News

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council heard the latest on the potential for electrical shutoffs during the coming fire season from Pacific Gas and Electric last week.

The council received the update on the Community Wildfire Safety Program from PG&E representative Herman Hernandez at the May 7 meeting.

Hernandez discussed the company’s real-time monitoring efforts, new and enhanced safety measures, and system hardening and resilience.

He presented a map that showed that Lakeport and other communities ringing the lake are in a lower fire risk category. However, much of Lake County is in the “Tier 2,” or elevated fire risk, category, while some areas in the south county are “Tier 3,” rated for extreme fire danger.

The Public Safety Power Shutoff Program, which debuted last year, primarily sought to shut off power in the Tier 3 extreme fire risk areas, particularly during red flag weather conditions consisting of low humidity, and high winds and hot temperatures, Hernandez said.

PG&E conducted one power shutoff in October, which impacted thousands of Lake County customers, and Hernandez said the company nearly did a second in early November.

“Last year, the scope was limited,” said Hernandez, explaining that the shutoff focused on areas with 70,000 volts and lower.

This year, the most significant change is they have put everything on the table, with up to 500,000 volt transmission lines now up for consideration for such shutoffs. At that level, it could deenergize an entire service area, which Hernandez said is “pretty significant.”

He added, “That is a worse case scenario.” As a result, the company is telling everyone to develop a plan.

Hernandez said PG&E researched what other areas – like Australia, which also has had extreme fires – are doing to deal with wildfire danger.

PG&E has created a wildfire safety operations center, which is open around the clock during wildland fire season, and also is sometimes activated for floods and big storms, he said.

They’re also installing new weather systems. More than 1,300 are slated to be installed across PG&E’s service area. Hernandez said that, so far, Lake County has four – one in Clearlake, one in Kelseyville and the others in Middletown. Four more are expected to be installed in Lake County this year.

Hernandez said they’re also installing high definition cameras to help with monitoring. There are plans for 600 such cameras systemwide by 2022. Nine were installed last year – one is in Lake County – with another 100 to be installed this year.

PG&E is expanding and enhancing its vegetation management, which is being done on top of its routine work. Hernandez said it includes inspecting and making sure that trees and vegetation are at least 12 feet away from power lines.

In December, PG&E started wildfire safety inspections, which include looking at power facility structures, and lines and arms, with issues fixed immediately or scheduled if they’re not an emergency, Hernandez said. Inspections are completed in a variety of ways – using people, drones and helicopters.

Hernandez said PG&E has completed a beta project in Sonoma County, undergrounding half a mile of transmission lines, which cost $1 million.

He said PG&E is putting everything on the table as it tries to figure out how to address fires.

Other measures the utility company is taking include installing stronger and more resilient poles and covered power lines, work Hernandez said is taking place in Lake County. Overall, the company is replacing 7,100 miles of lines in high fire risk areas.

The company also is focusing on new resilience zones, reconfiguring the grids to power important locations like fire and police departments and city halls during power shutoffs, and installing circuit breakers and reclosers, he said.

Hernandez then discussed what triggers shutoffs.

In 2018, the first year the power safety shutoffs were used by PG&E, the trigger was a red flag warning, which includes low humidity levels, constant winds of 25 miles per hour or more and gusts up to 45 miles per hour, he said.

PG&E’s weather stations and high definition videos will help them identify dry fuel, as will personnel on the ground, he said.

One of the biggest challenges during the first power shutoff was communication with local emergency personnel. Hernandez said that because of Sheriff Brian Martin's leadership, the company was able to improve that communication.

He said PG&E's goal, which it didn’t meet last year, is that when it sees a concerning weather system, that it calls a potential public safety power shutoff within 48 hours of the system occurring in order to warn customers and local governments.

PG&E called for two shutoffs – one that occurred and one that it canceled – within 36 hours last year, he said.

After a shutoff occurs, Hernandez said PG&E has to wait until the weather system moves through before sending out crews to begin inspecting lines. That’s why it takes a lot longer to reenergize in summer as compared to winter.

The process includes getting the weather all clear, patrolling and inspecting, isolating and repairing damage, restoring power and notifying customers, he said

Hernandez said that during the October power shutoff, there was some weather-caused damage to power infrastructure, but he couldn’t say if it would have started a fire.

