Memorandum
Date: February 11, 2025
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Pawan Upadhyay, Water Resourced Director and Chris Childers, Water Resources Program Coordinator
Subject: Presentation from California Department of Fish and Wildlife to discuss Clear Lake Hitch state activities over the last year including an update from United States Geological Survey to discuss latest in-lake monitoring results and a presentation from Watershed Protection District staff to discuss accomplishments and programs established as a result of the Hitch Emergency Declaration and hitch-focused position allocations in Water Resources.
Executive Summary:
As the Board is aware, the Clear Lake Hitch was listed as Threatened under the California Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2014. In 2021 and 2022 there was a local call for action in response to low observations during spawning season. In February of 2023, your Board declared a Proclamation of the Existence of a Local Emergency Due to Persistent Drought, Habitat Loss, and Potential Extinction of Clear Lake Hitch, and in December of 2024 the Board renewed that Proclamation. Over the last few years, collaborative efforts have occurred among many local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies, including the Unites State Geological Survey (USGS) and the Lake County Watershed Protection District (The District).
To update the Board and the public, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Senior Environmental Scientist, Felipe La Luz, will be presenting on the Clear Lake Hitch, whose population is still threatened.
The CDFW presentation will provide information on:
• Monitoring results
• Updates to the Hitch Conservation Strategy
• 2024 Clear Lake Hitch Summit outcomes
The USGS update will include In-lake survey results, trends, outreach, and next steps
The District presentation will include accomplishments and programs established:
• Partner and collaborate with regional tribes on hitch tagging, carp management, tule planting and shoreline restoration
• Develop hitch educational materials and staff booths at outreach events (including upcoming steelhead festival)
• Help manage and execute grants for habitat restoration projects
• Implementing and training habitat assessments (rip ram)
• Creating, testing, and managing Community Science Hitch observation tool
• Assisting with fish rescues and providing local support for other hitch studies, including CDFW electroshocking surveys and USGS gillnet surveys
• Collaboration with CDFW and the California Conservation Corps for creek channel debris/trash removal and soft barrier removal
Water Resources will host and introduce CDFW/USGS staff and presentation.
Staff from all three agencies will be able to answer any questions from the Board, partners, or the public regarding Clear Lake hitch research, planning, and management.
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Recommended Action:
Presentation from California Department of Fish and Wildlife to discuss Clear Lake Hitch state activities over the last year including an update from United States Geological Survey to discuss latest in-lake monitoring results and a presentation from Watershed Protection District staff to discuss accomplishments and programs established as a result of the Hitch Emergency Declaration and hitch-focused position allocations in Water Resources.