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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
On Thursday, Lake County Water Resources reported on the lake-wide algae bloom.
“Due to the very warm weather and the extended light periods this time of year, the shallow waters of Clear Lake are a perfect environment to encourage growth of aquatic plants, planktonic algae (floating green algae) and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae),” the agency reported.
While officials said that much of what currently is seen on the lake is harmless, cyanobacteria – if it grows in enough abundance – can produce cyanotoxins, which can be a health hazard to humans, livestock and pets.
Water Resources said algae and cyanobacteria are naturally occurring in all water bodies on planet earth, explaining that the algae and cyanobacteria in Clear Lake can grow in large amounts using sunlight, warm air temperatures and food from nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen).
“Phosphorous is the main nutrient driving these blooms, and the majority of phosphorus comes from the nutrient-rich bottom sediments of the lake,” Water Resources said in its report, adding that Clear Lake is very old and relatively shallow, and has accumulated a thick layer of sediments during its existence.
Water Resources said that Clear Lake is different from the young and vibrantly blue reservoirs in California such as Pillsbury, Folsom, Berryessa and Shasta because it can’t draw down its nutrient- and algae-rich water due to the restrictive Grigsby Riffle rock formation at the Cache Creek outflow.
As a result, every year the algae and phosphorus accumulate in the lake, settle into the sediments, and are ready to be used for next summer’s algae blooms. “This is an ongoing cycle,” Water Resources said.
Meantime, the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians and Elem Indian Colony are continuing regular lake water monitoring at approximately 30 Clear Lake sites.
On Thursday, Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace said that the results from preliminary testing conducted on Tuesday found cyanotoxin at the “warning” level at nine sites: Elem Indian Colony shoreline, Austin Park in Clearlake, Keeling Park in Nice, Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine shoreline in Clearlake Oaks, Buckingham, Jago Bay, the CL-4 site located in the center of the lake’s Oaks arm, Lily Cove and Lucerne.
Pace said lab testing results will be available by early next week, and results will be made public.
Cyanobacteria can pose health risks, particularly to children and pets. As such, Pace urged boaters and recreational users to avoid direct contact with or use of waters containing cyanobacteria in Lake County.
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Dr. Gary Pace said that of Lake County’s 42 cases, five are active and none are currently hospitalized.
As of Thursday night, the number of COVID-19 cases statewide had risen to more than 200,000, with more than 5,800 deaths, based on a survey of the state’s 58 county Public Health departments.
Lake County News asked Pace for information on how and where the 41st and 42nd patients contracted the virus. He did not provide the information requested about those two cases.
Instead, the statement he released said that of the eight cases confirmed since last Friday, “Most of the cases have had recent contact with a known case that is presumed to be the source of the infection. Now that there is more movement, the number of contacts is higher.”
He said that Public Health has “generally been able to locate the family and friends who have been in contact with these cases and had them get tested. We have been very fortunate that most of the contacts have been using masks and social distancing, so the community transmission has not been identified.”
Two of the recent cases may have had more community involvement without masks, “so we are concerned about possible spread.” Pace said Public Health is continuing to pursue investigations and testing.
Pace said Lake County’s population-adjusted infection rate is 1:1,609 ratio, which is far lower than many other counties around the region.
However, Pace said large social gatherings – particularly in combination with increased regional travel, congregate living situations and high-traffic and interaction-intensive work settings – are among the situations that carry significant risk.
“While the spread of COVID-19 has been slow in Lake County, to date, this is a highly contagious virus, and those with underlying medical conditions, particularly, may experience severe complications. Clusters of severe cases could quickly stress our local health care system,” Pace said.
Cases, on the whole, are rising in California, which Pace said can be attributed, in part, to increased testing capacity. However, the 14-day “positivity rate” – the percentage of tests conducted that have a positive result – has shown a moderate upward trend.
The California Department of Public Health has indicated this suggests increased community spread, and the reintroduction of many business and social activities over the past month and greater prevalence of large gatherings may inform that analysis, Pace said.
“We are also learning more about activities and work environments that carry increased risk of COVID-19 transmission, and performing targeted testing of relatively high-risk groups,” Pace said.
Despite an upward trend in the past 14 days in documented positive cases, a corresponding 29-percent increase in statewide hospital-based care and an 18-percent increase in suspected cases of COVID-19 treated in intensive care units, Pace said the percentage of COVID-19 positive patients in the state requiring inpatient intensive care has generally trended downward since early April.
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This legislation, the principles of which were first unveiled last November, works to tackle the threat of climate change through the tax code.
