LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has submitted to the state its report on the action it took to cut power due to hazardous weather conditions in mid-October, a decision that impacted tens of thousands of customers in Lake County and elsewhere around Northern California.
The company’s 21-page report on the public safety power shutoff to the California Public Utilities Co., dated Oct. 31, was released publicly the same day. The full report is posted below.
“Ultimately, the decision to shut off power was made for one reason – to keep our communities and customers safe and help reduce the risk of wildfires,” PG&E said in its report.
The company currently is being sued by a number of local governments impacted by the October 2017 wildland fires. The Lake County Board of Supervisors and the Clearlake City Council have both voted to join litigation against the company over the Sulphur fire, as Lake County News has reported.
PG&E’s first-ever public safety power shutoff occurred from Oct. 14 to 17. It said an estimated 60,000 customers in the North Bay and Sierra Foothills were impacted.
In Lake County the shutoff resulted in the closure of the Kelseyville, Konocti, Lakeport and Middletown school districts, the Lake County Office of Education’s Clearlake Creativity and Hance Schools, and the Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College in Clearlake. The Lucerne and Upper Lake school districts stayed in session as the shutoff did not impact those communities.
Lake County News received reports from community members in the shutoff areas raising concerns due to their need for medical equipment and devices such as CPAP machines.
“The impact of this was pretty significant,” said Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin, who was critical of PG&E’s efforts at notifying local officials and providing accurate and consistent information.
Initiating the shutoff
In the report, PG&E stated that it made “the difficult decision to proactively de-energize portions of its service territory,” adding that the decision was “in the interest of public safety” and in accordance with CPUC Resolution ESRB-8, passed by the CPUC in July.
That resolution provided guidelines that electric utilities must follow and strengthened public safety requirements when a utility decides to de-energize its facilities during dangerous conditions.
The CPUC resolution also requires PG&E and other utilities to meet with the local communities that may be impacted by a future de-energization event before putting the practice in effect in a particular area, and requires customer notifications prior to a de-energization event, if feasible.
“This decision did not come easily, was not made lightly, and was exercised as an option of last resort,” the PG&E report said of the shutoff.
The report said that PG&E activated its Emergency Operations Center on Saturday, Oct. 13, in response to weather conditions with increasing fire risk conditions, including forecasted high winds and extremely low humidity. The company said it also communicated with 97,000 customers across 12 counties where the forecasted weather and wildfire potential indicated high likelihood of impacts to the company’s equipment and facilities.
“Ultimately, PG&E made the decision to temporarily turn off power for customer safety to about 60,000 customers in seven counties. Power was turned off for safety on Sunday, October 14, beginning at approximately 20:00 in the North Bay, followed later that evening in the Sierra Foothills. A PSPS event was determined to be unnecessary for the remaining approximately 37,000 customers who also had been notified of the possibility of a PSPS event on Saturday, October 13,” the report said.
As to the number of Lake County residents actually impacted, an approximate estimate has so far not been given.
PG&E had previously estimated that 12,000 customers were impacted by the shutoff.
In response to questions about that number from Lake County News, PG&E spokeswoman Deanna Contreras said Saturday that she confirmed that approximately 12,136 meters – or residential and business accounts – were impacted by the shutoff in Lake County.
“Some of those meters are what’s called a master meter and one meter would serve a trailer park, for example. Those residents pay the landlord, manager or owner directly. And they most likely would not have individual accounts, so PG&E would not be able to identify them,” Contreras said.
Of those 12,136 customers on those impacted Lake County circuits, there were 10,183 residential customers; 1,116 commercial customers; 520 customers on “medical baseline,” a financial assistance program for residential customers that have special energy needs due to certain qualifying medical conditions; and 837 reported as “other.” A small portion of that overall total may also include Napa County, as one of the Middletown circuits also serves the Calistoga area.
PG&E reported that there also were 19 schools, 19 health care facilities – including hospitals – and 80 water agencies in Lake County that were in the shutoff area.
Brian Bottari, a PG&E spokesman, told the Board of Supervisors in October that he estimated Lake County had meters numbering in the “high 20,000s.”
