The State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways is spending money to prevent the further spread of quagga and zebra mussels into California’s waterways. Grants will be Funded by the California Boater Mussel Fee Sticker — known as the Quagga sticker. The anti infestation program expects to award up to $3 million to eligible applicants. Applications will be accepted from April 10-May 19. DBW provides grants to entities that own or manage any aspect of water in a reservoir that is open for public recreation and is mussel-free. Funds for the Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation program are available for prevention projects such as planning, watercraft inspection stations and inspectors, launch monitors, watercraft decontamination units, educational signage, and outreach. Quagga and zebra mussels pose a serious threat to California’s waters and fisheries. The spread of these freshwater mussels threatens recreational boating and fishing, aquatic ecosystems and fisheries, water delivery systems, hydroelectric facilities, agriculture, and the environment in general. The DBW webpage has information about the grants and infestation protection.
California foster children could get a chance to go to college and come out debt free under a bill under discussion in Sacramento. The measure would cover tuition, housing, food and books for students at Cal State, UC and community colleges. Those behind the bill say it could be a life change for kids who don’t have a family to fall back on to help them pursue a college education. The program would kick in when the students have run out of other ways to pay. There are over 60,000 children in the state foster care system.
The old National Guard armory in Lakeport will soon become the new Lake County Sheriffs office headquarters. The boar of supervisors has approved a $250,000 dollar contract with the architects who will design the remodel of the building on Hoyt Avenue. The county acquired the property last year from the state in a land swap for a vacant 15.5 acre property in Clearlake. That land will be developed into affordable housing. The new HQ will be right next to the county jail. The first phase of the design work will take about 4 months.
The Clearlake City Council has its April meeting this evening with a couple of big contracts on the agenda. The council will consider a contact for the 18th Avenue Improvement project for more than 4.6 million dollars, and another for the Dam Road Extension/South Center Drive Improvement Project at almost 1 million dollars. Several proclamations and other routine business will come before the council in the meeting that starts at 6:00 in the council chambers at city hall. If you’d like to look over the agenda, it is on the city website, If you’d like to watch, the meeting will be on the usual social media channels.
You can have your say in the future of Lake County’s parks, recreation and trails next week. The visioning workshop on Tuesday evening will focus on the county’s master park, rec and trails plan that’s being written. IT will include an inventory of what’s there now and a plan for what could be there in the future. The meeting runs from 6:30 to 8:00 at the Board of Supervisors Chambers at the County Courthouse. There are also a couple of pop-ups where you can share your idea. More on those, and the overall plan, is on the project link on the county website.
Mendocino County is on a census bureau list of the highest percent of population loss in California from July 2021 to July 2022. The census says the county lost1.6 percent of its population over those 12 months. That is the 9th biggest loss of any of the state’s counties. California’s biggest gainer—Yolo County, which saw a 4.2 percent increase Demographers—people who study those trends—say the Pandemic had a big effect on population movements over the past three years but but that most parts of the state are getting back to their pre-pandemic levels.
A man from Humboldt county has died in a motorcycle crash near Big Sur. Kymkemp.com reports the rider collided with a truck that was turning onto Highway 1, south of Monterey early Wednesday. Both the rider and the truck’s driver died at the scene early Wednesday. The name of ,motorcyclist, who was from Miranda, has not been released.
The Lakeport City Council is honoring the many, many volunteers who serve on various boards and commissions. This is volunteer month, established in 1991 as part of then-President George H.W. Bush’s 1000 Points of Light initiative . Council members say Lakeport wouldn’t be the community it is without those who serve without pay. There are lots of opportunities to step up. You can contact the city clerk’s office if you’d like to know about them.
FEMA is granting more than 22 million dollars to North Coast Opportunities to harden 500 homes , which will help reduce the damage from wildfires—and save lives. The idea of a defensible space is to keep flammable material away from homes and give firefighters an area around t property to defend it. The program will focus on the Kelseyville Rivera Community Association in Lake County. NCO’s Home Hardening Program Manager Deanna Fernweh tells LakeCo.news her organization is anxious to get stated on a project that will make the community safer. If you’d like to find out more, the website ncohomehardening.org.
