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At Thursday night’s Clearlake City Council meeting, Clearlake Police Lt. Martin Snyder, who oversees the shelter, reported on the shelter’s statistics for the 2022 calendar year.
He said 389 dogs were taken into the shelter last year.
Of those, 303 have left the shelter. Snyder said those include 169 that went to rescues, 102 that were returned to their owners and 30 were adopted.
Snyder said there were a total of three euthanizations — two for medical reasons and one at the request of an owner.
That leaves the shelter with a 99% release rate, Snyder said.
On Thursday, shelter staff brought “Noah” for a visit to the council. He’s a 3 to 4 year old male American pit bull terrier who is a staff and shelter favorite.
They said he would do well with other dogs and probably cats and he’s neutered and up-to-date on all vaccinations.
Dogs recently adopted include “Snowball,” a male American Staffordshire terrier mix, and “Maya,” a female German shepherd.
There currently are 37 adoptable dogs at the shelter, with staff hoping to find them loving homes.
The shelter is located at 6820 Old Highway 53. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
For more information, call the shelter at 707-762-6227, email
This week’s adoptable dogs are featured below.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Without strong climate action, forests on every continent will be highly flammable for at least 30 extra days per year by the end of the century – and this fire threat is far greater for some forests including the Amazon, according to our new study.
Our research in Nature Communications looked at 20 years of global satellite data to test the link between wildfires and “vapour pressure deficit” – a measure of the atmosphere’s power to suck moisture out of living and dead plants. It can also be thought of as how “thirsty” the air is.
Our results show that forest fire becomes much more likely above a certain threshold of vapour pressure deficit in many regions. This threshold depends on the type of forest.
Alarmingly, climate change is increasing the number of days the planet passes these crucial thresholds. But by urgently bringing global emissions down, we can minimise the number of extra wildfire days.
How a forest becomes flammable
Wildfire is an ancient, highly diverse phenomenon. Four key conditions for a fire are:
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fuel: the leaves, branches, twigs and everything else that can catch alight in a forest
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fuel moisture: whether fuel is dry enough to burn
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ignition: the spark to set things off, such as a lightning strike
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weather: conditions such as strong winds and high temperatures, which can aid a fire’s spread.
These four processes act as switches. All must be in the “on” position for a fire to take hold.
The drying out of fuel is particularly crucial for making a forest dangerously flammable. Indeed, many researchers are finding links between vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and fire activity.
VPD describes the difference between how much moisture is in the air and how much moisture the air can hold when it’s saturated. Once air becomes saturated, water will condense to form clouds or dew on leaves.
Importantly, warmer air can hold more water, which means VPD increases. We refer to the air being “thirsty” when the gap between full and empty air becomes bigger, meaning there’s a greater demand (thirst) for the water to come out of living and dead plant material, drying it out.
This is a serious issue as climate change leads to rising global temperatures.
Climate change and fire days
We analysed more than 30 million satellite records and a global climate dataset to find the maximum daily VPD, for each time and place a fire was detected.
We then measured the strength of the relationship between VPD and fire activity for different forest types in each continent. And we showed, for the first time, that in many forests there is a strong link between fire activity and VPD on any given day.
Our results show certain VPD thresholds beyond which forest fire becomes more likely than not.
For example, in boreal forests (predominantly northern European and American coniferous forests), this threshold is 0.7-1.4 kilopascals (a unit of pressure). In subtropical and tropical forests such as the Amazon, the threshold rises dramatically to 1.5-4.0 kilopascals. This means the air must be a lot thirstier to spark fire in the tropical forests of Borneo and Sumatra than in the spruce, pine and larch of Canada.
We looked at both low- and high-emissions scenarios and found the risks are much greater if we fail to curb emissions.
If humanity continues to release greenhouse gas emissions unabated, the planet is expected to warm by around 3.7℃ by the end of the century. Under this high-emissions scenario, our study finds there are forests on every continent that will experience at least 30 extra days per year above critical flammability thresholds.
Under a lower-emissions scenario where global warming is limited to around 1.8℃, each continent will still see at least an extra 15 days per year crossing the threshold.
Parts of tropical South America including the Amazon will see the greatest increases in both scenarios by the end of the century: at least 90 additional days in a low-emissions scenario, and at least 150 extra days in a high-emissions scenario.
What are the risks?
Increasing forest fires will have serious consequences. This includes potentially destabilising patterns of fire and regrowth and disrupting the carbon storage we rely on forests for. Indeed, research last year showed the role of the Amazon rainforest as a “carbon sink” (which absorbs more CO₂ that it releases) may already be in decline.
We can also expect increasing harms to human health from wildfire smoke. It is estimated that around the world, more than 330,000 people die each year from smoke inhalation. This number could increase notably by the turn of the century, particularly in the most populated areas of South Asia and East Africa.
Our next research project will explore the links between fire, VPD and climate change in more detail in Australia, our home country. We’re also interested in the forests and regions where VPD doesn’t seem to be the main driver of fire, such as in Japan and Scandinavia.