The process of restoring power
PG&E’s report said that overnight Sunday, Oct. 14, and into the morning of Monday, Oct. 15, portions of the North Bay region experienced wind gusts of approximately 50 miles per hour. In the Sierra, wind gusts of up to approximately 45 miles per hour, with 120 mile-per-hour gusts recorded at the Kirkwood Ski Resort in the Sierra.
On Monday, Oct. 15, once conditions had improved and were safe, PG&E crews began to inspect more than 3,400 miles of PG&E transmission and distribution power lines.
Contreras said that crews first inspected substations before the thousands of miles of transmission line were inspected via helicopters, vehicles and on foot. The crews looked for potential damage to the line, poles and towers, and once they were determined safe to operate, the infrastructure was tested.
The inspections revealed wind-related damage to PG&E equipment, including 18 damaged spans of conductor, five 5 damaged cross-arms, three damaged insulators, two damaged fuses, one damaged transformer and one damaged pole, all of which were repaired prior to the lines being reenergized, according to PG&E’s report.
In response to inquiries from Lake County News, PG&E has not so far identified any locations in Lake County where damage was found.
However, the report showed pictures of damaged equipment including a cross arm and conductor damaged by a split tree in Foresthill in Placer County and a primary conductor damaged by a fallen tree limb near Calistoga in Sonoma County.
The report explained that, by midnight on Monday, Oct. 15, power to approximately 40,000 customers had been safely restored. By 11 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, nearly all customers were restored, with the remaining three dozen customers having their power restored by 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17.
As of Oct. 24, PG&E reported that it has received 146 claims for damages due to the shutoff. Those include 25 for business interruption/ economic impact, 17 for property damage; two for property damage with business interruption/ economic impact, and 102 food loss. however, the company sait it has “stated publicly that because of the safety-related nature of PSPS events, customers will not be reimbursed for associated losses.”
Sheriff Martin said there were widespread reports of businesses and individuals losing food and, as a result, suffering financial loss, noting that the impact was far wider than just the immediate customers whose power was turned off.
Evaluating the shutoff
Once all customers had power restored, PG&E said began a five-day evaluation process to look at what could be improved. It also participated in public meetings.
One of those meetings was with the Lake County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 16, during which county officials voiced their concerns about how the shutoff was handled, including a dearth of clear communication or issues with conflicting information, as Lake County News has reported.
The PG&E report to the CPUC said the company notified a number of local leaders directly about the shutoff: County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson, Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta, Sheriff Martin, Supervisor Jim Steele, Supervisor Moke Simon, Supervisor Rob Brown, Congressman Mike Thompson’s district aide Brad Onorato, Lake County Office of Emergency Services Manager Dale Carnathan, District 2 county supervisor-elect and Clearlake Mayor Bruno Sabatier, and Lakeport City Manager Margaret Silveira.
An after action meeting involving local officials and PG&E took place at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport on Oct. 25. The meeting was not open to the press.
Later that same day, Clearlake City Manager Greg Folsom told the Clearlake City Council that he and Clearlake Police Chief Andrew White attended the meeting, which he called “constructive,” and looked at ways to better handle such a shutdown if it should happen again.
Sheriff Martin, who had faulted PG&E for its mixed communications and lack of consistency in its information, told Lake County News in a Friday interview that PG&E representatives at the Oct. 25 meeting “were pretty receptive to some of our suggestions.”
He said the meeting covered ways to improve outreach and looked at impact. Among those in attendance were representatives Martin and Huchingson, Lake County OES, the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport, Lakeport Unified School District, the Lake County Office of Education, Red Cross, Clearlake Police, Lakeport Police the California Highway Patrol, Lake County Fire, Lake County Public Health, local dialysis clinics and the Lake County Chamber of Commerce.
“I was appreciative that PG&E showed up and explained it,” Martin said.
Martin said county officials also told PG&E that it was creating a situation that has an impact on public resources and so the company may need to contribute financially to cover that.
As for his conclusion about the effectiveness of the shutoff, Martin isn’t sure.
“Did it prevent a fire? Who knows?” he said.
However, PG&E’s report on the shutoff said it continues to view the public safety power shutoff as “a tool of last resort” in its overall wildfire mitigation strategy.