“We're not saying this is going to prevent fires but we're saying it's going to keep your community safer,” he said.

City Manager Margaret Silveira asked if there were any Tier 2 or 3 areas in the city limits. Hernandez said there were small slivers. Silveira responded that there are transmission lines to those areas going through the city, which means Lakeport could be impacted.

PG&E is working to improve services and notifications to medical baseline customers during power shutoffs, but doesn’t yet have a program in place to assist small businesses, Hernandez said.

He said the company’s engineers reconfigured the power grid after October’s power shutoff, which lessened the number of customers that would be impacted in a followup event.

What they don’t yet know, and what is a big concern, is what will happen if a fire starts during a public safety power shutoff, Hernandez said.

Sheriff Martin, who attended the meeting, urged community members to have a plan because he doesn’t think Lake County will make it through this fire season without a public safety power shutoff.

A countywide public safety power shutoff is of particular concern, as Martin said the county doesn’t have sheltering capabilities beyond the most fragile populations, and 48 hours’ notice isn’t enough time to come up with a plan.

Silveira told the council that city staff is working on information to send to city residents about preparation.

PG&E customers can get more information at www.pge.com/wildfiresafety or www.prepareforpowerdown.com .

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – With the resignation of Mayor Nick Bennett on May 9, the Clearlake City Council is seeking applications from residents of the city of Clearlake to fill the vacant seat, which expires in November 2020.

The city of Clearlake is a general law city of the state of California operating under the
council/manager plan.

The city council is the legislative body and its members are the community’s decision makers.

The council approves the city’s budget and determines the level of public services and focuses on the community’s goals, major projects and such long-term considerations as community growth, financing and strategic planning.

Councilmembers receive a stipend of $300 per month.

Applicants for the vacant seat must be registered voters of the city of Clearlake.

Applications can be found on the City’s Web site at www.clearlake.ca.us or by contacting City Clerk Melissa Swanson at 707-994-8201, Extension 106.

Applications must be filed with the city clerk no later than 5 p.m. June 4.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Animal Control is at capacity this week and has dogs that immediately need new homes.

“Friends, our shelter is currently at maximum capacity,” Clearlake Animal Control reported on its Facebook page on Wednesday. “If you are missing a dog, interested in adopting or interested in fostering, we urge you to please come by the shelter. We are over flowing with amazing dogs who need loving homes or rescue.”

To find the lost/found pet section, click here.

The following dogs are ready for adoption.

‘Cadbury’

“Cadbury” is a female Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix with a smooth medium-length beige coat.

She is No. 1215.

‘Chico’

“Chico” is a male Chihuahua with a short tan and white coat.

He is No. 1943.

‘Jason’

“Jason” is a male pit bull mix with a short blond and white coat.

He is No. 1663.

‘Snowflake’

“Snowflake” is a male Chihuahua with a white coat.

He is No. 1864.

‘Tyson’

“Tyson” is a male American Staffordshire Terrier mix with a short gray and white coat.

He is No. 1863.

‘Wynn’

“Wynn” is a male American Staffordshire Terrier with a short brindle coat.

Staff said he has been at the shelter for a few months. He loves affection and is available for adoption or through the foster to adopt program.

He’s believed to be about 6 to 7 years old.

He is No. 969.

Clearlake Animal Control’s shelter is located at 6820 Old Highway 53, off Airport Road.

Hours of operation area noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The shelter is closed Sundays, Mondays and major holidays.

Call Clearlake Animal Control at 707-994-8251, Extension 1, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about adoptions.

Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or at the city’s Web site.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Cal Fire said Wednesday that its investigators have determined that November’s Camp fire – which devastated the town of Paradise in Butte County, killing dozens of people and destroying thousands of structures – was caused by power transmission lines.

The Camp fire started the morning of Nov. 8 and burned a total of 153,336 acres, destroying 18,804 structures and resulting in 85 civilian fatalities and several firefighter injuries.

It is the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history.

Cal Fire said its investigators were immediately dispatched to the Camp fire and began working to determine the origin and cause of the fire.

After a very meticulous and thorough investigation, Cal Fire said it has determined that the Camp fire was caused by electrical transmission lines owned and operated by Pacific Gas and Electric.

Cal Fire said the fire started in the early morning hours near the community of Pulga in Butte County.

