How to resolve AdBlock issue? COBB, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol said Friday evening that Highway 175 at Harrington Flat Road in the Cobb area is closed due to utility companies removing hazardous trees.
The road is expected to be open around midnight, the CHP said.
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- Lake County News reports
Road conditions update: Many roads remain closed, officials issue safety reminder
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Many roads around Lake County remain closed as Clear Lake’s flood waters begin to recede.
One of the main local roads to be impacted by the flooding, the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff, remained closed on Thursday, with no estimate yet form the Lake County Public Works Department regarding when it may reopen.
Road crews on Thursday removed two large trees that had been hung up on the bridge over the slough, as there was no room under the bridge for the trees to pass under.
The department reported that the crews had to pull the trees up and out of the water with heavy equipment.
In Lakeport, where many city streets also remain closed due to flood, the Lakeport Police Department issued a reminder on Thursday asking motorists not to drive on closed roadways or through streets with standing water.
Wakes created by passing vehicles are causing damage to properties in flooded areas, police said.
The full list of road closures and advisories for areas around the county follows. Information was compiled from reports from Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol, the Clearlake Police Department, Lake County Department of Public Works, Lakeport Police Department and the Napa County Sheriff’s Office.
In the map below, areas marked with the flooding symbol and the red triangle indicate closures; the rockslide icon indicates those areas where there are slides but which remain open.
CLEARLAKE
All city boat launches remain closed.
Lakeshore Drive between Lower Lakeshore Drive and Kings Lane is closed to traffic due to sewage spill and heavy equipment in the area. Use alternative routes.
Lakeshore Drive between Howard Avenue and Alvita Avenue has water partially blocking lanes. There is no traffic control in this area at this time. Use extreme caution and reduce speed.
CLEARLAKE OAKS
High Valley Road: Road conditions from Brassfield Winery to Bartlett Springs Road are unknown at this time.
Island Drive: Closed from Highway 20 to the bridge due to flooding.
Keys Boulevard: Closed due to flooding.
Lake Street: Closed due to flooding.
Old Long Valley Road: Open with slide activity.
Widgeon Way: Closed from the Plaza to Shady Lane due to tree across the roadway.
COBB
Maple Shadows: Closed at the south end from Highway 175 to Parnassus due to culvert failure.
Socrates Mine Road: Road slip out at MPM 3.8. Down to one lane in this area.
KELSEYVILLE
Bell Hill Road: Closed at Adobe Creek low water crossing.
Park Drive: Closed to through traffic due to flooding.
LAKEPORT (CITY)
All city boat launches remain closed.
Library Park continues to be closed due to the extreme danger and flood conditions.
City parking lots at Third Street, Fourth Street and Fifth Street are closed.
– Esplanade Street.
– K Street.
– Konocti Avenue.
– Lupoyoma Avenue.
– Helena Avenue.
– Lily Cove Avenue.
– Oak Knoll Avenue.
– E Street.
– Martin Street from N. Forbes Street to Russell Street.
Giselman Street from Lakeshore Boulevard to Sayre Street: Closed due to flooding. A detour has been set up: Northbound traffic will use Green Street to Sayer Street to Giselman Street, southbound traffic will use Giselman Street to Sayer Street to Green Street. Please drive with caution on these streets as there will be school children using them.
Lakeshore Boulevard: Closed to all traffic from Giselman to the north city limit boundary at Beach Lane. Lakeshore Boulevard across from Jones Street appears to be undermined and may be structurally unsafe. Avoid the area.
Royale Avenue: Closed to all vehicles at Pike Drive.
LAKEPORT
Hill Road: Closed between Sutter Lakeside Hospital entrance and Lakeshore Boulevard due to mudslides across the roadway.
Lakeshore Boulevard: Closed from Park Way to Alterra Drive due to flooding.
Lakeshore Boulevard: Closed from Park Way to 2,500 feet north due to flooding and a power pole leaning into the roadway.
