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- Written by: Dr. Glen Holstein
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – In the early 20th century, grand theories like relativity and quantum mechanics triumphed and came to define science so much that plant ecology felt it needed one of its own to be taken seriously as science.
Frederic Clements helpfully provided one.
His monoclimax theory claimed all vegetation in a climate zone converged to a particular kind called the climatic climax. It seemed to make sense because in its natural state eastern North America it was largely covered by forests from Quebec to Florida and from the Atlantic to eastern Oklahoma.
In the theory, exceptions like abandoned farms, wetlands and rock outcrops were constantly pushed by succession to be covered by forest as well: the region’s climatic climax.
Further west, in a drier climate, a band of nearly treeless grassland that extended from Canada south well into Mexico was the site of dramatic history as cattle were driven north through it from Texas to railroads in Kansas, and eventually to new pastures in Montana as described in “Lonesome Dove.”
Much of what we know as the wild west took place there in the single 1870’s decade from Wyatt Earp’s taming Dodge City to Custer’s defeat at the Little Big Horn. It’s climatic monoclimax, of course, was grassland.
When Clements saw California’s Central Valley, its plains reminded him so much of those in his Nebraska home state, he concluded it must have the same climate.
Consequently, in his climatic climax map, that valley is colored the same yellow as the great plains. And since his theory demanded the same plants in the same climate, he found a few bunch grasses in California related to those in Nebraska and declared them the valley’s original vegetation his theory demanded; even though John Muir 50 years earlier found the still largely undisturbed valley covered with spring and fall wildflowers and very little grass. Despite that, Clements’ bunch grass theory was widely and dogmatically believed until quite recently.
Another plant ecologist W. S. Cooper knew the Central Valley’s climate was nothing like Nebraska but still believed fervently in monoclimaxes. He decided California’s unique climate deserved its own unique climax vegetation and found it in uniquely Californian chaparral shrublands.
And good theorist that he was, Cooper believed chaparral had to be the monoclimax that covered all of California’s distinctive climate zone including the Central Valley, even though no one who had actually been there had ever found anything like that.
But despite scant evidence for Clements’ conclusion about central California and none for Cooper’s, both had their advocates in academic plant ecology throughout the twentieth century since it often practiced what jurists call stare decisis, standing by what’s decided.
Monoclimax was never accepted much in Europe or the rest of the world outside the United States and for good reason. For one, climate is among the least stable of environmental features; hardly one likely to drag vegetation on more stable things like rocks to a monoclimax.
Still, it was significant 50 years ago at UC Davis when a young and soon to be great plant ecology professor Mike Barbour, who tragically passed away late last year, chose the text An Island Called California by an observant amateur Elna Bakker for his classes rather than one by an academic.
Unobstructed by stare decisis Bakker described a previously unnoticed elephant in the room: California has no single “monoclimax” but is a mosaic of many kinds of vegetation that shifts across landscapes as environmental conditions change.
The reason for this mosaic is quite simple but little discussed or noticed. In California’s Mediterranean type climate rain falls when it’s too cold for much plant growth so water is stored underground for a few months until temperatures warm.
Those months cause underground conditions to be much more important here than east of the Rockies, where monoclimax theory was invented and rain falls when plants are ready to grow.
The greater dependence of vegetation in California on its diverse soils and geology during the months they store water increases its botanical diversity and may even increase its resilience to climate change.
This tale is dedicated to Dr. Michael Barbour, friend and mentor who will be remembered always.
Dr. Glen Holstein is a retired senior scientist from Zentner and Zentner, a Northern California biological consulting company and the Chapter Botanist for the Sacramento Valley Chapter of the California Native Plant Society. He is also on the Board of Tuleyome, a Woodland based nonprofit conservation organization.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace said that as of Thursday afternoon, the state reported most orders of Moderna vaccine placed “since mid to late last week [had] not yet shipped.”
