LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors this week will present several proclamations along with funds to local senior centers.

The‌ ‌board will meet beginning ‌at‌ ‌9‌ ‌a.m. Tuesday, June 13, 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, ‌online‌ ‌at‌ ‌https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx‌‌ and‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌county’s‌ ‌Facebook‌ ‌page. ‌Accompanying‌ ‌board‌ ‌documents, ‌the‌ ‌agenda‌ ‌and‌ ‌archived‌ ‌board‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌videos‌ ‌also‌ ‌are‌ ‌available‌ ‌at‌ ‌that‌ ‌link. ‌ ‌

To‌ ‌participate‌ ‌in‌ ‌real-time, ‌join‌ ‌the‌ ‌Zoom‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌by‌ ‌clicking‌ ‌this‌ ‌link‌. ‌ ‌

The‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌ID‌ ‌is‌ 954 4293 9695, ‌pass code 322743.‌ ‌The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,95442939695#,,,,*322743#.

All interested members of the public that do not have internet access or a Mediacom cable subscription are encouraged to call 669-900-6833, and enter the Zoom meeting ID and pass code information above.

At 9:08 a.m., the board will present American Rescue Plan Act funds to county senior centers to assist with capital improvements and other necessary updates at their specific locations.

At 9:15 a.m., the supervisors will present a proclamation recognizing June 19, 2023, as “Juneteenth National Freedom Day: A Day of Observance.”

That will be followed at 9:20 a.m. with a proclamation honoring Record-Bee Sports Editor Brian Sumpter for 40 years of service and at 9:30 a.m. with a proclamation Michele Carson as the first Lake County recipient of Tourism Ambassador Institute’s International CTA of the Year Award.

The full agenda follows.

CONSENT AGENDA

5.1: Adopt proclamation honoring Brian Sumpter for his 40 years of devotion and service to the county of Lake.

5.2: Approve the continuation of the proclamation declaring a shelter crisis emergency due to the current need for sheltering for those experiencing homelessness during the weather and temperature patterns that the county of Lake has been experiencing.

5.3: Approve continuation of proclamation declaring a Clear Lake hitch emergency.

5.4: Approve continuation of proclamation of the existence of a local emergency due to pervasive tree mortality.

5.5: Adopt proclamation celebrating Michele Carson as the first Lake County recipient of Tourism Ambassador Institute’s International CTA of the Year Award.

5.6: Second reading of ordinance amending Section 2-3A.2, Compensation of the Board of Supervisors, and Section 2-3B, Trial and Grand Jurors, of Article 1, Chapter 2 of the Lake County Code.

5.7: Adopt resolution approving Agreement No.23-0148-000-SA with the state of California, Department of Food and Agriculture and authorize the execution of the Fuels, Lubricants, and Automotive Products Program agreement in the amount of $2,475 for Period July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024.

5.8: Adopt resolution approving unanticipated revenue to fund aquatic weed control program.

5.9: Approve agreement between county of Lake and the Lake County Office of Education for the Safe Schools Healthy Students Program for school-based specialty mental health services in the amount of $500,000 for Fiscal Year 2023-24 and authorize the board chair to sign.

5.10: Approve agreement between county of Lake and Davis Guest Home in the amount of $210,000 for FY 2023-24 and authorize the board chair to sign.

5.11: Approve memorandum of understanding between Lake County Behavioral Health Services and Lake County Health Services Departments for the Safe Rx Program in the amount of $80,000 through FY 2023-24 and authorize the board chair to sign.

5.12: Adopt proclamation recognizing June 19, 2023, as “Juneteenth National Freedom Day: A Day of Observance.”

5.13: Approve Board of Supervisors minutes for May 9 and May 23, 2023.

5.14: Approve amendment of previously approved purchase of new vehicle for Building & Safety Division, and authorize the Community Development director to sign the purchase order.

5.15: Approve leave of absence for Department of Social Services employee Christina Thomas from July 1, 2023, to June 2, 2024.

5.16: Approve continuation of an emergency declaration for drought conditions.

5.17: Approve continuation of a local emergency by the Lake County Sheriff/OES director for the January 2023 Atmospheric River Event.

5.18: Approve continuation of proclamation of the existence of a local emergency due to low elevation snow and extreme cold.

5.19: (a) Approve rental agreement between the county of Lake and Kevin Soto for Storage Hangar No. 1 at Lampson Field for the monthly amount of $300, and authorize the chair to sign; and (b) approve rental agreement between the county of Lake and Kevin Soto for Storage Hangar No. 2 at Lampson Field for the monthly amount of $500, and authorize the chair to sign.

