How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
Roadside litter cleanup has been limited since March due to the COVID-19 health crisis.
“Litter increases the risk of fire, pollutes our waterways, threatens wildlife and costs taxpayers millions of dollars to remove,” said Toks Omishakin, Caltrans director. “We ask all Californians to be part of the solution, dispose of trash responsibly and secure cargo loads before getting on the road.”
Caltrans maintenance workers and partnering programs are adhering to recommendations developed in consultation with licensed industrial hygienists to ensure safe working environments while conducting litter removal efforts during the current health crisis.
Crews will continue to wear personal protective equipment such as facemasks and gloves and practice physical distancing in accordance with guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
California needs your help to prevent trash from ever making it to the highways. Money spent on cleaning up trash diverts crews away from filling potholes, fixing guardrails, and performing other essential maintenance activities.
Motorists can be part of the solution by following a few basic travel behaviors:
– Stow a litter bag in your vehicle and always dispose of trash appropriately;
– Properly extinguish cigarettes and cigars; never throw any item, particularly one that is lit, from a vehicle.
– Always cover and properly secure cargo or materials hauled in passenger trucks and pick-ups to prevent items from falling off the vehicle.
– Volunteer to adopt a California highway and remove litter.
Litter removal was limited to protect the health and safety of Caltrans crews during the current health crisis.
Due to the accumulation of trash on the state highways with traffic beginning to increase as the state reopens, Caltrans crews and volunteers with the Adopt-A-Highway program are picking up garbage statewide and removing items abandoned on the side of the road.
The CHP actively enforces California’s anti-littering laws, ticketing motorists seen littering highways or driving with unsecured cargo loads.
Last year, CHP officers issued more than 3,100 citations for littering, and roughly one-third of those violations involved a lit cigarette.
“Not only is littering illegal, but there can be devastating consequences resulting from these senseless actions,” said CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley. “A lit cigarette carelessly tossed from a window can start a brush fire, an unsecured cargo load can result in a collision, and the safety of a highway worker cleaning up the mess is at great risk.”
Caltrans collected 287,000 cubic yards of litter in 2019 alone – enough to fill 18,000 garbage trucks.
Of that total, 35 percent resulted from efforts by the department’s community volunteer programs, saving California millions of dollars and untold associated environmental costs.
Caltrans collaborates with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and advocacy groups to provide occupational mentoring and temporary employment to parolees and veterans.
Participants are trained in litter abatement, and the program has grown from eight crews in 2009 to 55 crews operating in the state today.
The Adopt-A-Highway program provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations, and businesses to help maintain sections of the state highways.
Since its start in 1989, Adopt-a Highway volunteers have removed litter from more than 15,000 miles of roadway shoulders and helped maintain 36 acres of wildflowers, 1,540 acres of vegetation management, and 111 acres of tree planting.
More information on becoming an Adopt-a-Highway volunteer may be found on the Caltrans website at http://dot.ca.gov .
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
National Go Fishing Day arrives Thursday, June 18, providing yet another opportunity for veteran anglers and newcomers alike to get outside, renew, recharge and soak up California’s outdoors.
California has issued more fishing licenses in 2020 than the state issued through this same time last year.
Annual resident sport fishing license sales are up 10 percent so far in 2020. Overall, California sport fishing licenses – which include resident, nonresident, annual, short-term and lifetime licenses among others – are up 3 percent in 2020.
Californians have discovered that fishing can provide a safe and healthy physical distancing activity and offers physical and mental relief in stressful times.
Fishing can supplement a family's diet with heart-healthy, low-fat sustainable protein. Fishing remains one of the limited entertainment options currently available to many Californians amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
National Go Fishing Day arrives as California's fishing seasons are in full swing statewide following some COVID-19 related delays to the start of ocean salmon seasons and the general trout opener.
From offshore tuna out of San Diego to high mountain trout in the Eastern Sierra and black bass and sunfish in neighborhood parks and ponds across the state, California anglers have nearly unlimited fishing options available to them this time of year.
The surge in 2020 California fishing licenses supports anecdotal observations pouring in for months. Bait, tackle, fly fishing shops and other outdoor retailers have reported brisk business in selling fishing equipment.
CDFW wildlife officers in the field noticed an uptick in fishing activity where it was available in the early days of shelter-in-place mandates.
