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- Written by: Lake County News reports
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – State and local officials are continuing their response to a 90-foot vessel that grounded north of Dillon Beach in Marin County last week.
The Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response, Marin County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services and Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary are working as a unified command in the incident involving the American Challenger.
Officials said the Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders received initial reports at 8:45 a.m. Friday, March 5, that the American Challenger was being towed southward by the Tug Hunter from Puget Sound, Washington, when the Tug Hunter lost propulsion due to a rope entangling the propeller.
The 87-foot Coast Guard Cutter Hawksbill crew arrived on scene but due to weather conditions, the proximity to shore and the unknown structural integrity of the unmanned vessel, the crew could not safely board the American Challenger to connect a tow line.
At 1 a.m. Saturday, March 6, the vessel grounded on a rocky shoreline near Dillon Beach where it remains.
The initial response included an investigation to determine the amount of fuel in the vessels, with crews using drones.
On Tuesday, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said marine surveyors boarded the American Challenger to continue their inspection of the vessel’s fuel tanks by using sound tapes and paste to get an accurate reading of the amount of fuel aboard.
Due to the vessel’s instability, the process will take time to ensure the safety of the surveyors, officials said.
An environmental shoreline assessment team continued to conduct surveys in the area. There are reports of minor sheening in the immediate vicinity of the vessel and along the shoreline adjacent to the vessel. Teams are conducting cleanup efforts in that area. No additional sheening was reported during an overflight.
Four thousand feet of boom was deployed to protect sensitive habitats, including oyster beds, in Tomales Bay, as a precautionary measure. Teams have been on site to monitor the boom and the Coast Guard is broadcasting a safety marine information bulletin to inform the public of booming operations in Tomales Bay.
There have been reports of brown foam washing up along the beach, which have been assessed as normal biological material and not oil product.
All beaches remain open. Miller Boat Launch remains temporarily closed to support response operations.
There have been no confirmed reports of oiled wildlife. If oiled wildlife is seen, the public is asked not to approach and contact the Oiled Wildlife Care Network at 1-877-823-6926.
There are no impacts to commercial traffic or scheduled marine events at this time.
The response is currently being funded by the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. Federal assumption does not relieve the owner of their financial responsibilities and they may be liable for the cost of any response actions undertaken by the United States Government, officials said.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The National Weather Service’s advisory remains in effect until 4 a.m. Wednesday above 2,000 feet.
The agency said a cold upper level storm system will gradually move south along the West Coast through midweek, bringing an extended period of showery weather and snow accumulations of between 4 and 12 inches across the mountains.
On Monday, modest rainfall was recorded around the county. The National Weather Service’s observation stations reported the following 24-hour rainfall totals in inches through 12 a.m. Tuesday:
– Bartlett Springs: 0.10.
– Cache Creek near Lower Lake: 0.07.
– County line (at Colusa side): 0.09.
– Hidden Valley Lake: 0.17.
– Kelseyville: 0.05
– Knoxville Creek: 0.07.
– Lyons Valley (northwest of Lakeport): 0.13.
– Soda Creek: 0.29.
– Upper Lake: 0.24.
– Whispering Pines: 0.20.
Snow also was reported by the California Highway Patrol in the area of Harrington Flat Road in Cobb.
The National Weather Service said showers are forecast to bring up to half an inch of rain in the lower elevations on Tuesday, with between 3 and 7 inches of snow expected in higher elevations in northern Lake County.
On Wednesday, another quarter of an inch is forecast while up to 2 inches of snow is expected to fall in the mountains, forecasters said.
Forecasters expect heavy showers and thunderstorms in Lake County throughout the day on Wednesday, with the forecast noting the possibility for small hail.
Light winds are forecast on both Tuesday and Wednesday.
Foggy conditions are in the forecast during the day Thursday to be followed by frost on Thursday night, Friday morning and later on Friday night as well.
The National Weather Service said conditions will clear on Saturday, with a slight chance of showers on Sunday to be followed by mostly sunny conditions on Monday.
Despite the rain, Clear Lake’s level continues to be well below its seasonal average.
On Monday, Lake County Water Resources said Clear Lake was at 1.03 feet Rumsey, the special measure for Clear Lake, compared to nearly 3.60 feet Rumsey a year ago.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Everette Reep, 51, was the driver in the solo-vehicle wreck, the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office reported.
The CHP said that at 9:45 p.m. Saturday, Reep was driving a 2020 Ford F350 pickup eastbound on Highway 20, west of Garden Court, at an unknown speed.
Due to reasons that the CHP said are still under investigation, Reep allowed the pickup to travel off the roadway, which overturned and partially ejected Reep from the vehicle.
The F350 came to rest on its driver's side against a residence on Garden Court, pinning Reep under the pickup until he could be extricated by members of Northshore Fire Department, the report said.
The CHP said Reep suffered suspected major injuries as a result of the collision and was flown from a landing zone at Cal Fire’s Station 40 in Clearlake Oaks to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital by CalStar 4 air ambulance.
An inspection of the pickup at the scene indicated Reep was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision, the CHP said.
The CHP said neither alcohol nor drugs are suspected to have been factors in the crash.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
The virtual town hall will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. Pacific Time on Thursday, March 11.
This will be the third virtual town hall of the 117th Congress and the 19th in a series of virtual town halls since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Thompson will discuss the American Rescue Plan, comprehensive COVID relief legislation that is being considered on the House floor this week.
All constituents of California’s Fifth Congressional District and members of the press are invited to join.
This event will be held over Zoom and interested participants must email Thompson’s office at
The event also will be streamed on Facebook Live via Thompson’s page, https://www.facebook.com/RepMikeThompson/.
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.