Memorandum
Date: October 21, 2025
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Brad Rasmussen, District 4 Supervisor
EJ Crandell, Chair, District 3 Supervisor
Subject: Consideration of Creation of a Working Group to Discuss Comanagement of Clear Lake and Direction to Staff to Develop a Draft Comanagement Agreement for the Consideration of the Lake County Board of Supervisors
Executive Summary:
On September 27, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1284 (Ramos), encouraging the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) to enter into “Cogovernance” and “Comanagement” Agreements with federally recognized tribes to manage state lands and waters, and authorizing CNRA as State signatory for this purpose. AB 1284 was enacted by adding Section 11019.82 to the Government Code, cited as the, “Tribal Cogovernance and Comanagment of Ancestral Lands and Waters Act.”
The ability to enter into such agreements is anticipated to strengthen the State and CNRA’s relationships with local tribes and promote true “government-to-government” negotiations between the state and tribal nations.
The County of Lake has management responsibilities for Clear Lake and currently works collaboratively with tribal agencies, state agencies, federal agencies and other local stakeholders in many areas regarding the health and viability of Clear Lake, including fish and wildlife concerns, recreation, its use as a drinking water source, sediment and harmful algae concerns.
On May 28, 2025, Deputy Secretary of Tribal Affairs for CNRA, who serves as the State representative on the Blue Ribbon Committee for the Rehabilitation of Clear Lake and on the Clear Lake Hitch Task Force, convened a local meeting with Tribal, State, and Local governments representatives to discuss the creation of a Comanagement Agreement template for use by the County of Lake to enter into Memorandums of Understanding with State Agencies (Primarily those of the Department of Natural Resources), possibly local cities, other non-government organizations and the following Tribal Nations:
- Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians
- Elem Indian Colony of Pomo Indians of the Sulphur Bank Rancheria
- Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake
- Koi Nation of Northern California
- Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California
- Robinson Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians of California
- Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians
- Yoche Dehe Wintun Nation
This agreement would not be legally binding and does not seek to remove any rights, responsibilities or authority of the County of Lake but rather document and formally agree and mutually pledge to continue to collaborate and work together in the best interests of Clear Lake. Additionally, this could serve as a model program in the state of California.
While the primary county agency managing Clear Lake is the Lake County Water Resources Department, at the May 28th meeting, it was suggested by those in attendance that representatives from the following County Departments may participate in providing input or involvement in this agreement:
- County Counsel
- Community Development Department
- Public Services
- Public Works
- Special Districts
- Water Resources
- Administration/Chief Climate Resiliency Officer/Tribal Liaison
Additional County of Lake Departments may also be identified as needing to provide input or have involvement in this agreement should it move forward.
We recommend creation of a short-term cross-departmental working group for the purpose of development of a Draft Comanagement Agreement and bringing it forth for consideration by our Board.
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Recommended Action: Direction to staff to form a working group and develop and bring forward a Comanagement Agreement for the consideration of the Lake County Board of Supervisors.