How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
The coffee-and-cake reception for John Whitehead will take place from 4:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, at the Lakeport Fire Station at 445 N. Main St.
Whitehead served on the Lakeport Fire Protection District Board of Directors for 29 years.
Community members are invited to show up to enjoy some cake. No RSVP is required.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The committee, or LEDAC, will meet via Zoom from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The meeting also will be available via Zoom.
The meeting ID is 842 2886 1335, pass code is 594383 or join by phone, 1 669 900 6833.
The meeting is open to the public.
Chair Wilda Shock said there will be reports from organizations and agencies, and elections will be conducted for chair, vice chair and secretary.
The group also will discuss the annual business walk and plan for the presentation to the City Council, and get updates on the status of Vista Point shopping center, seaplanes, programs and activities for 2024.
LEDAC’s next meeting will be March 13.
LEDAC advocates for a strong and positive Lakeport business community and acts as a conduit between the city and the community for communicating the goals, activities and progress of Lakeport’s economic and business programs.
Members are Chair Wilda Shock, Vice Chair Denise Combs and Secretary JoAnn Saccato, along with Bonnie Darling, Jeff Davis, Candy De Los Santos, Bill Eaton, Monica Flores, Pam Harpster, Laura McAndrews Sammel, Bob Santana and Tim Stephens. City staff who are members include City Manager Kevin Ingram and Community Development Department representatives.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The first manual measurement of California’s snowpack took place on Tuesday.
It shows a snowpack that’s a fraction of what it was at this time last year, which is raising concern for water supply and fire risk.
As of Saturday night, the California Department of Water Resources’ statewide snow water content report showed that the snowpack is at 33% of normal.
That breaks down as 37% for the Northern Sierra, 33% for the Central Sierra and 25% for the Southern Sierra.
At this time last year, the Northern Sierra was 145% of normal, the Central Sierra was 188% and the Southern Sierra was at 200%, for a statewide average of 188%.
Kaitlyn Trudeau, a senior research associate in climate science for Climate Central, said there are important differences in conditions to remember when comparing the start of 2024 to the beginning of 2023.
Late 2022 and early 2023 were marked by heavy winter storms — driven by a series of atmospheric rivers — that dropped both heavy rain and snow across Lake County and the region.
Trudeau said during that time there were nine major atmospheric rivers which is what resulted in the big snow amounts in the Sierras.
In Lake County, snow hit particularly hard in late February after still more atmospheric rivers hit.
“Last year was really exceptional, and those storms were just packed with moisture,” she said, adding they also were colder.
Those bigger storms also led to massive flooding in some areas.
Another key difference between this year and last, said Trudeau, is that none of California is now in drought, while at the start of 2023, all of the state was in drought.
This year, the reservoir levels also are a lot higher at the start of the water year. As a result, Trudeau said the state has less pressure for water supply on it this year than last.
The Department of Water Resources is reporting that as of Saturday night, nearly all of the state’s reservoirs are above their historic average for this time of year. On the same date for 2023, reservoir levels were far lower.
Due to El Nino conditions, Trudeau said Lake County and the rest of California can expect more warm storms, and heavier downpours, with more rain and less snow.
Not only will that lead to less of a snowpack, but she said it could contribute to earlier snowmelt.
While last year’s storms lasted well into the spring, Trudeau said forecasters aren’t sure about this year. There is no parade of atmospheric rivers on tap.
“We would really like more snow,” she said, adding she’s not giving up hope that more may arrive this season.
“We probably will see more warmer storms. It’s going to make it harder to have snowpack at the same levels,” she said.
Trudeau said it’s important to think about the long-term, and to plan for the potential for multiple stretches of drought conditions.
Unless greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, Trudeau said there will continue to be increasing impacts from climate change.
“We can’t keep using the past to guide us into the future,” Trudeau said.
She has also focused on fire weather for the last several years, looking at trends over the past 50 years.
In the West, there has been a massive increase in weather with hot, dry conditions, and that sets the stage for extreme fire weather. Trudeau said the changes have led to the Southwest having two more months of fire risk.
Trudeaus said it’s really important that Californians and people in the West don’t let their guards down.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
The forum will be held beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The District 1 candidates on the ballot for the March 5 presidential primary are Bren Boyd, a chef and proprietor; John Hess, who serves on the Lake County Planning Commission; Sean Millerick, a small-business owner who serves as vice president of the Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District Board; rancher and business owner Helen Owen; and small business owner and winemaker Bryan Pritchard.
All five candidates have confirmed they will participate.
District 1 represents the south county, from Middletown up to a portion of the city of Clearlake. Incumbent Moke Simon is not seeking reelection.
The forum is being presented by the Lower Lake Community Action Group, the city of Clearlake and Lake County News.
Lake County News Editor and Publisher Elizabeth Larson will moderate.
Questions may be submitted ahead of time to
The forum will be broadcast on PEG TV, Channel 8.
The District 1 candidates also will be featured at a forum during the Middletown Area Town Hall meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, at the Middletown Senior and Community Center, 21256 Washington St.