“Knowing the potential impacts of this safety measure on our customers and communities, PG&E views this as an extreme measure that should be taken with great care and will continue to learn from the use of PSPS to develop and implement improvements,” the report stated.
Contreras said PG&E plans to focus on notifying customers earlier, providing local officials and first responders with more detailed information, notifying communities of estimated time of restoration more, and improving the processes to reduce restoration times.
Below is a list of the circuits impacting Lake County and how they were impacted by the public safety power shutoff, according to the PG&E report to the CPUC.
IMPACTED LAKE COUNTY CIRCUITS
CLEAR LAKE-1101 Tiers: Tier 2, Tier 3 Start date and time: 10/14/18 at 20:30 Restoration date and time: 10/15/2018 at 16:13 Areas impacted: Kelseyville, Lakeport, Finley Number of customers impacted: 491 (residential, 300; commercial, 98; medical baseline, 9; other, 93)
HIGHLANDS-1102 Tiers: Tier 2, Tier 3 Start date and time: 10/14/18 at 20:40 Restoration date and time: 10/16/2018 at 18:21 Areas impacted: Clearlake Oaks Number of customers impacted: 25 (residential, 15; commercial, 15; medical baseline, 0; other, 3)
KONOCTI-1102 Tiers: Tier 2, Tier 3 Start date and time: 10/14/18 at 20:28 Restoration date and time: 10/16/2018 at 12:58 Areas impacted: Cobb, Kelseyville, Lower Lake, Middletown Number of customers impacted: 2,800 (residential, 2,322; commercial, 283; medical baseline, 91; other, 195)
MIDDLETOWN-1101 Tiers: Tier 2, Tier 3 Start date and time: 10/14/18 at 20:39 Restoration date and time: 10/16/2018 at 15:40 Areas impacted: Calistoga, Cobb, Kelseyville, Middletown Number of customers impacted: 1,999 (residential, 1,565; commercial, 274; medical baseline, 58; other, 160)
MIDDLETOWN-1102 Tiers: Tier 2, Tier 3 Start date and time: 10/14/18 at 20:39 Restoration date and time: 10/15/18 at 17:49 Areas impacted: Hidden Valley Lake, Middletown Number of customers impacted: 2,342 (residential, 2,074; commercial, 199; medical baseline, 100; other, 69)
MIDDLETOWN-1103 Tiers: Tier 2, Tier 3 Start date and time: 10/14/18 at 20:39 Restoration date and time: 10/15/18 at 17:49 Areas impacted: Middletown Number of customers impacted: 156 (residential, 96; commercial, 37; medical baseline, 3; other, 23)
REDBUD-1101 Tiers: Tier 2, Tier 3 Start date and time: 10/14/18 at 20:39 Restoration date and time: 10/15/18 at 17:50 Areas impacted: Clearlake Oaks Number of customers impacted: 916 (residential, 780; commercial, 52; medical baseline, 48; other, 84)
REDBUD-1102 Tiers: Tier 2, Tier 3 Start date and time: 10/14/18 at 20:35 Restoration date and time: 10/15/18 at 17:53 Areas impacted: Clearlake, Clearlake Oaks, Clearlake Park Number of customers impacted: 3,407 (residential, 3,031; commercial, 166; medical baseline, 211; other, 210)
KONOCTI MIDDLETOWN 60 kV LINE Tiers: Tier 2, Tier 3 State date and time: 10/14/18 at 20:39 Restoration date and time: 10/15/2018 at 11:19 Areas impacted: Not applicable Number of customers impacted: Not applicable
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.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Two possible additions to Lake County Code that will offer new tools to address illegal dumping and weed abatement will go before the Board of Supervisors this week.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8 and online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
In an untimed item, the board will discuss and consider a draft ordinance adding Division 3 to Chapter 9 establishing fines and penalties for the illegal disposal of garbage/refuse and creating an illegal dumping prevention program.
The illegal dumping program would seek to use lighting, surveillance cameras, educational materials, signage, continued abatement efforts “and the encouragement of community collaboration to prevent and respond to the threat to public health, safety and welfare resulting from said illegal dumping,” the proposed ordinance states.
