Lake County supervisors ask for formal plan after cyanotoxin monitoring update

CLEAR LAKE, Calif. — Greg Weatherby, Lake County director of environmental health, and Sarah Ryan, representing the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians’ Clear Lake monitoring team, told the Board of Supervisors on July 11 that ongoing cyanotoxin monitoring is giving local officials the data they need but that the work group now needs a clearer mandate and funding to continue.

The presentation summarized current toxin levels, monitoring coverage, public‑outreach efforts and mitigation projects and asked the board to define the work group’s scope, deliverables and reporting cadence. Weatherby said the county’s capacity is limited and that environmental health has reduced staff time on the effort because of strained budgets; he asked the board to indicate whether it wants the group to continue in its present form and how the county should prioritize staffing and funding.

The work group exists to coordinate monitoring, public health communications and mitigation planning among the county, the two nearby cities, tribal monitors and state partners. “Without the monitoring work that Sarah and her team are doing, the county would be absolutely blind to what is a very dangerous situation,” Weatherby said during his opening remarks. Sarah Ryan summarized the tribe’s monitoring program and the group’s…