Reeves Lane: Closed at Land’s End due to flooding.
LOWER LAKE
Morgan Valley Road: Closed at the Lake/Napa line due to numerous trees and mud slides on the Napa County side.
NICE
Lakeshore Boulevard: Closed from Stokes Avenue to Carson Street due to flooding.
Nice-Lucerne Cutoff: Closed due to flooding.
Stokes Avenue: Closed from Stokes Court to Nice-Lucerne Cutoff due to flooding.
UPPER LAKE
Bartlett Springs Road: Closed at MPM 18.0 due to mudslide.
Elk Mountain Road: Roadway closed at MPM 29.6 due to road washout. No estimate of when road will be reopened.
Laurel Dell Road: Currently open with closure pending due to flooding.
COLUSA COUNTY
Highway 20: One-way controlled traffic from 5.5 miles east of the junction of Highway 16 to “E” Street in Williams due to flooding.
- Lake County News reports
McGuire, State Senate introduce environmental protection measures in response to Trump Administration
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Sen. Mike McGuire is helping to lead the way on a new Senate Environmental Protection Legislative Package introduced to shield California from potential harmful changes in federal law.
California is home to 45 million acres of federal Wildlands which feature millions of acres of forest, scenic rivers and watersheds – which is the drinking source for millions of residents – open spaces and the rugged California coast.
“The threat from the Trump Administration to our federal public lands is real and the consequences are great if the state doesn’t advance proactive policies to protect the Golden State’s treasured natural resources,” Sen. Mike McGuire said. “Our federal Wildlands and National Parks are America’s gathering grounds, our nation’s backyard. These bills will help protect the 45 million acres of federal lands that exist in California from devastating strip mines along with invasive oil and gas drilling.”
Sen. McGuire represents seven counties in Northern California, including Lake, with 3.3 million acres of federal lands exist in the North Coast district.
The North Coast has, in fact, more federal lands than any other area in California, McGuire said.
These public lands protect sensitives species, are valuable for carbon sequestration, are a source of drinking water and are one of the largest economic drivers for rural communities thanks to the tourism they draw.
“California has the most to lose under the dangerous policies of President Trump,” McGuire said.
McGuire also pointed out that 45.8 million acres – or 45 percent – of California is federal land.
Additional details related to the legislative package can be found below. In the press conference video above, McGuire speaks at the 11:30 mark.
PROPOSAL DETAILS
SB 49: The California Environmental Defense Act
· Makes current federal clean air, climate, clean water, worker safety, and endangered species standards enforceable under state law, even if the federal government rolls back and weakens those standards.
· Directs state environmental, public health, and worker safety agencies to take all actions within their authorities to ensure standards in effect and being enforced today continue to remain in effect.
· Federal laws in these areas set “baselines,” but allow states to adopt more stringent standards. This bill simply ensures CA does not backslide as a result of rollbacks and damage done by the new regime in Washington DC.
· In 2003, when the Bush Administration attempted to enact similar rollbacks of federal clean air standards, the Legislature passed SB 288 (Chapter 476 statutes of 2003), the Protect CA Air Act. This measure builds on that platform.
SB 50: The Public Lands Protection Act
· This measure establishes a new state policy to discourage conveyances of federal lands to private developers for resource extraction and directs the state Lands Commission, which oversees much of the federal lands in the state, to establish a right of first refusal by the state of any federal lands proposed for sale or conveyance to other parties.
· In doing so, this measure would ensure (a) that the state reviews any transactions involving federal lands here in CA to ensure those lands are protected, and (b) where feasible, important lands are protected via state action.
SB 51: The Whistleblower and Public Data Protection Act
· Attorneys, engineers, scientists and other professionals working for federal agencies are often licensed to practice in California. US EPA attorneys and scientists who report cover ups, destruction of information, or other wrongdoing may have federal whistleblower protection but could still lose their professional certifications under California law.
