Many of California’s wildlife rehabilitators have received much-needed financial assistance through the new Native Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Program.

Of the 84 permitted wildlife rehab facilities in California, 47 applied for and will receive funding totaling $547,000 in the 2022 grant cycle.

There are four grant tiers based on the prior year’s animal intakes: $3,000, $9,000, $14,000 and $19,000. Most applicants were awarded a $9,000 grant. A list of 2021 and 2022 grantees is available on the CDFW Native Wildlife Rehabilitation webpage.

This funding pays for various costs including veterinarian treatment, species-appropriate diet, enclosure design improvements and behavioral enrichment to improve animal care; support and improvement to facility operations; and conservation education for diverse local communities.

Every year, thousands of sick, injured and orphaned wild animals require temporary care and rehabilitation in order to safely return to the wild. At times, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, or CDFW, may provide veterinary treatment of a wild animal, such as a black bear injured in a wildfire, but CDFW does not have the capacity to act as a rehabilitation facility statewide. Thus, wildlife rehabilitation is provided by permitted facilities throughout the state.

“Wildlife rehabbers are the unsung heroes of the conservation world,” said Heather Perry, CDFW’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Program coordinator. “Proper care of wildlife in distress requires special knowledge, training and experience usually not had by the public. Their expertise is absolutely necessary, and their compassion and dedication are so very appreciated.”

Most of the grantees focus on assisting native wildlife such as small mammals, songbirds, raptors, marine birds, amphibians and reptiles. There are also a few facilities that are permitted and trained for specialty rehab cases involving black bears, deer fawns and mountain lions.

A wildlife rehabilitator may operate a permitted facility at one location, use satellite facilities, or an approved home site to perform wildlife rehabilitation. Most rely heavily on donations from the public.

Authorized in 2017 through the Native California Wildlife Rehabilitation Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund (AB1031), the Wildlife Native Rehabilitation Grant Program saw the number of grantees increase by two from 2021 to 2022. Both years, over half of the eligible rehab facilities were awarded funding, for a total of $1,096,000.

To learn more about California’s wildlife rehabbers – including finding one near you – please visit the CDFW Native Wildlife Rehabilitation webpage.

Taxpayers who want to help rehabilitate injured and orphaned wildlife by supporting permitted wildlife rehabilitation facilities can contribute through the Voluntary Tax Contributions section on the California State Income Tax Form 540.

The Native California Wildlife Rehabilitation Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund can be found on line 439 of the form. The Form 540 can also be used to support at-risk native species through two other funds: the Rare and Endangered Species Preservation Voluntary Tax Contribution Program (line 403) and the California Sea Otter Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund (line 410).

All donations support efforts to identify and mitigate the conditions and activities that threaten native species throughout the state. For more information about donating at tax time, please visit the CDFW tax check-off webpage.

LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Easter Bunny will be hopping into Lakeport for a visit the four Saturdays before Easter in various businesses.

Bring your children, grandparents, friends and family — and your camera — to see the Easter Bunny and take a picture.

This event is organized by the Lakeport Main Street Association.

The Easter Bunny will make his appearance on the following dates:

• March 26: Business Design Services, 195 S. Main St.
• April 2: Studio 127, 127 N. Main St.
• April 9: Fixin It Up With Sandra, 270 N. Main St.
• April 16: Kitchen Store and More, 568 Lakeport Blvd.

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, announced Wednesday that his legislation to encourage creation of defensible space, protecting life and property from California’s worsening wildfires, has cleared a key committee.

“Maintaining defensible space is critical for reducing the chances that homes ignite when wildfires are nearby,” Sen. Dodd said. “It also minimizes the opportunity for fires to spread to other homes, thereby helping to protect communities. This bill will measure how well we are doing that and help us make informed decisions on where to target investments. It builds on my recent legislation to help protect our state.”

In a report last fall, the state Legislative Analyst’s Office cited the creation of defensible spaces around homes and other structures as among the most valuable steps that can be taken to reduce the destructiveness of wildfires.

Under existing law, homeowners in certain areas are required to create these fire-safe spaces. However, because of a number of factors, compliance and inspections are inconsistent from region to region, the LAO found.

Senate Bill 896 responds to the agency’s recommendations for increasing compliance and reducing future losses.

It includes provisions to gather more information on defensible space inspections through improved data collection and to take initial steps to address other barriers to state and local defensible space efforts.

It also supports additional research to identify effective strategies to improve defensible space compliance and to conduct oversight activities to learn from and inform future policy decisions.

Defensible space has been a high priority wildfire protection issue for Sen. Dodd for several years, beginning in 2019 with his authorship of SB 190 which directed the state fire marshal to develop model defensive space standards that local governments could voluntarily use as part of their zoning codes.

SB 896 cleared the Senate Natural Resources and Water committee Tuesday. It heads next to Appropriations.

