I'd like to take just a moment to recognize and sincerely thank the Lake County Water Resources team led by Thomas and Supervisor Rasmussen for their outstanding leadership and remarkably quick response to help protect the newly discovered Western and Clark's Grebe nesting colony along the shoreline of the Lake County Land Trust's Kuhlanapo Preserve.
Within hours of learning about this important colony, protective buoys were installed to alert boaters to slow down and give these remarkable birds the space they need to successfully raise their young. Even more encouraging, Water Resources has gone beyond the buoys. For this weekend's large bass tournament, every participant received information about the nesting colony, and before blast-off, tournament officials emphasized the importance of creating a respectful buffer around nesting birds. Water Resources is also working with approved aquatic vegetation contractors to ensure herbicides are never applied near congregating or nesting grebes, and they are developing a County fishing tournament permit that will include protections for nesting grebes, with violations potentially affecting future tournament permits.
The Board might be interested to recall that on September 13, 2011, the Lake County Board of Supervisors approved the agreement for a grebe conservation project that included Redbud Audubon's purchase and donation of a buoy system to the Lake County Department of Water Resources. During the 2011 breeding season, we used close to $5,000in grant funding to purchase 20 protective speed-limit buoys, anchors, and chains, and donated the complete buoy system to Water Resources for the continued protection of nesting grebes.
To see those very same buoys still protecting grebes more than fifteen years later is a wonderful reminder that good conservation investments endure. It's a legacy of partnership that continues to benefit Clear Lake today.
Clear Lake is recognized internationally as an Important Bird Area, and moments like this show what can be accomplished when the County, Water Resources, the Lake County Land Trust, Redbud Audubon, tournament organizers, fishermen and our community work together with a shared commitment to protecting our natural resources.
Thank you all for your leadership, your partnership, and your dedication to ensuring that future generations will continue to enjoy the incredible wildlife that makes Clear Lake so special.
I'd like to take just a moment to recognize and sincerely thank the Lake County Water Resources team led by Thomas and Supervisor Rasmussen for their outstanding leadership and remarkably quick response to help protect the newly discovered Western and Clark's Grebe nesting colony along the shoreline of the Lake County Land Trust's Kuhlanapo Preserve.
Within hours of learning about this important colony, protective buoys were installed to alert boaters to slow down and give these remarkable birds the space they need to successfully raise their young. Even more encouraging, Water Resources has gone beyond the buoys. For this weekend's large bass tournament, every participant received information about the nesting colony, and before blast-off, tournament officials emphasized the importance of creating a respectful buffer around nesting birds. Water Resources is also working with approved aquatic vegetation contractors to ensure herbicides are never applied near congregating or nesting grebes, and they are developing a County fishing tournament permit that will include protections for nesting grebes, with violations potentially affecting future tournament permits.
The Board might be interested to recall that on September 13, 2011, the Lake County Board of Supervisors approved the agreement for a grebe conservation project that included Redbud Audubon's purchase and donation of a buoy system to the Lake County Department of Water Resources. During the 2011 breeding season, we used close to $5,000in grant funding to purchase 20 protective speed-limit buoys, anchors, and chains, and donated the complete buoy system to Water Resources for the continued protection of nesting grebes.
To see those very same buoys still protecting grebes more than fifteen years later is a wonderful reminder that good conservation investments endure. It's a legacy of partnership that continues to benefit Clear Lake today.
Clear Lake is recognized internationally as an Important Bird Area, and moments like this show what can be accomplished when the County, Water Resources, the Lake County Land Trust, Redbud Audubon, tournament organizers, fishermen and our community work together with a shared commitment to protecting our natural resources.
Thank you all for your leadership, your partnership, and your dedication to ensuring that future generations will continue to enjoy the incredible wildlife that makes Clear Lake so special.