· This measure would ensure federal employees do not lose state licensure for revealing violations of law, unethical actions or dangers to public health and safety. It also would direct state environmental and public health agencies to protect any information or data under state law, even if parties in Washington DC order their censorship or destruction.
· In 2003, the Legislature passed a similar law to provide state whistleblower protections (see AB 2713 of 2002). That bill was vetoed by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
- Lake County News reports
Ely Stage Stop hosts cowboy poet Richard Schmidt for Feb. 25 ‘Living History Day’
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – On Saturday, Feb. 25, the docents and volunteers of the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum welcome Richard Schmidt, award-winning artist and author, to the latest “Living History Day.”
The event takes place from noon to 2 p.m. at the stage stop, located at 9921 State Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road) in Kelseyville, near the Clear Lake Riviera, just north of Highway 29 at Kit's Corner.
Admission is free and refreshments are furnished by the Ely volunteers. As always, donations are gratefully accepted.
Schmidt, a longtime resident of Lake County, will share some readings and stories of local interest.
On the fourth Saturday of each month local historians come to the Ely Stage Stop to visit with guests and answer questions regarding different aspects of Lake County history.
The visits are video recorded, preserving the stories of Lake County's history for future generations.
Visit www.elystagestop.org or www.lakecountyhistory.org , check out the stage stop on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elystagestop or call the museum at 707-533-9990.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Due to recent road closures leading to the Lakeport Unified School District campuses, those dropping off students are requested to take several actions in the short-term.
City and school district officials ask that community members taking children to school do the following:
– Please make an effort to drop your child off at school any time after 7:30 a.m. and before 8 a.m. This will reduce the amount of traffic coming onto campus immediately before school begins and help ensure students arrive to school on time.
– Note that you can also use the north entrance into the campus via Howard Avenue and exit that way as well to help reduce the congestion on Giselman and Lange streets.
– Whenever possible, send your child on the school buses to reduce the traffic flow.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Saturday, Feb. 18, the Clear Lake Cardinals hosted this year’s Boy’s Coastal Mountain Conference (CMC) Championship Wrestling Tournament.
The top three placers in each weight division advance to the Boy’s North Coast Sections (NCS) Championships.
The Cardinals entered three wrestlers into the CMC tournament and one advanced.
Ozod Ermatov (138 lbs.) won the bronze medal and the chance to advance to the NSC tournament on Feb. 24.
A senior, first year wrestler and foreign exchange student, Ermatov gave it everything he had.
In his first match he would fall to the No. 1 seed, eventual champion and outstanding middleweight wrestler from Kelseyville.
Then, Ermatov would come back in a hard-fought decision battle to beat the No. 3 seed from Willits and win the bronze medal.
Frankie Sturr (126 lbs.), another senior and first-year wrestler, won fourth place, just short of advancing to the NCS tournament.
Sturr had some tough matches along the way and some very questionable calls, but he fought to the end of each match.
First up Sturr would fall to the No. 2 seed from Willits. After having him flat on his back, it was not to go Sturr’s way.
Still bound and determined even after injuring his knee in the previous match, Sturr continued on to pin his next opponent from Kelseyville, in another physical match. Then, in one more exciting battle, Sturr would fall to the eventual bronze medalist from Lower Lake.
After missing his weight, Freshman Thomas Lairson decided to wrestle up at (132 lbs.). He gave it all he had, but was just too much to overcome.
- Editor
Salvation Army to serve meals at evacuation center for Lake County residents affected by flooding
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Salvation Army has started a meal service at the emergency evacuation center for Lake County residents who have been affected by the flooding.
A team from The Salvation Army Napa Corps will provide meal service and spiritual support at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Lakeport, 1111 Park Way.
Local Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services management plans for meals to be served through Monday afternoon, and staff will continue to assess if further assistance will be needed for the foreseeable future.
Monetary donations are only needed at this time. The Salvation Army uses 100-percent of disaster donations in support of local disaster relief operations.