CDFW's fish hatcheries have continued to stock catchable trout and salmon smolts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to provide current and future fishing opportunities to California anglers.
Those 16 and older are required to have a valid California fishing license in their possession while fishing. CDFW offers several fishing license options – from the traditional, annual license to one- and two-day licenses to lifetime licenses that are valid even if the holder moves out of state. Licenses can be purchased online or at participating retail sales agents.
CDFW provides a number of online resources to anglers at its R3 webpages to recruit, retain and reactivate hunters and anglers in California.
CDFW reminds anglers to abide by all state and local health guidelines regarding non-essential travel and physical distancing. Staying home in order to stay healthy is still the best way to keep yourself and others safe.
Anglers are also advised to check with local authorities on the status of access points as many site closures and access restrictions exist and may change daily.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The council will meet virtually at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 18.
Because of the county’s shelter in place order, Clearlake City Hall remains closed to the public, however, the virtual meeting will be broadcast live on Lake County PEG TV’s YouTube Channel.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to City Clerk Melissa Swanson at
To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments prior to 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 18.
Each public comment emailed to the city clerk will be read aloud by the mayor or a member of staff for up to three minutes or will be displayed on a screen. Public comment emails and town hall public comment submissions that are received after the beginning of the meeting will not be included in the record.
On the agenda is a discussion of selling the 21.25-acre city-owned parcel at 2185 Ogulin Canyon Road to Kim Gardner.
City Manager Alan Flora’s report to the council said the city purchased the property in 2016 with the intention of locating a Public Works corporation yard and animal shelter facility there.
However, in February, an analysis by city staff presented to the council concluded that the property isn’t an acceptable location either for the corporation yard or animal shelter, as Lake County News has reported.
“The City is currently under construction for new and upgraded Animal Shelter facilities and is undertaking planning to locate the Public Works Yard near the Lake County Sanitation District’s Southeast Treatment Plant. The City has no current need for the 21.25-acre property on Ogulin Canyon,” Flora reported.
He said the property was listed for sale a few weeks ago for $398,000 and a full price offer has been received. He said the buyer would like a 90-day escrow period.
If the council gives authorization to sign the agreement, Flora said staff will proceed with taking the proposed sale to the Clearlake Planning Commission for review of general plan consistency, and close of escrow would be contingent on this determination.
“Other than the 90-day period for due diligence no other contingencies have been requested by the buyer,” Flora reported.
The council also will consider adopting its new fiscal year budget, get updates to the management classification and benefits plan and city salary schedule and get a presentation on the city’s adoptable dogs.
On the meeting's consent agenda – items that are not considered controversial and are usually adopted on a single vote – are warrant registers; consideration of continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on Oct. 9, 2017, and ratified by council action Oct. 12, 2017, in response to the Sulphur fire; consideration of continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on March 14, 2020, and Ratified by Council Action March 19, 2020; minutes of the April and May meetings; minutes of the May 13, 2020 LC Vector Control District Board meeting; consideration of Resolution No. 2020-29, approving a temporary street closure for the 63rd annual July 4th celebration; Adoption of Resolution 2020-30 authoring the application for and receipt of Local Early Action Planning Grant Program funds; acceptance of easement deed from Highlands Mutual Water Co. for property located at 14580 Lakeshore Drive; acceptance of right of way dedication from Clearlake Paper-Janitorial Supply for property located at 14802 Lakeshore Drive; purchase of emergency items with funds from the 2019 CalOES Grant.
Following the public portion of the meeting, the council will go to closed session to discuss existing litigation against Pacific Gas and Electric Co., negotiations for the sale of city-owned property at 2185 Ogulin Canyon Road and a potential case of litigation.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The two new cases bring the total COVID-19 caseload for Lake County to 34.
Lake County Public Health did not immediately release any details about the cases.
Of Lake County’s total cases, four are active and 30 have recovered. There are no current hospitalizations, according to the Lake County Public Health COVID-19 dashboard.
Approximately 3,459 of Lake County’s more than 64,000 residents have been tested for COVID-19, with 149 of those test results still pending, Public Health reported.
As of Monday night, more than 155,000 COVID-19 cases and more than 5,100 deaths had been reported in California, according to data provided by county health departments statewide.
Email Elizabeth Larson at