The tinder dry vegetation and red flag conditions consisting of strong winds, low humidity and warm temperatures promoted this fire and caused extreme rates of spread, rapidly burning into Pulga to the east and west into Concow, Paradise, Magalia and the outskirts of east Chico, Cal Fire said.

The investigation identified a second ignition sight near the intersection of Concow Road and Rim Road. Cal Fire said the cause of the second fire was determined to be vegetation into electrical distribution lines owned and operated by PG&E. This fire was consumed by the original fire which started earlier near Pulga.

During 2018 there were more than 7,571 wildfires that burned more than 1.8 million acres within the state of California, Cal Fire said. Nearly a third of that acreage was burned in the Mendocino Complex, which burned in Lake, Mendocino, Colusa and Glenn counties.

Cal Fire said the Camp fire investigative report has been forwarded to the Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey.

PG&E’s equipment also has been identified as the source of numerous other fires around Northern California, including the Sulphur fire that burned in Clearlake and Clearlake Oaks in October 2017.

A number of local governments, including the city of Clearlake and the county of Lake, have filed suit against PG&E over those fires, but PG&E has since filed bankruptcy, which makes the future of those suits unclear.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – All decked out in his derby t-shirt, at 4 months Henry St. Clair is the newest member of the Catfish Derby organizing team.

Making his debut at a recent work meeting, Henry represents a new generation of anglers.

“I can’t wait to take him fishing,” said his dad, Matthew St. Clair. “In the meantime we’re getting him acclimated to what we do as volunteers to get everything ready for the crowd of anglers that will come in from all over California and the United States.”

Henry’s mom, Stacy St. Clair, agrees. “We want him to appreciate the value of community and to look forward to being a part of a long-standing tradition that brings people together in a wholesome, encouraging family environment.”

The Catfish Derby is on May 17, 18 and 19. It culminates on Sunday with winners announced and an old-fashioned barbecue held at the Northshore Fire Station on 12655 State Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks. Everyone is welcome.

Catfish Derby Chairman Dennis Locke said ideally 60 volunteers are needed for the three-day fishing event. “We had about 30 of our core volunteers show up at the North Shore fire station to help out last week.”

Each year volunteers gather several times before the derby begins to stuff and mail about 1,000 forms to former participants and then to prepare the individual registration packets for the kids and adults that pre-register.

“It’s a lot of work but with the support of our community volunteers, we’re always ready. This year will be no exception,” Locke said.

Along with additional supporters the core volunteers will join up again at the derby, this time to check everybody in, sell derby t-shirts, raffle tickets, weigh fish, enter data and attend to the many details that make the derby a success.

“We are blessed with a strong community of volunteers but we can always use a few more hands on deck,” Locke said.

Hailed as the biggest Catfish Derby west of the Mississippi and arguably the best-attended event of its kind in North America, the derby attracts anglers, their families and friends as well as hundreds more spectators who enjoy the family-oriented sport.

Locke said another big crowd is expected this year. “Most, about 65 percent, come from outside of Lake County,” he said. “Many are local, and many return year after year, like long time volunteer Barbara Higman. Her family has been fishing in the Derby for years.”

Higman said the derby is a tradition with her family. “My husband, Mike, loves the derby and is a past winner. Our son, Mike Jr., comes in from Lincoln every year to fish the derby. We usually have grandkids entered every year, too. For us and many others, it’s a family affair.”

The former owner of Euphoria in Clearlake Oaks, Higman appreciates the economic boost the county enjoys at derby time.

“Each year we publish a newsletter filled with ads and information that help our out-of-town guests get around,” she said. “We also hand out Lake County’s Destination Magazine and fishing regulations. It’s wonderful to see the hotels, resorts and campgrounds fill up; sales at our bait and tackle shops increase; people enjoying boating on the lake; and the restaurants, casinos and growing number of wine tasting venues get a boost from our annual tradition. Makes us feel real proud to know we’re contributing to our economy.”

Sponsored by the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Business Association, President Camille Gouldberg said the money raised goes back into the community.

“We give scholarships, help our young people cover expenses for various educational endeavors, support our football and baseball teams, help seniors, donate to our local senior center and more,” she said.

For the anglers, there’s more than $10,000 in prize money awarded to the derby winners.

First place prize is $4,000; second place is $1,000 and third is $800. A total of 20 anglers will place in the adult category with prizes scaling down to $40.