5.20: a) Waive the formal bidding process pursuant to County Ordinance 3109 Section 2-38 due to 38.5 purchase of proprietary articles in which contractor is the sole provider of service; and, b) approve contract between county of Lake and Excellesoft Partners LLC for REVA Software, in the amount of $31,530 from April 15, 2023 to June 30, 2026, and authorize the chair to sign.

5.21: Approve proposed revision to the Merit System Services social worker IV classification specification.

5.22: Adopt resolution revising the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Adopted Budget of the county of Lake by canceling reserves in Fund 262 CSA No. 2 Spring Valley Water System Replacement Reserve Designation, in the amount of $10,000 to make appropriations in the Budget Unit 8462, Object Code 784.18-00 Maintenance — Buildings & Improvements, for the purchase of a weir gate activator.

5.23: Adopt resolution authorizing the Special Districts administrator to sign a notice of completion for work performed under the agreement dated Jan. 30, 2023.

5.24: Approve and sign the agreement between county of Lake and Clean Lakes Inc. for the Aquatic Vegetation Management Program for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.

5.25: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District, adopt resolution to amend the adopted budget for FY 22-23 by Increasing Revenue in Fund 200 Budget Unit 1809 Watershed Protection District to appropriate unanticipated revenue.

5.26: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District, approve a purchase order for the purchase of equipment outlined in Exhibit A for District levee and Highland Springs vegetation maintenance, and authorize the Water Resources director/assistant purchasing agent to sign the purchase orders.

TIMED ITEMS

6.2, 9:07 a.m.: Pet of the Week.

6.3, 9:08 a.m.: Presentation of funds to the Lake County senior centers.

6.4, 9:15 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation recognizing June 19, 2023, as “Juneteenth National Freedom Day: A Day of Observance.”

6.5, 9:20 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation honoring Brian Sumpter for his 40 years of devotion and service to the county of Lake.

6.6, 9:30 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation celebrating Michele Carson as the first Lake County recipient of Tourism Ambassador Institute’s International CTA of the Year Award.

6.7, 10 a.m.: Consideration of project plan for South Lake algae bloom abatement in the Clearlake and Clearlake Oaks areas and submit project plan for funding to ARPA committee for their consideration, and/or to consider using Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund, and/or to submit as a potential project to Congressman Thompson for the annual Congressional Community Project Funding.

6.8, 11 a.m.: Sitting as the Board of Directors, Lake County Watershed Protection District, presentation of the Clear Lake Integrated Aquatic Plant Management Program.

UNTIMED ITEMS

7.2: Review and consideration of travel and reimbursement policy.

7.3: Consideration of public defender contract amendment No. 10 between the county of Lake and Lake Indigent Defense LLP for the purpose of extending the term of the contract to June 30, 2024, and increasing the monthly contract amount $143,750 to fund an additional felony attorney and authorize chair to sign.

7.4: Consideration of the following Advisory Board Appointment: Cobb Municipal Advisory Council Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee.

7.5: Consideration of designating the Lake County Board of Supervisors’ representative for the North Coast Opportunities Governing Board.

7.6: Consideration of Change Order No. 1 Cooper Creek Bridge at Witter Springs Road, Federal Project No. BRLO-5914(078); Bid No. 22-03, with West Coast Contractors, for an increase of $6,062.61 and a revised contract amount of $1,496,872.35 and authorize the chair to sign.

7.7: Consideration of the distribution of excess proceeds in the amount of $333,121.90 from tax defaulted tax sale No. 159 held on June 5, 2021 (per R&T §4675).

CLOSED SESSION

8.1: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b) (1): Interviews for Behavioral Health director; appointment of Behavioral Health director.

8.2: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b) (1): Interviews for Public Health officer; appointment of Public Health officer.

8.3: Public employee discipline/dismissal/release.

8.4: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(2), (e)(1) — One potential case.

8.5: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9 (d)(1) — FERC Project No. 77, Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project.

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.

More people moved across state lines in 2021 than in 2019, many to and from highly populated and neighboring states, according to new estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Nearly 7.9 million people in the United States moved between states in 2021, up from almost 7.4 million in 2019.

People moving between states made up 18.8% of all movers in 2021, compared to 16.7% of all movers in 2019.

This increase in state-to-state movers occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, which had sweeping effects on work and life circumstances such as a shift to remote work, potentially influencing geographic mobility.

Examining state-to-state migration patterns since the pandemic’s onset is key to understanding demographic, social and economic implications of migration during the pandemic era and beyond.

