Letters
Regarding the ongoing travails of Upper Lake citizens plagued with actual and threatened flood impacts, the community has been trying to remedy the situation since the FEMA-declared disaster of Dec. 31, 2005, when the floodwaters damaged downtown merchants, residents and surrounding areas.
The more recent area of vulnerability, located just north of town at the Clover Creek Diversion Channel — a constructed flood protection facility — is entangled in Department of Public Works management of multi-agency requirements for state permits, while high-dollar consultants hired by DPW in 2021 continue to drag out the “design” process that substitutes for work in what is known as Flood Zone 8.
Additional problems created by designation of the entirely manmade flood control facility as “habitat” by former DPW staff render the diversion channel’s routine maintenance subject to environmental constraints that are not warranted for strictly constructed flood prevention systems.
A special meeting conducted by the consultants in Upper Lake a couple of weeks ago was described by the West Region Town Hall chairman on Feb. 21 as mystifying, since the last three years of outspoken community members providing “feedback” in public forums appeared to be unknown (or irrelevant) to new consultant representatives.
Much, if not most, of the town was built long before FEMA existed. Agricultural levees erected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, long anticipated to fail in the former reclamation area, were maintained by the state until responsibility was “transferred” to the County DPW, which cannot do more than respond to storm damage when necessary (most preventive maintenance is not funded).
It is hard to accept that county leadership, following the 2005 disaster, did not address obvious risks by correcting the official floodplain mapping and establishing regular maintenance schedules for flood protection facilities and property owners.
Upper Lake citizens are right to pursue corrective action by the Board of Supervisors before the next disaster happens.
Betsy Cawn runs the Essential Public Information Center. She lives in Upper Lake, California.
The more recent area of vulnerability, located just north of town at the Clover Creek Diversion Channel — a constructed flood protection facility — is entangled in Department of Public Works management of multi-agency requirements for state permits, while high-dollar consultants hired by DPW in 2021 continue to drag out the “design” process that substitutes for work in what is known as Flood Zone 8.
Additional problems created by designation of the entirely manmade flood control facility as “habitat” by former DPW staff render the diversion channel’s routine maintenance subject to environmental constraints that are not warranted for strictly constructed flood prevention systems.
A special meeting conducted by the consultants in Upper Lake a couple of weeks ago was described by the West Region Town Hall chairman on Feb. 21 as mystifying, since the last three years of outspoken community members providing “feedback” in public forums appeared to be unknown (or irrelevant) to new consultant representatives.
Much, if not most, of the town was built long before FEMA existed. Agricultural levees erected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, long anticipated to fail in the former reclamation area, were maintained by the state until responsibility was “transferred” to the County DPW, which cannot do more than respond to storm damage when necessary (most preventive maintenance is not funded).
It is hard to accept that county leadership, following the 2005 disaster, did not address obvious risks by correcting the official floodplain mapping and establishing regular maintenance schedules for flood protection facilities and property owners.
Upper Lake citizens are right to pursue corrective action by the Board of Supervisors before the next disaster happens.
Betsy Cawn runs the Essential Public Information Center. She lives in Upper Lake, California.
- Details
- Written by: Betsy Cawn
Lake County has some amazing people, and the five candidates that have volunteered to take on the challenge of replacing Supervisor Simon and representing District 1 are no exception.
From my perspective, I would like to see someone in this position that not only has the vision of what the district could be but is also capable of delivering.
As an example, Clearlake’s rise has been meteoric over the last five years. Thanks to our talented and dedicated city staff, we have given our downtown park a facelift, slashed crime, fully funded a plan to resurface and pave more than 50 miles of roads, and forged some major economic development victories in housing, hospitality, and healthcare.
Most notable, the long-delayed redevelopment of the former Pearce Field site into a commercial hub finally began last year after decades of hurdles. That can only happen when vision meets capability.
The city makes up a substantial slice of District 1, and much of the development I just described will have a direct impact on the residents that will be represented by one of these five candidates.
Our city needs a supervisor who will value the incredible strides we’ve made in improving our community and stand side by side with city leadership to ensure that momentum doesn’t falter. Someone who appreciates that a healthy, vibrant Clearlake is a benefit to the district and all of Lake County.
I believe John Hess is that candidate.
John has served on the Lake County Planning Commission for the last eight years and understands how complex and challenging it can be to bring new opportunities to a rural county. There is an appreciation for the care and effort that has gone into the city’s most recent wins, and support for even more.
Add to that his unmatched government experience serving members of both parties. He has an already well-worn path for dialog with our state and federal representatives and his three endorsements from those officials are clear evidence of his connection. I haven’t quite figured out how his work around nuclear arms control could benefit Lake County, but it’s a pretty good indication that his judgment and leadership have long been trusted.
Finally, it’s clear he has the best interests of our county at his core. I encourage you to watch one of the many forums online in which these five superb candidates have participated. John continues to impress me with the depth of his answers. For someone who is not an incumbent, his grasp of the pressing challenges facing district 1 is evident.
John is my top choice for District 1 and I’m pleased to be able to support him.
David Claffey is a member of the Clearlake City Council. He lives in Clearlake, California.
From my perspective, I would like to see someone in this position that not only has the vision of what the district could be but is also capable of delivering.
As an example, Clearlake’s rise has been meteoric over the last five years. Thanks to our talented and dedicated city staff, we have given our downtown park a facelift, slashed crime, fully funded a plan to resurface and pave more than 50 miles of roads, and forged some major economic development victories in housing, hospitality, and healthcare.
Most notable, the long-delayed redevelopment of the former Pearce Field site into a commercial hub finally began last year after decades of hurdles. That can only happen when vision meets capability.
The city makes up a substantial slice of District 1, and much of the development I just described will have a direct impact on the residents that will be represented by one of these five candidates.
Our city needs a supervisor who will value the incredible strides we’ve made in improving our community and stand side by side with city leadership to ensure that momentum doesn’t falter. Someone who appreciates that a healthy, vibrant Clearlake is a benefit to the district and all of Lake County.
I believe John Hess is that candidate.
John has served on the Lake County Planning Commission for the last eight years and understands how complex and challenging it can be to bring new opportunities to a rural county. There is an appreciation for the care and effort that has gone into the city’s most recent wins, and support for even more.
Add to that his unmatched government experience serving members of both parties. He has an already well-worn path for dialog with our state and federal representatives and his three endorsements from those officials are clear evidence of his connection. I haven’t quite figured out how his work around nuclear arms control could benefit Lake County, but it’s a pretty good indication that his judgment and leadership have long been trusted.
Finally, it’s clear he has the best interests of our county at his core. I encourage you to watch one of the many forums online in which these five superb candidates have participated. John continues to impress me with the depth of his answers. For someone who is not an incumbent, his grasp of the pressing challenges facing district 1 is evident.
John is my top choice for District 1 and I’m pleased to be able to support him.
David Claffey is a member of the Clearlake City Council. He lives in Clearlake, California.
- Details
- Written by: David Claffey
How to resolve AdBlock issue?