To give, visit www.gosalarmy.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769) and designate “Disaster Services.”
Donations by mail may be designated “Disaster Services” and sent to: The Salvation Army, PO Box 348000, Sacramento, CA 95834.
In-kind donations are not currently being accepted outside the disaster area. However, these gifts are vitally important to your local Salvation Army. To give items locally, visit www.SATruck.com or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK.
- Editor
Joan Linnell
Joan Linnell
March 6, 1950 - Valentine's Day 2017
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Celebration of life will be held at Buckingham Club House on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 1 p.m.
If you can, please bring a side dish to share.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Wednesday hundreds of people remained evacuated from their homes due to Clear Lake’s waters rising still higher and more storms in the weekend forecast.
In Lakeport, an evacuation order issued Monday for residents of the Willopoint, Aqua Village and Lucky Four trailer parks and the Esplanade Street neighborhood remained in effect, with evacuations urged by the sheriff’s office for low-lying areas of Clearlake Oaks and the Clear Lake Keys, and near Lakeport in Corinthian Bay and Lands End.
The water continues to be high in and around Lakeport’s evacuated neighborhoods and areas where residents have been urged to leave.
Neighborhoods in Clearlake Oaks, particularly the Clear Lake Keys, were inundated by lake water, with many streets barely passable and the lake lapping around home foundations.
In Lucerne, parks have been inundated, with lake debris washing up on sidewalks and walkways.
Along Highway 20, new, minor mudslides had occurred, and in one area near Lucerne the lake was lapping at the edge of the highway.
An evacuation shelter remains in place at the Lakeport Seventh-day Adventist Church on Park Way, which also is serving as the community’s winter warming center for the homeless.
The Lake Ministerial Association, which runs the warming center, reported Wednesday evening that it had aided 149 flood evacuees in the previous 24 hours.
Sheriff Brian Martin also announced on Wednesday that he had declared a state of emergency due to the widespread damage the county has suffered from the recent storms and the resulting flooding.
Lake County remains under a general flood warning issued by the National Weather Service.
Early Thursday, the lake’s elevation had risen to 10.58 feet Rumsey, while the Cache Creek Dam continued high-volume releases at nearly 5,100 cubic feet per second.
The California Nevada River Forecast Center expects Clear Lake’s elevation will crest at 10.6 feet Thursday before it starts to recede.
The lake’s current elevation is at a 19-year high, according to county records.
On Wednesday, a pattern of weird weather moved over Lake County, with reports of hail and snow flurries in lower elevations, snow in Cobb, and scattered rain.
By the evening, some blue sky had broken through before clouds again began to close in.
Looking ahead, Lake County is forecast to get a few days of mostly dry weather before several more days of rain arrive.
The National Weather Service’s updated forecast for Lake County expects colder weather and patchy frost on Thursday and Friday, with light winds.
Chances of rain are set to return on Friday evening, to be followed by expected showers on Saturday and Sunday, with slighter chances of rain on Monday.
Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to bring the county another sunny break, based on the forecast.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County’s flood situation led to several new road closures on Wednesday, including the short-term shutdown of the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff.
As Clear Lake’s elevation continued to rise, on Wednesday afternoon the Lake County Department of Public Works closed the cutoff due to flooding across the roadway, making it necessary for drivers to be rerouted through Upper Lake.
Elsewhere around the county, other new closures took place.
In Clearlake Oaks, Lake Street and Keys Boulevard were closed because of flooding.
In Lakeport, the city extended the closure of Lakeshore Boulevard from Giselman Street to the north city limit boundary at Beach Lane.
The city of Lakeport also asked people to avoid the area of Lakeshore Boulevard across from Jones Street, where the road appears to be undermined and may be structurally unsafe.
The Clearlake Police Department reported that Lakeshore Drive between Lower Lakeshore Drive and Kings Lane had been closed to traffic due to a sewage spill and heavy equipment in the area.
