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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The State Water Resources Control Board is planning a series of scoping meetings next week as part of its work to prepare environmental documents for the proposed decommissioning of the Potter Valley Project.
The project, located in Lake and Mendocino counties, consists of the Scott Dam and the Cape Horn Dam, both of which are located on the upper main stem of the Eel River, as well as the Potter Valley powerhouse, the 80,000-acre-foot Lake Pillsbury in Lake County, the Van Arsdale Reservoir, a fish passage structure and salmon and steelhead counting station at the Cape Horn Dam, and and 5,600 acres of land.
Pacific Gas and Electric, which has owned the project since 1930, filed the final surrender application and decommissioning plan for the project with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, in July.
That’s part of the process that PG&E is following in its effort to remove the dams.
FERC has not yet responded to PG&E’s final license surrender application.
At the same time, the State Water Resources Control Board is preparing an environmental impact report, or EIR, for the project’s proposed surrender and decommissioning.
The State Water Board has planned several public scoping meetings during which it will take public input.
The meetings will take place as follows:
• 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, in-person only, Ukiah Valley Conference Center, Cabernet 1 and 2 Rooms, 200 South School St., Ukiah.
• 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, in-person only, North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board Office, DCJ Hearing Room, 5550 Skylane Boulevard, Suite A, Santa Rosa.
• 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, in-person and virtual, CalEPA Building, Byron Sher Auditorium, 1001 I St., second floor, Sacramento. To attend via Zoom: https://waterboards.zoom.us/j/86984608826; call-in number: +1 669 444 9171 US; meeting ID: 869 8460 8826.
The State Water Board said it is seeking comments from trustee agencies, responsible agencies, tribes, and interested persons concerning the scope and content of the environmental information to be included in the EIR.
Comments concerning the scope and content of the environmental information to be included in the EIR for the proposed project that are not provided at a scoping meeting are due by 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3.
Title your comments as “Potter Valley NOP Comments” and send them to
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced two new state symbols, signing legislation establishing the bigberry manzanita as the state shrub and the giant garter snake as the state snake.
“Our state symbols celebrate California's uniqueness, especially our distinctive ecosystems. California is a global biodiversity hotspot, with both the highest total number of species and the highest number of endemic species in the United States — including our new state shrub and snake,” Newsom said.
Bigberry manzanita
AB 581, by Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura), designates the bigberry manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca) as the official state shrub.
The bigberry manzanita, a shrub almost exclusively native to California, possesses unique abilities and traits that make it highly adaptable to wildfire-prone land, including rapid regeneration after fire exposure and fire-triggered seed germination.
The plant’s extensive root system helps resist soil erosion, yet thrives in dry, nutrient-poor soils — a useful tool to prevent mud or landslides, especially in wildfire burn scars.
Giant garter snake
SB 765 by Senator Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks) establishes the giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas) as the state snake.
A description of the snake provided by U.S. Fish and Wildlife said its coloration is “olive to brown with a cream, yellow or orange stripe running down its back, and two light colored stripes running along each side.”
The population of the giant garter snake has declined by more than 90% in the last century — it was listed as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act in 1971, and the Federal Endangered Species Act in 1993.
This species is endemic to California, found only in the Central Valley.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife reported that the giant garter snake’s current range extends from Butte and Glenn counties in the northern Sacramento Valley to Fresno County in the south. They are found in natural waterways and agriculture wetlands such as canals and rice fields.
Officials said only about 5% of the giant garter snake’s historical wetland habitat acreage remains available to it.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Clearlake Animal Control is offering many dogs to loving homes this week.
The shelter has 46 adoptable dogs listed on its website.
This week’s dogs include “Jupiter,” a German shepherd mix who is waiting for the right person to come and love him.
Shelter staff said he is neutered, up to date on his vaccines and microchipped.
The shelter is located at 6820 Old Highway 53. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
For more information, call the shelter at 707-762-6227, email
This week’s adoptable dogs are featured below.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
The California Department of Public Health, or CDPH, is reminding all Californians that vaccines against respiratory viruses like COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus are the most effective and safest ways to protect themselves against severe illness this winter.
Last month, CDPH, in coordination with the West Coast Health Alliance, or WCHA, announced its recommendations on winter virus immunizations.
In response to confusion and a lack of evidence-based changes from the federal government, California updated its state coverage laws to ensure continued access to vaccinations.
The state’s new Public Health for All website provides clear guidance based on transparent and science-based information from the nation’s most reputable professional medical organizations.
“Prioritizing transparency and a reliance on science continues to be a core value in our mission to provide Californians with the information, guidance, and recommendations they need to protect themselves and their families, especially as we head into fall and winter respiratory virus season,” said Dr. Erica Pan, CDPH director and state Public Health officer. “Vaccines continue to provide the safest and most effective protection against severe illness from these respiratory viruses. We remain committed to making sure Californians can choose and access these vaccines.”
Coverage and availability
CDPH’s recommended vaccines will continue to be covered by health care insurers regulated by the State of California and can be received at your local pharmacy, from your health care provider, or through other authorized vaccine providers at no cost.
To schedule your vaccine appointment, contact your health care provider, local pharmacy, or visit myturn.ca.gov.
CDPH immunization recommendations
COVID-19
• Children: All children 6-23 months; All children 2-18 years with risk factors or never vaccinated against COVID-19; All children who are in close contact with others with risk factors; All children who choose protection
• Adults: All adults age 65 years and older; All adults ages 19-64 years with risk factors; All adults who are in close contact with others with risk factors; All adults who choose protection
• Pregnancy: All planning pregnancy, pregnant, postpartum, or lactating
Influenza
• Children: All children 6 months and older
• Adults: All adults 19 years or older
• Pregnancy: All planning pregnancy, pregnant, postpartum, or lactating
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
• Children: All children 8 months or younger; All children 8-19 months with risk factors
• Adults: All adults 75 years and older; All adults 50-74 years with risk factors
• Pregnancy: Pregnant between 32-36 weeks gestational age
A list of risk factors is available at CDPH’s Public Health for All webpage.
New dashboards promote clarity and information
In addition to the new Public Health for All webpage, and in alignment with the WCHA’s commitment to transparency and proven science, CDPH has also launched two new interactive dashboards to share the most up-to-date data on respiratory viruses across the state.
The first dashboard is a comprehensive Respiratory Virus Dashboard website. This page provides information on disease activity and severity for COVID-19, Flu, and RSV across the state and includes test positivity, hospitalization and wastewater levels, as well as other more detailed information. This data will be available at the state and regional level.
The second is a comprehensive update to the existing Wastewater Surveillance Dashboard, which now includes additional respiratory virus surveillance data from around California.
For more information on immunization requirements and resources, visit CDPH's Public Health for All webpage. To access both new dashboards, visit CDPH’s Respiratory Viruses page.