Thompson’s office said it includes an unprecedented extension and expansion of renewable energy use to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions
“The threat of climate change is the most pressing issue of our time. Today we take a major step forward in enacting comprehensive climate policy as we introduce the GREEN Act,” said Thompson. “This bill uses our tax code to expand the deployment of renewable energy by extending and expanding the federal tax incentives to promote clean energy technologies and supports widespread deployment of zero-emissions vehicles. All this is an investment in creating new efficiency and emissions models to reduce our carbon footprint. And it’s a down payment on our work to tackle climate change and pass on a better world to our children and grandchildren.”
“Chairman Thompson has been a leader in the fight against climate change and I congratulate him on today’s introduction of the GREEN Act,” said Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA). “This monumental legislation makes unprecedented investments in green technologies and efficiencies using our tax code while creating programs to reduce our carbon footprint. The numerous new green jobs that will be created because of this bill make it an important feature of the Moving Forward Act and of our broader COVID-19 relief efforts. We are fighting a climate crisis that requires innovative, bold action, and that’s why we need to move quickly to pass the GREEN Act into law.”
To read the full text of the GREEN Act, click here. You can also click here for a section by section, and here for a summary.
The GREEN Act:
– Builds on current successful tax incentives that promote the deployment of green energy technologies, while providing new incentives for activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
– Encourages residential investments in green energy and energy efficiency;
– Expands incentives for energy efficiency and conservation in homes and buildings, with updated standards;
– Supports widespread adoption of zero-emission cars, vans, and buses through tax credits for purchasing vehicles, and supporting deployment of publicly accessible electric vehicle charging infrastructure;
– Supports the creation of well-paying jobs by providing new tax incentives for energy and efficiency projects that engage in high road labor practices;
– Advances environmental justice using tax credits for research and other academic programs, and;
– Requires Treasury to study a framework for mandatory taxpayer carbon emissions reporting.
The GREEN Act was introduced with original cosponsors, including Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (MA-01) and members of the committee, including John Lewis (GA-05), Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), John Larson (CT-01), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Ron Kind (WI-03), Bill Pascrell (NJ-09), Danny Davis (IL-07), Linda Sanchez (CA-38), Brian Higgins (NY-26), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Judy Chu (CA-27), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Dan Kildee (MI-05), Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Don Beyer (VA-08), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) and Steven Horsford (NV-04).
Original cosponsors also include Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11), Charlie Crist (FL-13), Mike Doyle (PA-18), Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18), Deb Haaland (NM-01), Alcee L. Hastings (FL-20), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02), Mike Levin (CA-49), Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Doris Matsui (CA-06), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Harley Rouda (CA-48), Jose E. Serrano (NY-15), Darren Soto (FL-09), Mark Takano (CA-41), Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), and Peter Welch (VT-AL).
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
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These seasonal restrictions are in addition to the year-round statewide fire prevention order, issued on April 28, and will remain in effect until further notice.
The BLM-managed public lands affected by these fire restrictions are located in Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.
Popular recreation areas affected by fire restrictions are Cow Mountain Recreation Area and Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, which includes the Cache Creek Wilderness, Indian Valley Management Area and Knoxville Recreation Area.
On average, human-caused wildfires make up 95 percent of all wildfires in California. Many of these wildfires occur close in proximity to roadways, communities and recreational areas, posing considerable threat to public safety.
Taking individual responsibility to reduce wildfire risk, while recreating on public lands, around homes and communities, before a fire occurs can help keep property, the public and firefighters safe.
An increase in wildfire severity is expected based on forecasted climate scenarios, as well as an expansion of wildfire season over much of the western United States. The following restrictions will remain in place until the fire danger subsides:
– No campfires, barbecues or open fires, except in a developed campground. Portable stoves with gas, jelled petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed with a valid California campfire permit available free at all BLM, U.S. Forest Service and Cal Fire offices, or at www.readyforwildfire.org/permits/campfire-permit/ .
– No target shooting. Hot bullet fragments, exploding targets and metal from recreational shooting can spark a wildfire. Use of firearms for hunting is still allowed. Hunters must abide by state of California laws and regulations. Visit www.wheretoshoot.org for alternative recreational target shooting locations.
– No motorized vehicles off BLM designated roads or trails.
– No tools powered by internal combustion engines off BLM designated roads or trails (such as chainsaws or lawnmowers).
– No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or at a developed recreation site, or other designated areas.
– No welding or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame.
– No explosives.
Anyone found guilty of violating a fire prevention order may be fined not more than $100,000 and/or imprisonment for not more than 12 months. Restitution for total fire suppression and damage costs incurred may be borne by the trespasser.
To learn how you can do your part to prevent wildland fires visit www.readyforwildfire.org. A listing of fire restrictions throughout BLM California, along with an interactive map, are available at https://go.usa.gov/xmUEG .
For specific questions, please contact the Ukiah Field Office at 707-468-4000.