The Census Bureau regularly publishes data on state-to-state migration flows and just released estimates for 2021 based on 1-year data from the American Community Survey (ACS), which asks respondents if they changed residence in the last year.

By analyzing previous and current places of residence at the state level, we can estimate the number of people moving from origin states to destination states within a given year.



State-to-state migration

Within the broader context of geographic mobility, the extent of state-to-state migration varied across states. In-movers – or the number of people moving into a state – as a percentage of that state’s total number of movers ranged from 9.9% in California to 43.1% in the District of Columbia (Figure 1).

Most people moving into the District of Columbia came from neighboring states Virginia and Maryland.

Out-movers – or the number of people moving out of a state – as a percentage of that state’s total number of movers ranged from 11.0% in Texas to 46.8% in the District of Columbia (Figure 2). Most people moving out of the District of Columbia moved to Maryland, followed by Virginia.

States where in-movers made up at least 20% of all movers were spread across the country, while states where out-movers made up at least 20% of all movers were concentrated in the West and Northeast.



State-to-state flows and highly populated states

Highly populated states, including California, Texas and Florida, experienced some of the largest state-to-state flows.

People leaving these states tended to move to other highly populated or neighboring states (Table 1).

Most people moving from California, for example, relocated to Texas — the largest flow between two states — while most people moving from Florida moved to neighboring Georgia.

People moving to highly populated states tended to come from other states with large populations (Table 2).

For example, most people moving to Florida moved from New York, the fourth largest state in population and a longstanding origin of Florida-bound movers.



State-to-state flows between neighboring states

Moving between neighboring states resulted in sizable state-to-state flows across all regions (Table 3).

In the Northeast, for example, the largest state-to-state flow was from New York to neighboring New Jersey. In the Midwest, it was from Illinois to neighboring Indiana.

Notably, most people moving from a state in the South moved to another state in the same region, with similar flows between Florida and Georgia and vice versa.

User notes

Estimates referring to the total number of movers account for migration between the 50 states and the District of Columbia and from abroad. Estimates of specific state-to-state flows exclude migration from Puerto Rico and abroad. All estimates are for the population 1 year and over.

Mehreen Ismail and Justin Palarino are survey statisticians in the Census Bureau’s Social, Economic, and Housing Statistics Division. Brian McKenzie is chief of the Journey-to-Work and Migration Statistics Branch in the Census Bureau’s Social, Economic, and Housing Statistics Division.

 

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Smoke from more than 100 wildfires burning across Canada has been rolling into North American cities far from the flames. New York City and Detroit were both listed among the five most polluted cities in the world because of the fires on June 7, 2023. The smoke has triggered air quality alerts in several states in recent weeks.

We asked Chris Migliaccio, a toxicologist at the University of Montana who studies the impact of wildfire smoke on human health, about the health risks people can face when smoke blows in from distant wildfires.

What’s in wildfire smoke that’s a problem?

When we talk about air quality, we often talk about PM2.5. That’s particulate matter 2.5 microns or smaller – small enough that it can travel deep into the lungs.

Exposure to PM2.5 from smoke or other air pollution, such as vehicle emissions, can exacerbate health conditions like asthma and reduce lung function in ways that can worsen existing respiratory problems and even heart disease.

But the term PM2.5 only tells you about size, not composition – what is burning can make a significant difference in the chemistry.

In the northern Rockies, where I live, most fires are fueled by vegetation, but not all vegetation is the same. If the fire is in the wildland urban interface, manufactured fuels from homes and vehicles may also be burning, and that’s going to create its own toxic chemistry, as well. Chemists often talk about volatile organic compounds, (VOCs), carbon monoxide and PAHs, or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons produced when biomass and other matter burns having the potential to harm human health.

How does inhaling wildfire smoke harm human health?

If you have ever been around a campfire and got a blast of smoke in your face, you probably had some irritation. With exposure to wildfire smoke, you might get some irritation in the nose and throat and maybe some inflammation. If you’re healthy, your body for the most part will be able to handle it.

As with a lot of things, the dose makes the poison – almost anything can be harmful at a certain dose.

Generally, cells in the lungs called alveolar macrophages will pick up the particulates and clear them out – at reasonable doses. It’s when the system gets overwhelmed that you can have a problem.

One concern is that smoke can suppress macrophage function, altering it enough that you become more susceptible to respiratory infection. A colleague who looked at lag time in the effect of wildfire smoke exposure found an increase in influenza cases after a bad fire season. Studies in developing countries have also found increases in respiratory infections with people who are cooking on open fires in homes.

