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A series of moderate-sized earthquakes and powerful aftershocks hit near the California-Nevada border early Wednesday morning.
The United States Geological Survey reported that the series of quakes started at approximately 12:18 a.m. Wednesday with a 5.7-magnitude quake near Hawthorne, Nev., which was followed four minutes later by another quake of the same magnitude a short distance away.
Both of those quakes each received more than 1,000 shake reports as of 3 a.m. from more than 230 zip codes around central and Northern California and Nevada, the survey said.
Those initial quakes were followed over the next hour by a series of aftershocks measuring between 2.8 and 4 magnitude in Nevada and just across the California state border, according to US Geological Survey records.
At 1:13 a.m., a 5.5-magnitude quake was reported near the epicenter of the two larger quakes, and over the next two hours was followed by another series of aftershocks on both sides of the state border that had magnitudes ranging from 2.5 to 3.2, the survey said.
That 5.5-magnitude quake received nearly 900 shake reports from 243 zip codes, according to survey records.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Join the Friends of the Lake County Museum for a New Year's celebration at the Historic Courthouse Museum from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7.
The staff at the Historic Courthouse Museum will be present to answer questions and show off all that they have planned for the museum in 2017.
Many of the great things donated to the museum in 2016 will also be available for viewing by attendees.
Get a sneak peek at the upcoming exhibits and events, too – a great way to mark your 2017 calendars in advance so you don’t miss out on all the activities planned at the museum.
This afternoon event also offers a chance to learn more about what the Friends of the Lake County Museum does and how you could be a part of this great group of people who help support the museum.
There will be hot cider and homemade goodies, and an opportunity to relax after the stressful holiday season.
This event is free and open to the public and will start at 2 p.m. but the cider and treats will be available the whole afternoon.
The museum is wheelchair-accessible.
The Historic Courthouse Museum is located at 255 N. Main St., Lakeport, telephone 707-263-4555.
The California Department of Water Resources will conduct its first media-oriented manual snow survey of Water Year 2017 at 11 a.m. on Jan. 3 at Phillips Station, just off Highway 50 near Sierra-at-Tahoe Road approximately 90 miles east of Sacramento.
Electronic readings of the Sierra Nevada mountain snowpack on Tuesday peg its statewide water content at 10.5 inches, 72 percent of the December 27 average.
The Phillips snow course, which has been measured each winter since 1941, is one of dozens that will be traversed during a 10-day period around Jan. 1 to determine the water content of the snowpack, which normally contributes about 30 percent of California’s water when it melts. Manual readings supplement the Department of Water Resources' electronic data.
It’s too soon to know whether this winter’s wet season will deliver enough rain and snow to move California closer to the end of the state’s five-year drought.
The snowpack usually is at its deepest and most water-laden around April 1, so weather watchers won’t know with certainty what kind of wet season it has been until then.
Water Year 2017 began with above-average rainfall in October in all three Sierra Nevada regions monitored continuously by DWR.
Northern California’s wettest Oct. in 30 years sparked optimism for a robust water year. November saw below-average precipitation in all three regions, but wet weather returned in December and produced above-average rainfall in the three regions.
Rainfall measured from Oct. 1 through Dec. 27 at the department's 19 key monitoring stations totaled 150 percent of the stations’ combined historical average during that period.
As the three traditionally wettest months of the year began on Dec. 1, the statewide snowpack’s water content was just 61 percent of average on that date.
Relatively warm temperatures had tended to produce rain rather than snow in the mountains, but the cold storm that arrived last weekend improved the snowpack up to 75 percent of the Christmas Day average.
The snowpack on Tuesday held at 72 percent of the Dec. 27 average water content.
California is three months into what could become its sixth consecutive year of drought. State Climatologist Michael Anderson said, “October was one of our wettest on record, and December has produced a nice rebound from November’s below-average precipitation. California needs sustained above-average precipitation and a decent snowpack to overcome the previous years of drought.”
Statewide snowpack water content – Jan. 1 average (10.2 inches):
• 2002 – 162 percent;
• 2003 – 162 percent;
• 2004 – 142 percent;
• 2005 – 159 percent;
• 2006 – 117 percent;
• 2007 – 61 percent;
• 2008 – 59 percent;
• 2009 – 78 percent;
• 2010 – 87 percent;
• 2011 – 209 percent;
• 2012 – 20 percent;
• 2013 – 137 percent;
• 2014 – 20 percent;
• 2015 – 47 percent;
• 2016 – 103 percent.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board assessed a $37,079 penalty for a Clean Water Act violation against the owners of a Mendocino County property at the Board’s December meeting.
The penalty is for discharges of sediment-laden water into a tributary of the Upper Main Eel River.
The discharge was caused by the failure of a 50,000 gallon fuel bladder being used for water storage allegedly for fire protection.
