LAKEPORT, Calif. – A panel of government leaders and scientists discussed Clear Lake, the threats to the lake's health and the solutions that Measure S would help fund at a forum on Wednesday in Lakeport.
The Measure S information summit, held at the Soper Reese Theatre, was hosted by the Save the Lake Committee and moderated by Lake County News Editor and Publisher Elizabeth Larson.
Panelists included District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington; District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing; Sarah Ryan, environmental director for Big Valley Rancheria; retired wildlife biologist Jim Steele; and Dr. Harry Lyons, professor of biology and ecology at the Yuba College Clear Lake Campus.
Measure S is a half-cent sales tax measure on the Nov. 4 ballot.
It would fund a variety of water quality projects over a 10-year period.
As a specific tax – which means the revenues generated could not be placed in the county general fund but would be dedicated specifically to the purposes listed in the ballot measure – it must pass by a supermajority, or two-thirds, vote.
The two-and-a-half-hour forum can be seen in its entirety above.
Following are highlights and notations of what times they appear in the video:
– Supervisor Anthony Farrington: Welcome, opening remarks and Measure S overview (2:20).
– Jim Steele, retired biologist: Slide presentation on Clear Lake ecology (25:34).
– Supervisor Denise Rushing: Lake health – human impacts and influence (43:34).
– Sarah Ryan, environmental director, Big Valley Rancheria: Water policy, priorities and processes (55:48).
– Dr. Harry Lyons, professor of biology, Yuba College Clear Lake campus: Summary, Clear Lake's future (1:18:35).
– Question and answer session (1:32:50).
– Panelist summation (2:13:17).
For more information about Measure S visit www.savethelake.info .
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.