The stress of an inflammatory response can also exacerbate existing health problems. Being exposed to wood smoke won’t independently cause someone to have a heart attack, but if they have underlying risk factors, such as significant plaque buildup, the added stress can increase the risk.

Researchers are also studying potential effects on the brain and nervous system from inhaled particulate matter.

When smoke blows over long distances, does its toxicity change?

We know that the chemistry of wildfire smoke changes. The longer it’s in the atmosphere, the more the chemistry will be altered by ultraviolet light, but we still have a lot to learn.

Researchers have found that there seems to be a higher level of oxidation, so oxidants and free radicals are being generated the longer smoke is in the air. The specific health effects aren’t yet clear, but there’s some indication that more exposure leads to greater health effects.

The supposition is that more free radicals are generated the longer smoke is exposed to UV light, so there’s a greater potential for health harm. A lot of that, again, comes down to dose.

Chances are, if you’re a healthy individual, going for a bike ride or a hike in light haze won’t be a big deal, and your body will be able to recover.

If you’re doing that every day for a month in wildfire smoke, however, that raises more concerns. I’ve worked on studies with residents at Seeley Lake in Montana who were exposed to hazardous levels of PM2.5 from wildfire smoke for 49 days in 2017. We found a decrease in lung function a year later. No one was on oxygen, but there was a significant drop.

This is a relatively new area of research, and there’s still a lot we’re learning, especially with the increase in wildfire activity as the planet warms.

What precautions can people take to reduce their risk from wildfire smoke?

If there is smoke in the air, you want to decrease your exposure.

Can you completely avoid the smoke? Not unless you’re in a hermetically sealed home. The PM levels aren’t much different indoors and out unless you have a really good HVAC system, such as those with MERV 15 or better filters. But going inside decreases your activity, so your breathing rate is slower and the amount of smoke you’re inhaling is likely lower.

We also tend to advise people that if you’re in a susceptible group, such as those with asthma, create a safe space at home and in the office with a high-level stand-alone air filtration system to create a space with cleaner air.

Some masks can help. It doesn’t hurt to have a high-quality N95 mask. Just wearing a cloth mask won’t do much, though.

Most states have air quality monitors that can give you a sense of how bad the air quality is, so check those sites and act accordingly.

This article was updated June 7, 2023, with thick wildfire smoke over the U.S. Northeast and the latest map of smoke conditions.

Christopher T. Migliaccio, Research Associate Professor in Toxicology, University of Montana

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The expected El Nino has emerged, according to scientists at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service.

Forecasters have issued an El Nino Advisory, noting that El Nino conditions are present and are expected to gradually strengthen into the winter.

El Nino is a natural climate phenomenon marked by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator, which occurs on average every two to seven years. El Nino’s impacts on the climate extend far beyond the Pacific Ocean.

“Depending on its strength, El Nino can cause a range of impacts, such as increasing the risk of heavy rainfall and droughts in certain locations around the world,” said Michelle L'Heureux, climate scientist at the Climate Prediction Center. “Climate change can exacerbate or mitigate certain impacts related to El Nino. For example, El Nino could lead to new records for temperatures, particularly in areas that already experience above-average temperatures during El Nino.”

El Nino’s influence on the U.S. is weak during the summer and more pronounced starting in the late fall through spring.

By winter, there is an 84% chance of greater than a moderate strength El Nino, and a 56% chance of a strong El Nino developing.

Typically, moderate to strong El Nino conditions during the fall and winter result in wetter-than-average conditions from southern California to along the Gulf Coast and drier-than-average conditions in the Pacific Northwest and Ohio Valley.

El Nino winters also bring better chances for warmer-than-average temperatures across the northern tier of the country.

A single El Nino event will not result in all of these impacts, but El Nino increases the odds of them occurring.

The anticipated persistence of El Nino also contributed to the 2023 Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Hurricane Outlooks issued by NOAA last month.

El Nino conditions usually help to suppress Atlantic Hurricane activity, while the presence of El Nino typically favors strong hurricane activity in the central and eastern Pacific Basins.

Scientists have been forecasting the development of El Nino for the last few months and issued the first El Nino Watch on April 13.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. — A celebration is planned to honor the work done by volunteers and the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service over the last six months to reopen motorized trails damaged by heavy winter storms.

The celebration event for Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance, or PWORA, will be held on Saturday, June 17, at the Middle Creek Campground on the Mendocino National Forest near Upper Lake.