Police said Lakeshore Drive between Country Club Drive Extension and San Joaquin Drive, which previously had been closed, was reopened but still had some areas reduced to one-lane traffic due to flooding. Lakeshore Drive between Howard Avenue and Alvita Avenue also has water partially blocking lanes.
The full list of closures and advisories follows. Information was compiled from reports from Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol, the Clearlake Police Department, Lake County Department of Public Works, Lakeport Police Department and the Napa County Sheriff’s Office.
In the map below, areas marked with the flooding symbol and the red triangle indicate closures; the rockslide icon indicates those areas where there are slides but which remain open.
CLEARLAKE
All city boat launches remain closed.
Lakeshore Drive between Country Club Drive Extension and San Joaquin Drive was reopened after a closure, but some areas are reduced to one-lane traffic due to flooding in the area. Use caution driving in the area.
Lakeshore Drive between Lower Lakeshore Drive and Kings Lane is closed to traffic due to sewage spill and heavy equipment in the area. Use alternative routes.
Lakeshore Drive between Howard Avenue and Alvita Avenue has water partially blocking lanes. There is no traffic control in this area at this time. Use extreme caution and reduce speed.
CLEARLAKE OAKS
High Valley Road: Road conditions from Brassfield Winery to Bartlett Springs Road are unknown at this time.
Island Drive: Closed from Highway 20 to the bridge due to flooding.
Keys Boulevard: Closed due to flooding.
Lake Street: Closed due to flooding.
Old Long Valley Road: Open with slide activity.
Widgeon Way: Closed from the Plaza to Shady Lane due to tree across the roadway.
COBB
Maple Shadows: Closed at the south end from Highway 175 to Parnassus due to culvert failure.
Socrates Mine Road: Road slip out at MPM 3.8. Down to one lane in this area.
KELSEYVILLE
Bell Hill Road: Closed at Adobe Creek low water crossing.
Park Drive: Closed to through traffic due to flooding.
LAKEPORT (CITY)
All city boat launches remain closed.
Library Park continues to be closed due to the extreme danger and flood conditions.
City parking lots at Third Street, Fourth Street and Fifth Street are closed.
– Esplanade Street.
– K Street.
– Konocti Avenue.
– Lupoyoma Avenue.
– Helena Avenue.
– Lily Cove Avenue.
– Oak Knoll Avenue.
– E Street.
– Martin Street from N. Forbes Street to Russell Street.
Giselman Street from Lakeshore Boulevard to Sayre Street: Closed due to flooding. A detour has been set up: Northbound traffic will use Green Street to Sayer Street to Giselman Street, southbound traffic will use Giselman Street to Sayer Street to Green Street. Please drive with caution on these streets as there will be school children using them.
Lakeshore Boulevard: Closed to all traffic from Giselman to the north city limit boundary at Beach Lane. Lakeshore Boulevard across from Jones Street appears to be undermined and may be structurally unsafe. Avoid the area.
Royale Avenue: Closed to all vehicles at Pike Drive.
LAKEPORT
Eickhoff Road: Closed due to flooding. Detour is open for local traffic only.
Hendricks Road: Open with flooding.
Hill Road: Closed between Sutter Lakeside Hospital entrance and Lakeshore Boulevard due to mudslides across the roadway.
Lakeshore Boulevard: Closed from Park Way to Alterra Drive due to flooding.
Lakeshore Boulevard: Closed from Park Way to 2,500 feet north due to flooding and a power pole leaning into the roadway.
Reeves Lane: Closed at Land’s End due to flooding.
Scotts Valley Road: Closed at Hendricks Drive due to flooding.
LOWER LAKE
Morgan Valley Road: Closed at the Lake/Napa line due to numerous trees and mud slides on the Napa County side.
NICE
Lakeshore Boulevard: Closed from Stokes Avenue to Carson Street due to flooding.
Nice-Lucerne Cutoff: Closed due to flooding.
Stokes Avenue: Closed from Stokes Court to Nice-Lucerne Cutoff due to flooding.