All funds that would be used to support the program would come from collection of fines and penalties associated with the ordinance’s enforcement.
The ordinance also states that it’s the board’s intent to begin the initiation of mandatory garbage collection throughout the unincorporated areas of Lake County by presenting it to voters after Lake County Public Services devises a plan that’s approved by the board.
Also on Tuesday, in another untimed item, the board will discuss and consider a draft ordinance adding Article VIII to Chapter 13 of the Lake County Code regarding hazardous vegetation abatement.
That proposed ordinance sets out a procedure for getting compliance and dealing with unimproved parcels.
The full agenda follows.
CONTRACT CHANGE ORDERS
5.1: Continued from Oct. 23, consideration of Change Order No. 13 for Eastlake Elementary SRTS & CDBG Project, in Clearlake Oaks, CA, Bid No. 16-16, Federal Aid No. SRTSL-5914 (097) for an increase of $15,798.14, for a revised contract amount of $5,399,820.83, and authorize the Chair to sign.
5.2: Continued from Oct. 23, consideration of Change Order No. 14 for Eastlake Elementary SRTS & CDBG Project, in Clearlake Oaks, CA, Bid No. 16-16, Federal Aid No. SRTSL-5914 (097) for an increase of $30,982.79, for a revised contract amount of $5,430,803.62, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.3: Continued from Oct. 23, consideration of Change Order No. 15 for Eastlake Elementary SRTS & CDBG Project, in Clearlake Oaks, CA, Bid No. 16-16, Federal Aid No. SRTSL-5914 (097) for an increase of $43,390.86, for a revised contract amount of $5,474,194.48, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.4: Continued from Oct. 23, consideration of Change Order No. 16 for Eastlake Elementary SRTS & CDBG Project, in Clearlake Oaks, CA, Bid No. 16-16, Federal Aid No. SRTSL-5914 (097) for an increase of $35,650.45, for a revised contract amount of $5,509,844.93, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.5: Continued from Oct. 23, consideration of Change Order No. 17 for Eastlake Elementary SRTS & CDBG Project, in Clearlake Oaks, CA, Bid No. 16-16 Federal Aid No. SRTSL-5914 (097) for a decrease of $16,347.72, for a revised contract amount of $5,493,497.21, and authorize the chair to sign.
CONSENT AGENDA
6.1: Adopt proclamation commending Jill Shaul for her years of service to the county of Lake.
6.2: (a) Waive the consultant selection policy; (b) award the contract to conduct Lake County’s Comprehensive Classification and Total Compensation Study to CPS-HR, in the amount of $100,000 and authorize the county administrative officer to sign.
6.3: Adopt resolution approving Agreement No. 18-0250 with the state of California, Department of Food and Agriculture and authorizing the execution of the contractor certification clause and signatures for insect trapping activities for FY 2018-19.
6.4: Adopt resolution appointing directors of certain special district boards in lieu of holding a general district election on Nov. 6, 2018.
6.6: Sitting as Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, approve an exception to Lake County Sewer Code Sec. 205, allowing APN No. 050-401-12 to remain on a private septic system until such time system is in need of repairs or replacement, at which time, the property will be required to connect to the sewer system at owner's expense.
6.7: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2018-132 establishing position allocations for Fiscal Year 2018-2019, Budget Unit 6022, County Library.
6.8: (a) Waive the informal bidding procedures in accordance with County Code Section 2-38.2 making a determination that competitive bidding would not be in the public’s interest because of the unique nature of the services; and (b) authorize the Public Services director to issue a purchase order to Dream Ride Elevator in the amount of $94,178.
6.9: Approve amendment one to the agreement between the county of Lake and Quincy Engineering Inc. for engineering services for replacement of Cooper Creek Bridge at Witter Springs Road (14C-0119) in Lake County.
6.10: Continued from Oct. 23, approve Amendment No. 8 to the agreement for engineering services for four bridge replacement projects and two bridge rehabilitation projects in Lake County with Quincy Engineering Inc. in the amount not to exceed $1,370,973.05 (an increase of $6,965.59) and authorize the chair to sign.