There are also two categories for children, up to 10 years and 11 to 15 years of age. The kid prizes start at $100 and scale down to $10.

In addition, another $2,500 is given out in raffle prizes.

Locke said the Derby is a broad-based community effort, three days of gathering with friends from around the lake, returning families from near and far and new faces trying out the derby for the first time.

This year a celebrity weigh-in is planned with a few local celebs. District Attorney Susan Krones, Sheriff Brian Martin and District 3 Supervisor E.J. Crandell will join in on the fun.

“The derby is a big deal in our little town. It takes a town of volunteers to put on, but we love it,” Locke said.

To help out at this year’s derby or for more information, contact Locke on the derby line, 707-596-0248 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Also visit www.clearlakeoaks.org/derby and find the derby on Facebook: Catfish Derby at the Oaks.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Tuesday the Board of Supervisors gave its support to the Habematolel Pomo tribe’s latest application to put tribally owned land into federal trust.

The Upper Lake-based tribe has applied to the Bureau of Land Management to place a half-acre parcel at 650 E. State Highway 20 in Upper Lake into trust, meaning the federal government will hold it for the tribe.

The county received an invitation from the BIA to provide comment on the application.

County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson said the trust transfer will result in only a small loss of property tax to the county, adding that the county has a memorandum of understanding with the tribe already in place.

Tribal Chair Sherry Treppa told the board that the tribe purchased the property about two years ago, took down an old mobile home and put up a new one.

She said the tribe intends to use the property for elder care and early start for children, programs that are still being developed.

Treppa said the tribe had approached the county in early 2005 and offered to enter into a government-to-government relationship with a memorandum of understanding to mitigate the impacts of its Running Creek Casino, which opened in 2012.

Through the MOU the tribe has paid the county $150,000 annually. At the same time, Treppa said the tribe has an MOU with Northshore Fire for $80,000 annually, also to mitigate impacts from the casino.

She said that her tribe hit a lot of roadblocks in its efforts to open the casino. The Habematolel Pomo was a landless tribe after the termination action by the government in the 1950s, and Treppa said the tribe had to go through the process of restoring its land base in order to build the casino.

In addition to the federal process of putting land into trust – which also was challenging – she said the tribe has a compact with the state. It was working on that compact during the economic downturn in 2008. Then, the state turned down the tribe’s first compact attempt and its casino investor reneged on the terms, trying to double the tribe’s costs.

She said the Habematolel also were challenged by other tribes in the area and around California due to a belief that their compact would have impacts on other tribes as the result of litigation then working its way through the courts.

As a result, when the tribe went through its second round to get the compact approved, it faced opposition from multiple tribes, Treppa said.

The one entity that didn’t oppose the tribe’s plans was the county, Treppa said. “You folks stood by us every time.”

She said that every time she needed a letter of support, the county was there, helping the tribe through the process. “We won’t forget that.”

As a result of a building the tribe recently constructed, which Treppa said brought $3.5 million in construction dollars to the county, the tribe offered another MOU to the county to also help the cost of law enforcement, which she said she hoped would be coming to the board soon. Treppa later told Lake County News that the new county MOU is for $25,000 annually.

The tribe also concluded work on a new MOU with Northshore Fire for an additional $25,000 a year for the new building. Treppy said the tribe worked with county counsel on both MOUs.

When the tribe’s new facility is fully built out, Treppa said it will bring 80 new jobs to the county.

She asked for the board’s support, noting that she believed the new MOU and the tribe’s contributions to the community neutralizes the loss with property tax resulting from the trust application.

This was the second trust application the board has considered from the Habematolel in the past month.

In April, the board gave unanimous support to the Habematolel moving into trust its community center at 9470 Main St., the former Westamerica Bank Upper Lake branch, as Lake County News has reported.

Treppa said Tuesday that the BIA made an error in that application, stating that it was an on-reservation acquisition, which it isn’t. So she said that revised application will have to come back to the board for approval.

Board Chair Tina Scott thanked Treppa for the tribe’s contributions to the community and the school district.

Supervisor EJ Crandell moved to approve the proposed letter to the BIA supporting the application, which Supervisor Bruno Sabatier seconded and the board approved 4-0. Supervisor Rob Brown was absent for the meeting.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.