It will take place from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The severe rain storms, high winds, and heavy snow had caused hundreds of trees damaged by recent wildfires to fall across the designated road and trail system that blocked public access and raised concerns about rider safety and environmental impacts due to unauthorized reroutes around blocked travelways.

To help address those storm impacts, PWORA organized numerous work events attended by 170 volunteers who contributed over 2,000 hours to clear downed trees off of the multiple-use road and trail system managed by the Upper Lake Ranger District.

PWORA worked with District Ranger Frank Aebly and OHV recreation specialist, Matt Nourmohamadian, to ensure that trail clearing efforts followed sustainable trail management practices and safety protocols.

“Getting OHV routes reopened for public use before the Memorial Day Weekend was a herculean effort that was only accomplished by a strong collaboration between PWORA, volunteer crews, and the Upper Lake Ranger District management and staff,” said Ted Cabral, PWORA president and CEO.

“Special thanks also goes to the Lake County Public Works Department and Forest Service law enforcement who worked on a temporary fix and management strategy to reopen a slide on a section of the Elk Mountain Road to allow for trail repair crews to continue clearing downed trees,” Cabral said.

Cabral added, “The celebration event is an appropriate way to highlight the heavy lift by the Forest Service and partners to reopen this important recreation area so it can once again be enjoyed by the recreation community.”

PWORA thanked its many sponsors and grant partners who helped make the reopening possible and they include, FOX FACTORY Trail Trust Program, Factory Pipe, Metal Cloak Industries, California State Park OHV Grant Program, Metal Cloak Industries, Yamaha Grant Initiative and the Marin County Motorcycle Association.

Follow the group on Facebook.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Michele Carson, client relations manager at Strong Financial Network, has been named the “CTA of the Year” by the Tourism Ambassador Institute.

The institute, or TAI, is an international organization that licenses and accredits over 30 local CTA Programs in 20 states.

The Lake County CTAs have been delivering quality education to local residents that aspire to become advocates for Lake County.

The CTA Program teaches best practices, itinerary planning, customer service, and helps the CTAs increase their knowledge of Lake County. The program provides resources so that CTA know how to answer questions from visitors.

“Michele Carson, this year's recipient of the CTA of the Year Award, was an absolute standout amongst the competition,” said John Marks, former CEO of the San Francisco Convention & Visitors’ Bureau and Chair of the 2023 International CTA of the Year judging committee.

Marks said Carson leads an innovative, and involved program in Lake County, “where she plans, and executes, numerous gatherings for her local CTA’s to become even more involved in the community. Every time Michele walks into a room, everyone is greeted with a genuine smile, and her sense of invaluable service."

Carson is the shining star of this program, dedicating countless volunteer hours running meetings, facilitating annual strategizing sessions, planning “EdVentures” that combine fun social activities with education, and coordinating an annual project that will place our beautiful county in a positive light to our visitors.

In 2022, Carson wrote a grant and was awarded funding to promote Lake County to visiting anglers. The fishing industry has a big impact on the local economy, and she believed that we could do more to make the anglers feel more welcome.

She produced banners and signs for businesses and municipalities to display to make visiting anglers feel more welcome when they visited Clear Lake.

Carson is also credited with collaborating with the Clear Lake High School’s Culinary Program to ensure that the students became CTAs over the course of their studies.

“The CTA Program has been recognized by the Lakeport Unified School District administration as academically sound and has included in Clear Lake High School’s Hospitality Career Technical Education curriculum, a career readiness program that prepares students to enter the workforce upon graduation,” said Laura McAndrews Sammel, CEO of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce. “We are thrilled to serve our local businesses by offering this training to our up-and-coming workforce.”

Lake County boasts the only CTA Program in the entire network that is chaired and overseen by volunteers.

While Carson’s efforts are supported by the paid staff at the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, much of the program is coordinated by Carson and the CTA Core Committee — with the help of many other CTAs, which is what the chamber called “the Michele Magic.”

Carson is credited with being able to take an idea that someone mentions to her and put it into action. It inspires others into action and, before you know it, another major accomplishment has been made.

She focuses on strong customer service to and for Lake County’s visitors because she innately understands how that impacts economic development for the community.

Lake County residents and visitors alike will recognize a CTA by the gold or silver star lapel pin. Some CTAs wear their pin to work, while others don theirs when they go out to a community event.

Carson was recently spotted wearing hers at a friend’s wedding reception. She is always prepared to answer visitors’ questions no matter where she is! This international accolade proves what we already know: Michele Carson is a shining Lake County Star.