Our discovery of reliable links between atmospheric dryness and forest fire risk in many regions means we can now develop better fire predictions, at both seasonal and near-term scales. This could bring significant benefits to those on the frontlines of fighting, managing and coexisting with wildfire.
The authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Shiva Khanal from Western Sydney University to this article.
Hamish Clarke, Senior Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne; Anne Griebel, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Western Sydney University; Matthias Boer, Professor, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University; Rachael Helene Nolan, Senior research fellow, Western Sydney University, and Víctor Resco de Dios, Profesor de ingeniería forestal y cambio global, Universitat de Lleida
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The city of Clearlake’s new recreation center complex received a major show of support and funding on Wednesday.
Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-04) on Wednesday presented a check for $2 million to the city of Clearlake for the Clearlake Burns Valley Sports Complex and Recreation Center project.
This funding was secured in the Fiscal Year 2023 government funding bill.
“The construction of the Burns Valley Sports Complex and Recreation Center will encourage healthier living and stimulate our local economy through youth sports, jobs, increased visitors, and additional hotel room stays,” said Thompson. “I was proud to work with Lake County officials to identify the need for this funding. This project is going to modernize our community, encourage a healthier lifestyle, and boost economic growth for our region.”
“This is a project that will have dramatic and long lasting impacts on our community. Encouraging a healthy lifestyle, safe activities for your youth, and providing a draw for visitors from outside our region are just a few of the benefits of this impact project. We are so grateful for the support of Congressman Thompson and the various agencies that will make this project a reality,” said Mayor Russ Perdock.
The full property will include a small amount of retail space, a new public works corporation yard — which will also serve as the city’s new hub for disaster and emergency response — as well as an 80-unit affordable housing project, and the sports complex and recreation center.
The sports complex will include a new Little League/softball/baseball complex, soccer fields and an approximately 20,000 square foot recreation center.
Thompson represents California’s Fourth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.
LAKEPORT, Calif. — Federal funds are helping ensure that the Lake County Sheriff’s Office will have a new headquarters in north Lakeport.
On Wednesday, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) presented a check for $988,600 to the county of Lake for the Lakeport Armory Facility Repurposing Project.
This funding was secured in the Fiscal Year 2023 government funding bill.
A year ago, the county completed a transaction in which it traded a vacant 15.5-acre property at 15837 18th Ave. in Clearlake to the state in exchange for the Lakeport Armory property, located on seven acres at 1431 Hoyt Ave. in north Lakeport next to the Lake County Jail.
The property on 18th Avenue in Clearlake is now being developed for affordable housing.
“Lake County has been significantly impacted by natural disasters and having an efficient and robust response is essential to the safety and well-being of our community,” said Thompson. “I was proud to work with Lake County officials to identify the need for this funding to repurpose the Lakeport Armory as an Emergency Operations Center and help serve the people of the county. This project will help mitigate the risk in Lake County and strengthen our response to wildfires, floods, landslides, and other natural disasters.”
The project began under the tenure of recently retired Sheriff Brian Martin, who aimed to trade the aging sheriff’s office headquarters at 1220 Martin St. for the armory location, where all of the agency’s divisions can be located on the same campus.
Martin was on hand for the Wednesday check presentation, along with his successor, Sheriff Rob Howe.
“I acknowledge that the majority of this project, to date, has been accomplished under recently retired Sheriff Martin. However, as the current sheriff and for those current and future department employees, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for Congressman Thompson’s support of this project. I look forward to continuing the relationship with the Congressman, our Board of Supervisors, County Administration, and all other stakeholders,” said Sheriff Howe. “The idea of a unified sheriff’s department campus that will improve efficiency, response, team cohesiveness, and, ultimately, public safety is very exciting.”
Within the first year, facility rehabilitation improvements may include energy efficiency upgrades — replacement of the HVAC system; roof replacement with solar; weatherization measures — and accessibility alterations.
The planning tasks and initial improvements will assist in repurposing the Lakeport Armory for permanent use by most, if not all, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Divisions and the Emergency Operations Center.
In addition to providing Emergency Operation Services, the repurposed facility will also serve as a Regional Training Center for multiple jurisdictions and public safety disciplines.
As a result, officials said emergency response operations throughout the region will be more resilient, mitigating risks to Lake County and surrounding communities.
The Lake Local Area Formation Commission, or Lake LAFCo, voted unanimously at its Tuesday morning meeting to terminate the city of Lakeport’s South Lakeport annexation in light of the annexation’s failure to receive a majority vote in the November election.
Executive Officer John Benoit presented the resolution to terminate LAFCo’s proceedings on the annexation.
The area in question includes 50 parcels totaling 137 acres in the area adjacent to South Main Street and Soda Bay Road and east of Highway 29.
It includes what is reported to be the most lucrative commercial corridor in the unincorporated county, which had resulted in years of disagreements between the city and county of Lake before a revenue sharing agreement was created. The Lakeport City Council and Board of Supervisors approved that agreement in January 2022.
The city of Lakeport has had that area in its sphere of influence since the 1980s and for the last several years has been working to formally annex it.