Polly Franklin, trustee for the property trust, and her son, Daniel Franklin, were named in the violation order.
According to testimony at the enforcement hearing during the Regional Water Board’s December meeting, the storage bladder was overfilled, causing it to burst.
A minimum of 50,000 gallons of water were discharged, flowing over and through an adjacent earthen berm, and entering a small watercourse.
The water traveled 2,000 feet downstream, tearing out riparian vegetation, stripping away instream soil, rocks and boulders, and eventually entering the Upper Main Eel River.
Staff of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reported seeing increased turbidity for at least a day and a half following the incident, and a high rate of fish outmigration.
The effects were observed more than three miles downstream in the Eel River at the Van Arsdale fish station.
Staff of the Regional Water Board, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the California Geologic Survey inspected the site following the event, and documented the damage throughout the segment of the watercourse from the discharge point down to the Upper Main Eel River.
The Regional Water Board adopted the order assessing a penalty of $37,079 against Polly Franklin as trustee of the trust that owns the property, and Daniel Franklin as the person responsible for activities that occurred on the property resulting in the unauthorized discharge.
The board found that the discharge posed a significant threat of harm to beneficial uses. The board noted that while the bladder failure was not intentional, it was negligent.
Regional Water Board staff note that storage bladders, both new and military surplus, are widely available and often used for water storage throughout the North Coast Region.
However, many bladders are not specifically designed to hold water, have a limited service life, and are susceptible to failure due to overfilling or puncture by external causes.
Water releases from ruptured storage bladders may cause significant erosion, instream damage and harm to aquatic species and habitat.
Staff encourages those individuals selling or purchasing storage bladders and/or collapsible fabric tanks to make themselves familiar with limitations and cautions associated with their specific bladders, and to take care in siting, installing, operating and maintaining storage bladders to minimize the potential for failure and abrupt release of water into nearby streams.
For more information about the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board’s enforcement efforts, visit http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/water_issues/programs/enforcement/ .
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Twice As Good will be rocking the house at the Soper Reese Theatre's annual New Year’s Eve party on Saturday, Dec. 31.
Doors open at 8 p.m.
The show features Paul and Richard Steward, son and father, who are Pomo Indians hailing from Clearlake Oaks.
The pair just won the North Bay Bohemian newspaper's 2016 music awards for Best Blues/R&B band and also were semi-finalists at the 2016 International Blues Challenge in Memphis.
Twice As Good always draw crowds in their home territory and now are in demand all over the U.S., recently performing in Chicago, New York and Washington DC.
Their latest album, "That's All I Need," was nominated at the Independent Music Awards for Blues Album of the Year.
All seats are reserved. Tickets for the upper loge cost $40 per person, while it's $50 per table seat and $250 for a table for four in the lower orchestra section. Table seating is limited. There also will be a no host bar. Early reservations are recommended.
The ticket price includes gourmet appetizers, party favors and a glass of champagne to ring in 2017.
Tickets are available online at www.SoperReeseTheatre.com or at The Travel Center, 1265 S. Main, Lakeport, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information call the theater at 707-263-0577.
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – When the New Year begins, the transition at the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Business Association will be smooth as silk.
The members saw to that by reelecting the entire 2016 slate at their November meeting.
The officers will be installed on Dec. 28, the last meeting of the year.
On being reelected president, Margaret Medeiros said, “We had a very successful year and we’re ready to do it again!”
In 2016, the business association sponsored the Fourth of July Maxine Sherman Memorial Annual Fireworks in Clearlake Oaks, a cherished tradition and huge hit with the community.
The business association also supported various community needs.
In all, more than $23,000 was donated in support of Clearlake Oaks, Glenhaven and nearby communities.
Habitat for Humanity, which suffered losses in the Clayton fire, was among the recipients of 2016 cash awards.
Others benefiting from the business association's generosity included the Lower Lake Cemetery, Hospice Services, and various community music, art and church programs.
“In addition, we are pleased to support local children through cash scholarships and donations to school programs including football, the drama club and other school events,” said Medeiros.
The association also is known for hosting the very popular Catfish Derby. Considered the largest tournament west of the Mississippi, this event brings anglers from throughout the country to Lake County.
“Our business association is very proud to know we are providing an economic boost for our association, businesses in and around Clearlake Oaks and the County as a whole,” said Gail Jonas, 2016 event chair.
“Our mission is to promote the continuing improvement of our community and to enhance the quality of life for its residents,” said Medeiros. “Our Board of Directors works hard to carryout the mission and we look forward to doing our part to help make 2017 bright for everyone.”
The association meets on the fourth Thursday of the month. Membership is open to all.
For more information, call 707-596-0248 or visit www.clearlakeoaks.org .