BOS updated on drought conditions
Board also begins appointing area plan committee members
This Tuesday during their weekly meeting the Lake County Board of Supervisors heard an update on 2024 drought conditions and related projects from Water Resources as well as voting on terminating the local emergency declaration due to drought. They also revisited an item from last week and began appointing positions for the Lake County 2050 Plan local area plan advisory committees.
Angela De Palma-Dow and Mitchell Breedlove from the Water Resources Department presented an update on drought conditions, with Breedlove sharing a map stating “Currently zero people in Lake County are effected by drought… this past February was the 21st wettest on record in 130 years, that was a 5.58 inch increase compared to normal.” They shared slides comparing lake levels which according to De Palma-Dow are now above full at around eight feet.
Breedlove outlined the DWR's four priority activities in progress beginning with support services with the California Drought Resilience Planning and Assistance Program provided by the consultant Stantec from March 2024 through March 2025. Secondly, they are submitting an application through the county wide regional water funding program. Third, Breedlove shared “The DWR has received funding to improve in-stream hitch habitat and to modify reservoir storage and operations to increase Big Valley surface flows and groundwater recharge.” Lastly, they overviewed the developing of storm water plans for capture and reuse.
De Palma-Dow concluded their presentation with a conversation on water conservation and upcoming changes in regulation, all of which is
accessible on the water resources department website at www.lakecountyca.gov.
Supervisors expressed their gratitude and swiftly moved onto the next agenda item, the consideration of the continuance of an emergency declaration for emergency drought conditions. District 4 Supervisor Michael Green asked “When is (it) enough? When does the emergency actually end and we continue the hard work on drought planning but we don't have to do it on an emergency footing based on a proclamation describing conditions that no longer exist.” He continued noting that the declaration is going on three years. With careful consideration and public discussion, the board voted to terminate the emergency declaration 4-1 with District 3 Supervisor Eddie Crandell dissenting noting, “I'd like to have a plan like we talked about with a sunset in place to keep it going until the plan is in place.”
The board also revisited the Lake County 2050 Plan from last week's meeting and discussed appointments for the eight local area advisory committees with Community Development Director Mireya Turner. The board took public input concerning tribal representation and they unanimously appointed the following people onto the Big Valley advisory council; Joy Marales, Meg Langford, Brian Hanson, Angel Costa, and others.
More information, minutes, agendas and video are available on the Lake County website at https:// www.lakecountyca.gov/