UPPER LAKE
Bachelor Valley Road: Open with flooding.
Bartlett Springs Road: Closed at MPM 18.0 due to mudslide.
Elk Mountain Road: Roadway closed at MPM 29.6 due to road washout. No estimate of when road will be reopened.
Laurel Dell Road: Currently open with closure pending due to flooding.
Main Street: Open with flooding.
Scotts Valley Road: Closed at Highway 20 to Hendricks Road due to flooding.
Witter Springs Road: Open with flooding.
COLUSA COUNTY
Highway 20: One-way controlled traffic from 5.5 miles east of the junction of Highway 16 to “E” Street in Williams due to flooding. One-way controlled traffic from Husted Road in Williams to Will S. Green Avenue in Colusa.
NAPA COUNTY
Diamond Mountain Road: Closed at the intersection with S Fork Diamond Mountain Road due to a downed tree. The tree hit AT&T lines and AT&T has been notified.
Mt. Veeder Road: The 3000 block of Mt. Veeder Road is closed due to downed trees and power lines.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Lake County News reports
County plans Feb. 26 meeting on Clear Lake status, emergency restrictions
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Water Resources Department will convene a public meeting on Sunday, Feb. 26, to discuss the current flooding situation on Clear Lake and emergency restrictions the county has implemented while the lake remains in flood stage.
The meeting will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport. Entrance to the meeting will be from the side door located on Third Street.
This meeting will also be available via live stream on the Lake County OES Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LakeCountyOES/ .
The purpose of the meeting is to gather public comment and input on the recent series of urgency ordinances related to boating on Clear Lake during the flood emergency and what a permanent ordinance should address.
Water Resources also will present information on the current status of Clear Lake in terms of lake levels, dam discharges, and the effect of foreseeable precipitation and how long before the lake levels might return to more normal lake levels.
For more information, please contact the Water Resources Department at 707-263-2344 or the Water Resources Director Phil Moy via email at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Redbud Audubon Society has collaborated with two other Audubon Society chapters for six years to conduct a conservation project for Western and Clark’s grebes.
Grebes are loved for their amazing courtship displays where they “dance” in synchronized pairs across the surface of Clear Lake. These water birds have been favorites of Lake County residents for decades.
The grebe program is the February installment of the Lake County Library’s “Know Lake County” free monthly lecture series.
On Saturday, Feb. 25, at 2 p.m., Marilyn Waits, a former president of the Redbud Audubon Society, will present a program about the grebe conservation project that she has managed since it began in 2010.
The program will take place at the Lakeport branch of the Lake County Library located at 1425 N. High St.
The presentation will include a video of grebe behaviors on Clear Lake and photos of the courtship, nesting, and parenting activities that are part of the breeding season.
Grebes breed on Clear Lake during the summer in large colonies of floating nests, sometimes numbering in thousands of birds in a colony.
During incubation, the male and female take turns sitting on the nest, and once the chicks are born, the parents carry them on their backs for the first weeks of life.
The grebe conservation project seeks to educate boaters, jet-skiers, water-skiers, fishermen and the general public about protecting the grebe colonies.
The conservation project also includes a research component that Dr. Floyd Hayes, head of the Biology Department at Pacific Union College in Angwin, and his student interns conduct.
Hayes and the students monitor the number of colonies, nests, and adult and juvenile birds each year, compiling valuable data for future researchers.
Waits will present information about Redbud Audubon Society’s annual Heron Days when pontoon boat tours carry participants onto Clear Lake to observe the grebes in their native habitat and to see great blue herons in their tree-top nesting colonies.
This year’s Heron Days will take place April 29 to 30 and May 6 to 7. Waits will also briefly explain other contributions Redbud Audubon Society has made to Lake County since its start in 1975.
The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and Facebook at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary .
For more information call 707-263-8817.
Jan Cook works for the Lake County Library.
LCNews
Award winning journalism on the shores of Clear Lake.
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