6.11: Continued from Oct. 23, approve Amendment No. 2 to the agreement for construction management services for the Eastlake Elementary Safe Routes to School & Community Development Block Grant Project with 4 Leaf, Inc. for an increase of $153,908.70, and an amount not to exceed $351,325.61; and authorize the chair to sign.
6.12: Approve the FY 2018 Emergency Management Performance Grant application in the amount of $138,133, authorize Sheriff Brian Martin to sign the grant subaward face sheet and the subrecipient grants management assessment form; and County Administrative Officer Carol J. Huchingson to act as the authorized agent on behalf of the county, sign the grant assurances, governing body resolution and FFATA Financial Disclosure document.
TIMED ITEMS
7.2, 9:06 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation commending Jill Shaul for her years of service to the county of Lake.
7.3, 9:10 a.m.: Swearing in of newly appointed Correctional Officers Robin Deveau and Anthony Hodges.
7.4, 9:13 a.m.: Consideration of continuing a proclamation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer due to the Pawnee fire incident.
7.5, 9:14 a.m.: (a) Consideration of continuing a proclamation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer due to the Mendocino Complex fire.
7.6, 9:15 a.m.: Consideration of continuing a proclamation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex fire incident (River and Ranch fires); and and (b) update on the Mendocino Complex - River and Ranch fires recovery.
7.7, 9:16 a.m.: Consideration of continuing a proclamation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee fire incident.
7.8, 9:17 a.m.: Consideration of continuing a proclamation of a local emergency due to the Sulphur fire incident.
7.9, 9:18 a.m.: Consideration of continuing a proclamation of a local emergency due to Clayton fire.
7.10, 9:19 a.m.: Consideration of continuing a proclamation of a local emergency due to the atmospheric river storm.
7.11, 9:25 a.m.: Consideration of Acceptance of $21,000 donation from Lake County PEGTV, for the purpose of upgrading board chambers and on-location audio/visual equipment.
7.12, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of proposed ordinance amending Chapter 21 of the ordinance code of the county of Lake pertaining to allow a restaurant up to 750 square feet accessory to a permitted tasting room in the "APZ", "A", "RL", "RR" AND "SR" districts; allow a restaurant exceeding 750 square feet in size accessory to a permitted tasting room subject to obtaining a major use permit in the "APZ", "A", "RL", "RR" and "SR" districts; allow a reduction of the minimum residential construction standards in the "r1" district from a minimum dwelling size of 720 square feet to 360 square feet, a minimum width reduction from 15 feet to 12 feet and a minimum eave reduction from 12 inches to 6 inches; establish a permit process to allow emergency temporary dwellings after a catastrophic or natural disaster; modify the collectors permit conditions to allow a two car garage up to 500 square feet accessory to a permitted dwelling; allow a reduction in the minimum residential construction standards of the "MH" mobile home combining district from a minimum dwelling size of 560 square feet.
UNTIMED ITEMS
8.2: Consideration of appointment of directors to the Lake County Risk Reduction Authority.
8.3: Consideration of report from the treasurer-tax collector.
8.4: Consideration of Advisory Board Appointments: First Five Lake County, Lucerne Area Town Hall.
8.5: Consideration of addition of special meetings to the board’s annual meeting calendar for 2018.
8.6: Discussion and consideration of a draft ordinance adding Division 3 to Chapter 9 establishing fines and penalties for the illegal disposal of garbage/refuse and creating an illegal dumping prevention program.
8.7: Discussion and consideration of a draft ordinance adding Article VIII to Chapter 13 of the Lake County Code regarding hazardous vegetation abatement.
8.8: Continued from Oct. 23, consideration of request for board validation of the Public Works director’s emergency action in the Robinson Creek Bridge Rehabilitation Project.
8.9: Second reading, consideration of an ordinance imposing a benefit assessment for County Service Area No. 16 - Paradise Valley to complete the water system consolidation with Clearlake Oaks County Water District.
CLOSED SESSION
9.1: Public employee evaluations title: Water Resources director.
9.2: Conference with Legal Counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(2)(e)(3): California River Watch.