In August 2019, the city filed its application for the annexation with LAFCo, which is tasked with overseeing “orderly development” and protecting natural resources and agricultural lands in Lake County.
However, as the LAFCo process appeared to be moving toward the annexation’s completion last year, there was push back from property owners.
On March 30, LAFCo adopted a resolution approving the proposed annexation subject to the necessary authority proceedings.
In a May proceeding, LAFCo received protests from owners of 16 of the 50 parcels in the annexation area, passing the 25% threshold requiring an election.
That, in turn, triggered an election, which the Lakeport City Council voted in June to consolidate with the general election on Nov. 8.
The annexation was on the ballot as Measure P, and was limited to the 15 registered voters living in the annexation area.
The ballot question read: “Shall the order adopted on March 30, 2022 by the Local Agency Formation Commission of Lake County ordering the annexation to the City of Lakeport of the territory described in that order and designated ‘City of Lakeport Annexation to the City of Lakeport (LAFCo file 2019-0006) (South Lakeport Annexation)’ be confirmed?”
The final election results certified by the Registrar of Voters Office in December showed there were a total of 14 ballots cast, with two ballots, or 14.29%, favoring annexation, and 12 ballots, or 85.71%, opposed. Thirteen of the ballots were cast by mail, and one in person on Election Day.
With Measure P failing to have majority support of the annexation area’s registered voters, it didn’t meet the requirements of a resolution LAFCo approved in May 18 that would have allowed the annexation to move forward.
As a result, Benoit said the next step was to terminate the hearing.
Benoit said no substantially similar annexation proposal for that area can be filed with LAFCo within one year of the adoption of the resolution, unless LAFCo waives that requirement.
“That concludes these proceedings and I can put the box away,” said Benoit, noting a lot of information has been generated in the process.
He said he intended to speak with Lakeport City Manager Kevin Ingram on Thursday and let him know what his options are.
Commissioner Dirk Slooten moved to approve the resolution, with Commissioner Jim Scholz seconding. The commission approved the resolution 7-0.
Later in the meeting, the commission discussed agricultural lands and LAFCo's role, with Benoit noting that LAFCo is concerned about sprawl.
“We don’t like county developments in the sphere of influence of the city,” Benoit said.
LAFCo’s legal counsel, Scott Browne, said a classic example of that problem is the development that happened in the South Lakeport area, where there are urban levels of development without the accompanying level of services.
He said that development should have been done in the city of Lakeport. “Instead we’re now dealing with a real problem.”
Following the meeting, Lake County News reached out to Ingram to ask him about the city’s plan going forward.
“We are looking at various options for the future of the South Lakeport area but I would not say there is a plan,” Ingram said in an email response.
He said the city will work with various agencies — LAFCo, the California Department of Water Resources and the county of Lake — “to better understand the status of things with or without public services.”
Ingram also acknowledged LAFCo’s rule that the city would not be able to submit a formal application again for a year if the city decides to move forward again.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
The listening sessions will include presentations from State Water Board staff and opportunities for public input and discussion.
The remote sessions will take place as follows:
Thursday, Jan. 19, 1 to 3 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://bit.ly/CLH_Jan19
Meeting ID: 913 5194 9078
Passcode: 046844
Phone: 669-444-9171
Wednesday, Feb. 1, 6 to 8 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://bit.ly/CLH_Feb1
Meeting ID: 926 4553 6143
Passcode: 103695
Phone: 669-900-9128
The Clear Lake hitch is a large minnow found only in Clear Lake and its tributaries. Historically, the hitch likely numbered in the millions, but recent surveys indicate a significant decline, and in 2014, California designated the hitch as a threatened species.
The hitch has strong cultural significance for several indigenous Pomo tribes of the Clear Lake region that rely on the hitch, or “chi,” for spiritual purposes and traditions and as a primary food source.
The hitch is also of great importance to the lake’s ecosystem, a significant source of food for other fish, birds and wildlife.
Adult hitch migrate upstream in tributaries of Clear Lake each spring to spawn before returning to the lake. Juvenile hitch hatch in the tributaries and move to the lake as well.
While the hitch’s decline can be linked to a variety of factors including habitat loss, passage barriers, poor water quality, and invasive species, the most immediate threat to their survival is little to no water flowing in Kelsey, Adobe, Manning, Cole and Middle creeks during the upcoming spawning and rearing season, which takes place from February through May.
The State Water Board is looking for ways to protect the Clear Lake hitch now and in the long term, including local voluntary actions to keep water in the creeks this year, obtaining data to better understand the problem and potential solutions, collaboration to fund effective solutions and spread important messages, enforcement to ensure all diversions in the area are legal, and regulations if voluntary actions aren’t successful.
For additional information and updates, visit the State Water Board’s Hitch webpage for continued updates on potential board actions. This website will be updated with related documents and information as available.
If you would like to receive email updates about this issue, please sign up for the Board’s “Clear Lake Hitch” email list at the bottom of the Clear Lake Hitch webpage.
Please email questions to