“Defensible space is a critical component in a Californian’s wildfire protection toolbox,” said Yana Valachovic, forest advisor and county director for the University of California Cooperative Extension-Humboldt and Del Norte counties. “This bill provides a way to help chart our progress towards achieving wildfire resiliency. Additionally, the reporting database will help us understand which communities may need a little extra help and support.”

Dodd represents the Third Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Solano, Yolo, Sonoma, Contra Costa and Sacramento counties.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Land Trust has hired Amanda Martin as its new executive director.

“We are very excited to welcome Amanda as our new executive director,” said Land Trust President Val Nixon, “and look forward to having new energy and input from someone who truly loves Lake County, and has the desire and organizational skills to make a difference.”

Martin was born and raised in Lake County and has a lifelong connection to many special natural areas here, including a number that the Lake County Land Trust either owns or manages.

“The crucial work of the Land Trust in preserving the remarkable natural wealth and fragile beauty of Lake County for all its inhabitants, is not yet as widely recognized in the County as it should be,” she says. “I know the value of the Land Trust’s work first hand, and am thrilled to be working with its board and partners to help expand the impact of their deep expertise and commitment to the environmental health of our lovely home.”

Martin’s connections to both the local business community and the arts community are substantial.

She is a member of the board of directors for the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, where she conceived and implemented its successful Year of the Youth 2021 pilot mentorship program.

Martin is also president of the Middletown Art Center Board of Directors, and spearheaded the Center’s partnerships and broader repositioning as the MAC For Lake County.

She is a member of the Socio-economic Subcommittee for the Blue Ribbon Committee for the Rehabilitation of Clear Lake, a former board member of the Middletown Area Merchants Association and is a Certified Tourism Ambassador, and was event coordinator of the New Paradigm College in Lucerne.

A graduate of Middletown High School, Martin graduated from California State University, Chico with a bachelor’s degree in communication design.

She makes her home on Cobb, and has her own business, Manda CoVentures, a consulting practice focusing on strategic and tactical marketing, event curation and grant writing. She loves to hike, garden, write and travel.

The Land Trust looks forward to working with Martin to move the Lake County Land Trust forward in accomplishing its mission of protecting and sustaining the beautiful and special place that is Lake County.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Winter Reading Challenge, offered by the Lake County Library for cardholders of all ages, will be coming to an end with Saturday, March 19, the last day for participants to log their reading.

The Friends of the Library are happily donating a book to the library for each reader who reaches the goal of reading 1,000 pages or 20 books.

At press time the 172 participants had earned a total of 138,331 points.

The Winter Reading Challenge is just one example of the many programs the library provides and that the Friends strive to support.

Staff is constantly innovating to meet the needs of county residents with different programs and resources for both adults and children.

These include “contactless pickup” and virtual programming during the pandemic, online access to an amazing number of resources for adults and children, and the impressive collection of books and other items at each branch.

And did you know that there are an increasing number of Internet “hot spots” and chrome books available for checkout with a library card?

The Friends welcome community support for their efforts to support the library.

Membership in the Friends is just one way to help. While active support is always welcome, simple membership helps and does not require attendance at meetings or any further activity.

For more information about membership, inquire at your local branch or visit https://www.friendsofthelakecountylibrary.org.

You can follow the group’s Facebook page to keep up with its latest activities at https://www.facebook.com/FriendsoftheLakeCountyLibrary.

In addition, donations of books in good, salable condition are accepted at each branch and are sold for bargain prices. You will also see attractive book bags for sale.

Participation in the “Adopt a Book” program allows a book or books to be donated to a branch collection in honor of an individual, noted with a commemorative bookplate. Arrangements can be made at each branch. And of course cash donations are always welcome. Thank you in advance for supporting our wonderful Lake County Library.

NORTH‌‌ ‌‌COAST, ‌‌ ‌‌Calif. —‌ Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌reports‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌following‌‌ ‌‌road‌‌ ‌‌projects‌‌ ‌‌will‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌taking‌‌ ‌‌place‌‌ ‌‌‌around‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌North‌‌ ‌‌Coast‌‌ ‌‌during‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌coming‌‌ ‌‌week. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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Included‌‌ ‌‌are‌‌ ‌‌Mendocino‌‌ ‌‌County‌‌ ‌‌projects‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌may‌‌ ‌‌impact‌‌ ‌‌Lake‌‌ ‌‌County‌‌ ‌‌commuters, as well as work in Del Norte and Humboldt counties.
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Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌advises‌‌ ‌‌motorists‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌drive‌‌ ‌‌with‌‌ ‌‌caution‌‌ ‌‌when‌‌ ‌‌approaching‌‌ ‌‌work‌‌ ‌‌areas‌‌ ‌‌and‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌‌prepared‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌stop‌‌ ‌‌at‌‌ ‌‌traffic‌‌ ‌‌control‌‌ ‌‌stations. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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The‌‌ ‌‌Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌Traffic‌‌ ‌‌Operations‌‌ ‌‌Office‌‌ ‌‌has‌‌ ‌‌reviewed‌‌ ‌‌each‌‌ ‌‌project‌‌ ‌‌and‌‌ ‌‌determined‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌individual‌‌ ‌‌‌project‌‌ ‌‌delays‌‌ ‌‌are‌‌ ‌‌expected‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌less‌‌ ‌‌than‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌statewide‌‌ ‌‌policy‌‌ ‌‌maximum‌‌ ‌‌of‌‌ ‌‌30‌‌ ‌‌minutes‌‌ ‌‌unless‌‌ ‌‌‌noted‌‌ ‌‌otherwise. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌