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.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The purchase of new vehicles for the Lakeport Police Department fleet will go to the Lakeport City Council for approval this week.
The meeting will take place beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
Under council business, Police Chief Brad Rasmussen will ask the council to authorize the purchase of four fully equipped 2019 Dodge Charger police vehicles, using the lowest bidding vendors – Matt Mazzei of Lakeport, Precision Wireless and sole source MAV vendor Watch Guard.
The council also will consider authorizing City Manager Margaret Silveira to execute a professional services agreement with Foster Morrison Consulting for the development of the hazard mitigation plan.
Also on Tuesday, the Lakeport Main Street Association will present its “Business of the Quarter” and “People’s Choice” awards to participants from the Taste of Lake County event.
On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the council’s regular meeting on Oct. 16; the Oct. 29 warrant register; confirming the continuing existence of a local emergency in the city of Lakeport; receipt and filing of the draft minutes of the Measure Z Advisory Committee meeting on Oct. 17; and approve sending a letter in support of the relocation of the headquarters of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Economic Research Service to Lake County, California, as proposed in an expression of interest submitted by the Lucerne Area Revitalization Association.
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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Control’s kennels are filled this week with dogs of various breeds waiting for homes.
Dogs available for adoption this week include mixes of American Bulldog, Chihuahua, Labrador Retriever, McNab, miniature pinscher, Pekingese, pit bull, terrier and Shiba Inu.
Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.
The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).
“Lucky” is a senior dog in kennel No. 4a, ID No. 11274. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Lucky’
“Lucky” appears to be a miniature pinscher mix.
He is a senior with a short black and brown coat.
He’s already been neutered.
Lucky is in kennel No. 4a, ID No. 11274.
“Pookey” is a male Pekingese-Chihuahua mix in kennel No. 4b, ID No. 11273. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Pookey’
“Pookey” is a male Pekingese-Chihuahua mix.
He already has been neutered and has a medium-length tan coat.
He’s in kennel No. 4b, ID No. 11273.
This male pit bull is in kennel No. 6, ID No. 11224. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male pit bull
This male pit bull has a short brindle coat.
He already has been neutered.
He’s in kennel No. 6, ID No. 11224.
“Crow” is a male pit bull terrier in kennel No. 7, ID No. 11275. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Crow’
“Crow” is a male pit bull terrier with a short black and white coat.
He already has been neutered.
He’s in kennel No. 7, ID No. 11275.
This male Labrador Retriever is in kennel No. 11, ID No. 11257. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male Labrador Retriever
This male Labrador Retriever has a short black coat with white markings.
He’s in kennel No. 11, ID No. 11257.
This female pit bull terrier is in kennel No. 13, ID No. 11320. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Pit bull terrier
This female pit bull terrier has a short brown and white coat.
She already has been spayed.
She’s in kennel No. 13, ID No. 11320.
“Zara” is a female pit bull-Chihuahua mix in kennel No. 14, ID No. 11337. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Zara’
“Zara” is a female pit bull-Chihuahua mix with a short brown and brindle coat.
She is in kennel No. 14, ID No. 11337.
This male Chihuahua is in kennel No. 16a, ID No. 11321. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male Chihuahua
This male Chihuahua has a short tan and white coat.
He already has been neutered.
He’s in kennel No. 16a, ID No. 11321.
This female Labrador Retriever is in kennel No. 18, ID No. 11239. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female Labrador Retriever
This female Labrador Retriever has a medium-length black coat with white markings.
She already has been spayed.
She’s in kennel No. 18, ID No. 11239.
This female Shiba Inu mix is in kennel No. 19, ID No. 11198. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Shiba Inu mix
This female Shiba Inu mix has a short red and brown coat.
She already has been spayed.
She’s in kennel No. 19, ID No. 11198.
This male Labrador Retriever is in kennel No. 20, ID No. 11251. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male Labrador Retriever
This male Labrador Retriever has a medium-length tan and white coat.
He already has been neutered.
He’s in kennel No. 20, ID No. 11251.
This female pit bull terrier is in kennel No. 22, ID No. 11192. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female pit bull terrier
This female pit bull terrier has a short brown coat.
