Memorandum
Date: February 7, 2023
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Marina Deligiannis, Deputy Water Resources Director
Subject: Presentation and Discussion Regarding Clear Lake Hitch and Other Fish Species, by Fred Feyrer, United States Geological Survey (USGS)
Executive Summary:
The U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, has been monitoring the Clear Lake Hitch population since 2017. Funding for the work has been provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Clear Lake Hitch abundance has declined 96% between 2017 and 2022.
There is evidence in the data that other fishes in Clear Lake are also in decline. Declines in abundance are associated with poor recruitment of juvenile fish into the populations. Causes of the poor recruitment are unknown but likely involve a combination of factors occurring within streams and within Clear Lake.
Fred Feyrer will be presenting on the scientific findings of work conducted by USGS in Clear Lake regarding the Clear Lake Hitch population levels.
In this presentation there will be discussion on the decline of the Clear Lake Hitch as well as other fish species, both native and invasive throughout Clear Lake & its tributaries.
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