This is due to severe weather disrupting work at a key distribution hub. A “back log of orders,” has resulted, “that will need to get out once weather conditions improve,” officials reported.
Pace said most shipments are expected to arrive next week.
He said the county had used up the last of its vaccine supply by Friday afternoon, after completing the second doses administered this week.
Until the county receives a shipment, Pace said all further clinics will be cancelled.
Once the vaccine arrives, the county will set up the next clinics as soon as possible, and post links for appointment scheduling at http://health.co.lake.ca.us/Coronavirus/Vaccines.htm. If you, or someone connected to you, is eligible to be vaccinated, Pace said to visit this webpage often to see if appointments are available. Information on who is eligible is also posted there.
“Once we receive our shipments of vaccine, we are anticipating ramping up our numbers significantly, so we can get back on track,” Pace said.
While the issues with the vaccine rollout continues, Pace said there continue to be positive signs new COVID-19 infections are diminishing in Lake County.
But he cautioned, “It is important to remember, though, COVID-19 remains widespread in Lake County’s communities, and many of our friends and neighbors are highly vulnerable to severe complications. In just the past week, four Lake County residents have died of COVID-related illness, bringing our total to 40. Each of these is a tragic reminder we must remain vigilant to continue recent positive trends, and keep our communities safe.”
Pace said the county’s testing positivity rate is 6.9 percent. “In the last fully reported period, ending Jan. 31, we documented 88 new infections. This is remarkably down from our peak of 292, in the weekly period ending Jan. 3.”
Lake County’s daily case rate now sits at 20 per 100,000. Pace said the county’s data must meet all criteria for the red tier – with a daily case rate from 4.0 to 7.0 per 100,000 and testing positivity of 8 percent or lower – for two consecutive weeks prior to advancing to the less restrictive red tier. That would enable reintroduction of some business services, including limited indoor dining at restaurants.
“Considering recent trends, this can be achievable in the relatively near-term,” said Pace.
Actualización de COVID-19: Continúan las demoras en el envío de la vacuna Moderna debido al clima severo
Para obtener información sobre vacunas, visite http://health.co.lake.ca.us/Coronavirus/Vaccines.htm
Condado de Lake, CA (Febrero 19, 2021) - Sigue habiendo señales positivas de que las nuevas infecciones por COVID-19 están disminuyendo en el condado de Lake. Nuestra tasa de positividad de las pruebas es del 6,9%. En el último período informado en su totalidad, que finalizó el 31 de enero, documentamos 88 nuevas infecciones. Esto está notablemente por debajo de nuestro pico de 292, en el período semanal que finalizó el 3 de enero.
La tasa diaria de casos del condado de Lake ahora se sitúa en 20 / 100.000. Nuestros datos deben cumplir con todos los criterios para el nivel rojo (tasa diaria de casos de 4.0 a 7.0 / 100,000 Y prueba de positividad del 8% o menos) durante dos semanas consecutivas antes de avanzar al nivel rojo menos restrictivo. Eso permitiría la reintroducción de algunos servicios comerciales, incluido el comedor interior limitado en los restaurantes. Teniendo en cuenta las tendencias recientes, esto se puede lograr en un plazo relativamente cercano.
Sin embargo, es importante recordar que COVID-19 sigue estando muy extendido en las comunidades del condado de Lake y muchos de nuestros amigos y vecinos son muy vulnerables a complicaciones graves. En la última semana, 4 residentes del condado de Lake han muerto de enfermedades relacionadas con COVID, lo que eleva nuestro total a 40. Cada uno de estos es un recordatorio trágico de que debemos permanecer alerta para continuar las tendencias positivas recientes y mantener seguras nuestras comunidades.
Actualización de distribución de vacunas
Hasta ayer por la tarde, el Estado informó que la mayoría de los pedidos de la vacuna Moderna realizados "desde mediados o finales de la semana pasada aún no se habían enviado". Esto se debe al clima severo que interrumpe el trabajo en un centro de distribución clave. Un "registro de pedidos atrasados", ha resultado, "que deberán salir una vez que mejoren las condiciones climáticas". Se espera que la mayoría de los envíos lleguen la próxima semana.