She’s in kennel No. 22, ID No. 11192.
This female pit bull terrier is in kennel No. 23, ID No. 10226. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female pit bull terrier
This female pit bull terrier has a short brown coat.
She already has been spayed.
She’s in kennel No. 23, ID No. 10226.
“Saint” is a male American Bulldog-pit bull terrier mix in kennel No. 24, ID No. 11236. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Saint’
“Saint” is a male American Bulldog-pit bull terrier mix.
He has a short blue and brindle coat.
He’s in kennel No. 24, ID No. 11236.
This male terrier-McNab mix is in kennel No. 32, ID No. 11211. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male terrier-McNab
This male terrier-McNab mix has a short black coat.
He already has been neutered.
He’s in kennel No. 32, ID No. 11211.
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
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.
State, federal and Lake County, Calif., resource conservation staff identifying the best method to manage this burned slope and monitor Manning Creek along Highway 175 in Lake County, Calif. Courtesy photo.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif.– Large scale wildfires drastically alter landscapes.
Hillsides stripped of trees and vegetation and scorched ground can increase erosion and runoff into adjacent waterways.
Phosphorus and nitrogen loading increases, and in some instances, heavy metals and organic chemicals can also make their way into streams and lakes.
These conditions can affect aquatic ecosystems by triggering algae and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms, increasing aquatic plant and weed growth, reducing oxygen levels and degrading fish spawning habitat.
Changes in sedimentation, metals and water clarity can also impact drinking water systems, requiring additional treatments and management.
Luckily for some areas of Lake County, the several small rain events that have already occurred provided enough moisture to promote some land-based plant growth, stabilizing slopes and helping to prevent erosion and runoff.
Protecting critical water resources in the aftermath of the largest wildfire event in modern California history, and minimizing its impact upon Clear Lake, requires a coordinated effort.
County officials reported that multiple agencies are managing and monitoring post-fire water quality, and recently formed partnerships will help our community prepare for the coming winter and eventual rain.
A number of post-fire water quality activities are under way.
The Lake County Water Resources Department and the local U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Services office will distribute wattles to landowners within the county. If you are interested in installing wattles please first contact NRCS District Conservationist Korinn Woodard at 707-262-7091.
Also plan to attend Wattle Distribution Day on Wednesday, Nov. 14, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the parking lot at the County Department of Agriculture, located at 889 Lakeport Blvd in Lakeport. Supplies are limited will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Wattles have been generously donated by Sonoma County.
The Lake County Resource Conservation District, with assistance from Lake County Water Resources, is installing erosion controls in Manning Creek, Scotts Creek and Middle Creek. Funding for the project is provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State Water Resources Control Board under the Federal Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program (Clean Water Act Section 319). Technical assistance is being provided by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Region. If you have more questions about this effort, you can contact the Lake County RCD at 707-262-7089.
Lake County Water Resources is partnering with Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians to monitor nine stream sites in fire-impacted tributaries that connect to Clear Lake. Some of the parameters monitored will include oxygen, phosphorus, nitrogen, turbidity, suspended solids and heavy metals. Funding for laboratory analysis is being provided by the State Water Resources Control Board.
Lake County Water Resources also is working with Lake County Special Districts, several Clear Lake drinking water purveyors and the State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water to communicate water quality conditions that might affect drinking water intakes and treatment during and after storm events.
Educational materials about erosion, landscape restoration, vegetation, and being storm ready are available on the Lake County Recovers Web page under the “Property Damage – Erosion Control and Vegetation” Tabs or at: http://recovery.lakecountyca.gov/Property/Erosion.htm.
If you have any questions or concerns about any of the above activities please contact the Water Resources Department, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or by phone, at 707-263-2344.
“Benjamin Banneker: Surveyor-Inventor-Astronomer," mural by Maxime Seelbinder, at the Recorder of Deeds building, built in 1943. 515 D St., NW, Washington, D.C. Photo by Carol M. Highsmith. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print. The George F. Landegger Collection of District of Columbia Photographs in Carol M. Highsmith's America, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Forms part of the Library of Congress’ Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress. Author, scientist, mathematician, farmer, astronomer, publisher and urban planner – Benjamin Banneker was one of the most accomplished men in colonial America.
