents told the council.

Michele Bush, wearing a “BMX Mom” T-shirt, told the council that there is a great need in Clearlake for a place for BMX riders, and suggested the city consider building a skate park.

Bush said BMX is a healthy alternative to other activities for Clearlake's young people, with riders getting high on their sport rather than drugs and alcohol.

“We want healthy kids,” she said. “They’ve made healthy choices up to this point.”

Some local riders are good enough that they'll go pro one day, she added.

Bikes, Bush added, are one of the first outlets of freedom available to children.

Teacher and youth group leader Ken Savin said he's down at the skate park almost every day, and said the teens work together not only to ride safely but to keep the park safe and clean.

He added that he has tried pointing out needed repairs at the park to city staff, who didn't react to his concerns.

Savin suggested the park may need to be larger.

The teens themselves had a voice in 19-year-old Ricky Bush, who sported a “BMX is not a crime” T-shirt and explained to the council that BMX riders like himself don't have a place to practice their sport legally in Clearlake.

“There’s no problem with bikers and skaters using the same park,” said Bush. “We’re all friends and look out for each other.”

He added, “Bikes aren’t going away, even if there are signs saying, ‘No bikes allowed.’”

Bush suggested that for a public facility to discriminate against certain groups could create a civil rights issue. He said the city may be required to build a separate park for bikes.

Bush, who said he has been riding for eight years, agreed that there needs to be signs and safety equipment used at the park, which he asked the city to maintain so it doesn't get closed down again.

During council discussion, Councilmember Joyce Overton said she was proud of the teens and children for coming out on behalf of their park, and showing future leadership potential.

The park has been open for seven years, said Overton, and during that time bike riders and skateboarders have cooperated.

She suggested the city needs to seek out grants to enlarge the park, and agreed that riders have no other place to go.

Overton said that the park needs to be maintained regularly. “I think the way it’s been kept up is an embarrassment.”

She added that she believed the city needed to take the risk and reopen the park to dual usage.

Councilman Curt Giambruno said he continued to be concerned about liability. “I really deeply believe we need two parks, and I believe two parks are attainable.”

He said he believed Mottlow was the person to help track down the grants to build a second park. In the meantime, he said the city will fix the one its got.

After so many years of the park being in operation, Giambruno said it was hard for him to tell the two groups they couldn't continue using the park together. He added that he believed the city needed to do more research on a solution.

Mayor Judy Thein praised the teens for their effort on behalf of the park. “I think you guys are an awesome group of kids.”

She said it was important to see them riding and skating rather than drinking or doing drugs. “I’m not willing to say no to any of you yet until all avenues have been exhausted.”

In order to expedite opening the park, the council asked the BMX riders and skateboarders in the audience if they would be willing to use the park on alternate days until the city can work out a solution to the liability issues.

The answer was a resounding “yes” – a with the overwhelming opinion being that the teens wanted the park open and were willing to compromise.

Neiman said the city is attempting to have the park repaired as soon as possible, although it won't likely be repaired in time for the holidays.

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Lakeport's Carnegie Library has been proposed for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. Photo by Elizabeth Larson.

LAKEPORT – Topping the Lakeport City Council's short Tuesday agenda will be a report on adding a local landmark to the National Register of Historic Places.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

Under council business, Community Development Director Richard Knoll will deliver to the council a report regarding an application to place the Carnegie Library on the National Register of Historic Places.

At its Dec. 4 meeting, the council received word that the Friends of the Lake County Museum had made a request to have the library placed on the register.

City Manager Jerry Gillham told Lake County News in a later interview that the city was concerned that they had not been included in the initial nomination process.

“I'm just concerned that if we fail to meet any of the requirements it will put some of our federal funding for other things at risk,” said Gillham.

At the Dec. 4 meeting, Councilman Jim Irwin asked what the designation would mean if the city wanted to demolish the library.

But Gillham said there are no plans to tear the library down, and the city couldn't even if it wanted to due to the building's historic status. Gillham said the building already has historic listings at local and state levels.

Still, Gillham said that, with the city's strained budget this year, there are no plans to renovate the library any time soon.

Jon Hopkins, who chairs the Friends of the Lake County Museum Board of Directors, said the effort to seek the library's inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places began a few months ago.

Some of the board members were looking into the issue of preserving historic buildings as a way of enhancing the community's reputation, said Hopkins.

“We feel that we can assist with any interest in the community to look at how to deal with an historic building like the Carnegie Library,” Hopkins explained.

Hopkins said the Friends of the Lake County Museum were interested in helping open the discussion on how best to preserve the building.

Gillham said city staff has been looking at the issue since the last meeting. The city, he added, plans to work with the museum group on the status subject.

In other business scheduled for Tuesday, City Engineer Scott Harter will bring a third contract change order to the council for the South Main Street Rehabilitation Project and the council will discuss an appointment to the Vector Control District Board.

The council must also discuss rescheduling or canceling its Jan. 1, 2008, meeting.

Following the public meeting, the council will adjourn into closed session to discuss property negotiations related to Green Ranch and labor negotiations with the Lakeport Employees Association and Lakeport Police Officers Association.

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