Memorandum
Date: June 7, 2022
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Marina Deligiannis, Deputy Water Resources Director and Angela De Palma- Dow, Invasive Species Program Coordinator, Water Resources Department
Subject: Approve Agreement between County of Lake and Clean Lakes, Inc. for the Aquatic Vegetation Management Program For Fiscal Year 2021-2022 and authorize the Chair to sign
Executive Summary:
In 2011, the Water Resources Department identified areas around Clear Lake to be managed for nuisance aquatic plant growth. The total surface area of the lake treated annually for aquatic plants has never exceeded 260 acres (0.6% of Clear Lake’s total surface area) and varies annually according to peak aquatic plant growth. Treatment areas are selected based on several conditions, including: density of shoreline occupation, presence of especially troublesome invasive plants, habitat value, and historic recreational uses.
During winter 2022, The County of Lake Water Resources Department distributed a Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify the best qualified aquatic plant contractors to conduct lake-wide management services in Clear Lake. The RFP was distributed directly to four APM companies and through the Aquatic Plant Management Society. Only one company responded with a full proposal to the RFP; Clean Lakes, Inc. Therefore, this company was selected as the preferred contractor to complete the Aquatic Plant Management at Public Access and High Use Recreational Areas in Clear Lake, Lake County, CA project.
The proposed contractor, Clean Lakes Inc., utilizes GPS-based hydro acoustic mapping to ensure accuracy of application location and rate, and an efficacy map of before and after treatment. Over the last ten years, Water Resources Staff has worked closely with Clean Lakes Inc. to evaluate performance, efficacy of treatment and compliance with the State’s and County’s Aquatic Pesticide NPDES permit and County’s own permitting program, including all monitoring requirements.
For the last ten years, the County Board of Supervisors has set aside funding for the abatement of nuisance aquatic plant in selected high-traffic, public use areas of Clear Lake as part of an overall strategic invasive species management program. The contract total for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 is $$225,000 and is funded with Geothermal and Transient Occupancy Tax money. At direction of the board, this contract will remain on a five-year basis, with annual amendment based on the available funds for that years’ treatment.
If not budgeted, fill in the blanks below only:
Estimated Cost: ________ Amount Budgeted: $225,000_____ Additional Requested: ________ Future Annual Cost: ________
Consistency with Vision 2028 (check all that apply): ☐ Not applicable
☐ Well-being of Residents ☒ Public Safety ☐ Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, Recovery
☐ Economic Development ☐ Infrastructure ☐ County Workforce
☐ Community Collaboration ☐ Business Process Efficiency ☒ Clear Lake
Recommended Action: Approve Agreement between County of Lake and Clean Lakes, Inc. for the Aquatic Vegetation Management Program For Fiscal Year 2021-2022 and authorize the Chair to sign