His inventions, work as an urban planner and author of a famous almanac would all have made Benjamin a noteworthy individual in 18th century America – a time where many talented men crowded for attention.
When you consider, however, that he was also African American, then his accomplishments become all the more remarkable.
Born on Nov. 9, 1731, young Benjamin Banneker grew up in Baltimore County. Son of a half-white woman named Mary and freed slave father named Guinea, Benjamin was just one of only 200 free blacks amongst a population of 4,000 slaves and 13,000 whites living in the colony at the time.
His grandmother Molly Welsh, upon emigrating from England to the colonies as an indentured servant, had defied Maryland law by marrying a freed slave, something her daughter – Mary – also did when she wed Guinea.
So, Benjamin came from a line of rule-breakers to begin with. As far as he was concerned, he was not going to let the color of his skin stop him from achieving his goals in life.
He was helped in his pursuit by his grandmother, who taught him to read and write and helped pay for his education in a mixed-race school operated by a Quaker (one of the only communities in Colonial America who ignored the color of a person’s skin). Benjamin would learn much from his Quaker schoolteacher and would grow up with some Quaker sentiments still intake, including an abhorrence of war and violence.
From an early age, Benjamin Banneker had shown a unique ability at mathematics and mechanics. At just 22, having only seen two timepieces in his entire life – a sundial and a pocket watch – he constructed a working striking clock made entirely of wood based on his own drawings and calculations.
During the Revolutionary War, Benjamin worked with the Ellicott brothers, who built and operated a number of grist mills in the area.
In 1788, as politicians argued over the creation of the American Constitution, Benjamin nearly accurately predicted the timing of an eclipse of the sun, adding astronomy to his growing list of talents.
He later found that the slight error, which caused his estimate to be slightly off, was caused by an error in the professional books and tools he had borrowed, rather than any miscalculation on his part.
One of the Ellicott brothers, Andrew, had meanwhile joined the military and served as a Major. In 1791, Benjamin accompanied Major Andrew Ellicott to the banks of the Potomac River, where he was tasked to help survey for a new federal city. People began to take more notice of Benjamin Banneker.
One local newspaper reported that Ellicott was "attended by Benjamin Banneker, an Ethiopian, whose abilities, as a surveyor, and an astronomer, clearly prove that Mr. [Thomas] Jefferson's concluding that race of men were void of mental endowments, was without foundation."
That same year, Benjamin himself wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson, in which he said that he hoped Jefferson’s “sentiments were concurrent with mine, which are, that one universal Father hath given being to us all; and that he hath … afforded us all the same sensations and endowed us all with the same faculties.”
Knowing Jefferson’s prejudice, Benjamin went on to call Jefferson and other southern politicians out for their hypocrisy, citing Jefferson’s own words that “All men are created equal.” Towards the end of his letter, he states the following:
“Sir, I suppose that your knowledge of the situation of my brethren is too extensive to need a recital here; neither shall I presume to prescribe methods by which they may be relieved; otherwise than by recommending to you and all others, to wean yourselves from these narrow prejudices which you have imbibed with respect to them, and as Job proposed to his friends ‘Put your Souls in their Souls stead,’ thus shall your hearts be enlarged with kindness and benevolence toward them, and thus shall you need neither the direction of myself or others in what manner to proceed herein.”
In his writings and public speeches, Mr. Jefferson had shown that he was not of the same opinion. His reply to Benjamin, however, was cordial. Jefferson was, after all, a consummate politician.
In 1792, Benjamin Banneker published an almanac that also included commentaries, literature, and fillers that had a political and humanitarian bent. With this almanac, he gained recognition in England and Europe.
Between 1792 and 1797, Benjamin published several additional almanacs in 28 different editions.
Benjamin Banneker died in 1806. On the very day of his funeral, his house burned down, destroying its contents.
Among the items destroyed was a wooden striking clock, which had faithfully kept time for 40 years.
Antone Pierucci is curator of history at the Riverside County Park and Open Space District and a freelance writer whose work has been featured in such magazines as Archaeology and Wild West as well as regional California newspapers.
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