For‌‌ ‌‌updates‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌this‌‌ ‌‌list‌‌ ‌‌check‌‌ ‌‌QuickMap‌‌ ‌‌at‌‌ ‌‌‌www.dot.ca.gov‌‌‌ or‌‌ ‌‌1-800-GAS-ROAD‌‌ ‌‌‌(1-800-427-7623). ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌

LAKE‌‌ ‌‌COUNTY‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
‌‌‌ ‌
Highway‌‌ ‌‌20

— Road work continues west of Upper Lake near Saratoga Springs Road. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Road work is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, March 8, west of Upper Lake near Hicks Trail. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Road work near the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff/Roundabout is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, March 8. Lane closures will be in place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect minor slowdowns.

— Road work south of Lucerne is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, March 8. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Road work west of Clear Lake Oaks is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 7. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

— Road work is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, March 8 east of Clear Lake Oaks near Red Rock Road. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 29

— Road work is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 7 in Middletown near Calistoga Road. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Road work near Lower Lake is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 7. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Road work east of Lower Lake near Lakeview Road is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 7. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Road work is scheduled to begin Monday, March 7 west of Kelseyville near Highland Springs Road. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Road work is scheduled to begin near Lakeport on Monday, March 7. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 53

— Road work in Clear Lake near Dam Road is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 7. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 175

— Road work is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 7 near McDowell Creek. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Utility work will occur near Glenview for Monday, March 7. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

— Tree work in Albion near Little River Airport Road is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, March 8. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Tree work near Leggett will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

Highway 20

— Emergency work continues south of Willits at the Jct 20/101 Bridge. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect 10-minute delays.

Highway 101

— Slide removal at Pieta Creek Bridge will continue. Northbound Lane closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Paving work at Talmage Road in Ukiah is scheduled for Saturday, March 6 from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday, March 7, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ramp closures will be in effect and motorists should use an alternate route when necessary.

— Emergency bridge repairs in Ukiah from the Hensley Creek Undercrossing to Presswood Overhead Bridge. Lane closures will be in place from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. weeknights. Motorists should expect minor slowdowns.

— Road work is scheduled for Tuesday, March 9 north of Calpella from Reeves Canyon Road to Ridgewood Ranch Road. Lane closures will be in place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should expect minor slowdowns.

— Moss Cove Safety Rest Area will be closed through April 2022.

— Empire Camp Safety Rest Area will be closed through April 2022.

Highway 175

— Utility work will occur in Hopland near First Street on Wednesday, March 9. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Utility work in Hopland near Old Toll Road is scheduled for Friday, March 4. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

Highway 222

— Paving work in Ukiah from Perry Street to Hastings Frontage Road on Thursday, March 10. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Paving work in Ukiah near Sanford Ranch Road is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, March 8. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

DEL NORTE COUNTY

Highway 101

— Bridge work north of Klamath near Old Hunter Creek Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Emergency work and construction in the Last Chance Grade area will continue. Motorists should anticipate 30-minute delays at all hours.

— Shoulder work near Ocean World in Crescent City will continue. Lane closures will be in effect from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect minor slowdowns through the area.

Highway 199

— Work near the Collier Tunnel will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY

Highway 36

— PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility work east of Dinsmore on Monday, March 7, and Tuesday, March 8. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

Highway 101

— PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility work near the Mendocino County line on Friday, March 11. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Bridge work south of Phillipsville will continue. Lane closures will be in effect weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns. A northbound onramp closure will also be in effect. Motorists should use an alternate route.

— Maintenance near the South Fork Road Overcrossing north of Weott will begin on Monday, March 7. The southbound offramp will be closed from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should use an alternate route when necessary.

— AT&T has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility work near the Bear Creek Bridge south of Stafford. Lane closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

— PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility work near Bracut between Eureka and Arcata beginning Monday, March 7. A southbound lane closure will be in effect from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

— The city of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility work near Bayside Road on Friday, March 4. Motorists should anticipate slowdowns from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Highway 254

— PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for multiple locations along Avenue of the Giants. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. south of Miranda on March 9, near Myers Flat on March 8 and 9, south of Redcrest on March 8 and 9, and in Redcrest on March 4.

Highway 255

— Utility work in the Samoa and Manila areas will continue. One-way traffic will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect 10-minute delays.

— PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility work near V Street in Arcata on Friday, March 4, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 299

— Repair work from east of Blue Lake to east of Willow Creek will continue. One-way traffic control in effect 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect 15-minute delays.