Lake County outlines $250,000 CalRecycle grant to clean 42 illegal-dumping sites

Lake County community development staff told the Board of Supervisors that a $250,000 CalRecycle grant will fund cleanups at 42 illegal-dumping sites identified during the county’s grant application process.

"We wrote this grant, and it was awarded," said Shannon Walker Smith, deputy administrator, as she summarized the scope of the program. Staff said the grant covers abatement work, a small prevention budget and a public education campaign.

The grant-funded program will run through June 30, 2026, staff said, and the county has divided the work into phases. The first phase targets lots and hills in the Nice area; subsequent phases will proceed clockwise around Clear Lake. County staff estimated the work will average about two to three abatements per month.

The nut of the program is abatement of properties the county has long known about but lacked resources to address. Marcus Beltramo, code enforcement manager, said most target parcels are vacant lots and "the worst of the worst" in remote, hard-to-monitor locations. Code enforcement program supervisor Joey Valdez will devote 25% of his time to the grant activities, with support from code technician Janet Garcia Mora.

Staff described the standard abatement process: owners will be notified, the county will pursue…