Habremos agotado lo último de nuestro suministro de vacunas para el viernes por la tarde, después de completar las segundas dosis administradas esta semana.
Hasta que recibamos un envío, todas las clínicas adicionales serán canceladas. Una vez que llegue la vacuna, estableceremos las próximas clínicas lo antes posible y publicaremos enlaces para registrar citas en http://health.co.lake.ca.us/Coronavirus/Vaccines.htm. Si usted o alguien relacionado con usted es elegible para vacunarse, visite esta página web con frecuencia para ver si hay citas disponibles. La información sobre quién es elegible también se publica allí.
Una vez que recibamos nuestros envíos de vacunas, estamos anticipando un aumento significativo en nuestros números, para que podamos volver a encarrilarnos. ¡Estamos listos!
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Teamwork between the county’s two police departments led to the arrest of a Lakeport man who had been released a day earlier from the Lake County Jail.
The Clearlake Police Department said it arrested Austin Anthony Schweitzer, 28, on Feb. 17 for possession of a large quantity of suspected methamphetamine and for being under the influence of narcotics. He was booked into the Lake County Jail but soon released.
On Feb. 18, after Schweitzer’s release from custody, police said he is believed to have stolen a vehicle that was left running to warm up in Lakeport. The vehicle contained several credit cards in the vehicle owner’s name.
Police said Schweitzer then drove the vehicle to Clearlake and parked it. He attempted to use the stolen victim’s credit cards at a gas station but was unsuccessful.
Lakeport Police officers learned of the credit card usage and alerted Clearlake Police officers of the situation, according to the report.
Police said the vehicle was quickly located near the gas station by a community service officer along with evidence linking Schweitzer to the vehicle. The vehicle was returned to the owner.
A short time later, police said Schweitzer returned to the gas station where an employee spotted him, but now associated with another vehicle, and notified police.
An alert Clearlake Police officer spotted the vehicle at Walmart and Schweitzer was taken into custody without incident, authorities said.
Police said Schweitzer was found to be in possession of the stolen credit cards, the stolen vehicle’s keys and other property from the stolen vehicle.
He was transported and booked back into the Lake County Jail, where he remains in custody on misdemeanors related to the credit card theft, and felonies for taking the vehicle, being in possession of a stolen vehicle and first-degree burglary.
“We are grateful for the collaboration between the agencies and the community that resulted in the return of the vehicle and apprehension of the suspect,” the Clearlake Police Department said.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Morales pleaded guilty in December to two counts of felony bribery and was sentenced on Friday to four years in prison, which is suspended pending successful completion of a two-year probation term.
The terms of probation include one year of home detention with electronic monitoring and monthly $500 restitution payments to Caltrans.
Morales will also forfeit any CalPERS benefits he accrued between August 2010 and January 2015, when the crimes were committed.
“When you violate the public’s trust, you will be held accountable,” said Becerra. “As public servants, we are held to a higher standard. There is no place for this kind of criminal behavior in our state or state government. At the California Department of Justice, we’re always ready to go to bat for the people of California.”
Morales was employed as an Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, coordinator for Caltrans, a role which involves making Caltrans systems, including bridges and public walkways, ADA compliant.
The California Department of Justice arrested Morales in 2015 after a nine-month investigation. Following a preliminary hearing in 2017, a judge held Morales to answer on 39 counts of bribery.
At trial in 2019, the jury acquitted Morales on two counts and deadlocked on the remaining counts.
A new trial was scheduled for 2021, but Morales pleaded guilty in December 2020 to accepting multiple bribes over the course of approximately five years.
The bribes were made in cash payments ranging from $1,875 to $12,000 and included the acceptance of a new white Ford Expedition.