Host: Lake County Watershed Protection District
Region: Northern California
Openings: 1
Project Focus: Public Health, Climate Adaptation, Climate Mitigation, Disaster Response / Emergency Management, Ecosystem / Habitat Conservation, Water Management, Water Policy
Skills Needed: Community Engagement, Community Outreach, Self-Motivated

Service Needs & Plans

The Lake County Water Resources Department is responsible for the preservation, health and sustainable use of Clear Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake in California. In order to promote an environmentally and economically healthy watershed, the Water Resources Department is identified by two main branches – Lakebed Management and Lake County Watershed Protection District. These branches encompass all of the programs and projects that work towards the goal of sustainable watershed management for Clear Lake.

The CivicSpark Fellow will work closely with Water Resources staff to launch an Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) outreach assessment plan and initiate the implementation of that plan. The Clear Lake AIS Outreach Assessment and Implementation Plan will include the research, collection and organization of outreach and survey data used for the prevention of invasive species into Clear Lake. Through these efforts, the Fellow will be an asset in strengthening the organizational capacity of the County of Lake Water Resources’ AIS Program by identifying and documenting the features needed to improve and increase effectiveness of outreach and education efforts. By serving in this capacity, the Fellow will be leveraging the Department’s responsibility of improving and protecting the public’s interest in the waters in and around Clear Lake, ensuring that the lands will be used for general statewide interests in furtherance of commerce, navigation, fishery, recreation and, wherever possible and appropriate, preservation of the land and waters in their natural state.

By conducting and implementing an AIS Outreach Assessment and Implementation Plan, the Fellow will play a substantial role in fulfilling obligations outlined in the County of Lake’s, Clear Lake Integrated Watershed Management Plan (CLIWMP), particularly those chapters focusing on Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Resources, Lake Recreation, and Lake Management. While doing this, the Fellows will equally be fulfilling obligations outlined in the Lake County, California – Code of Ordinances / Chapter 15 – Recreation Vessel Inspection Program and Chapter 26 Non-Native Invasive Aquatic Plants. Researching and developing an AIS Outreach Assessment and Implementation Plan will fill in a much needed missing piece to the AIS Program puzzle. Once completed, the AIS Program will have a well-developed outreach plan that can be followed and implemented now and into the future. Completion of this project will support the Departments’ role of providing sustainable management throughout the Clear Lake watershed.

Project Description

The role of the Fellow in the Watershed Protection District / Water Resources Department will be leading the development of AIS program outreach assessment based on water-user surveys and outreach inventory and complete an outreach improvement plan. This plan will include information about all AIS that threaten Clear Lake and will have a focus on invasive Quagga and Zebra mussels. The result of this effort will culminate in a Lake County QZ Outreach Improvement Plan. The CivicSpark Fellow will initiate the implementation of this QZ outreach improvement plan including the development and distribution of new outreach materials in physical, audio, video, digital format, and more. The Fellow will conduct surveys, outreach, engagement, and educational activities to collect information about how the public receives the current Lake County Invasive Mussel Prevention Plan, and their work will contribute to the improvement and updating of that plan. The information collected in this component of the project will enhance the way that the Department manages AIS messaging and awareness in the Clear Lake Watershed, and will ultimately serve as a model for other regional watersheds with similar prevention programs.

The Fellow will start this program, building upon 10 years of active prevention efforts within the Department. They will utilize the following tools: digital tablets, GIS, smart phones, Survey 123 tools and technology to collect and organize data and information gathered from the public. Throughout the Fellow’s tenure in the department, they will become fully involved in current AIS prevention efforts including the Invasive Mussel Prevention Program. This involvement will allow the Fellow to fully understand and comprehend how the program currently functions, where the weaknesses are and how the program can be improved and how those improvements can best be implemented for maximum effect.

Other holistic activities might involve reviewing other existing programs in the country to provide exemplars of useful outreach materials that can be developed, which can include: trainings, outreach materials, guidance documents, and presentations for grade school classes, workgroups and town halls. The work that the CivicSpark Fellow completes in collaboration with the Water Resources Department, and program partners, will help with community engagement to boost the resources and local knowledge around the importance of AIS prevention and management for the benefit Clear Lake water quality, quantity and natural habitats.
Some other tasks and projects the Fellow will strongly participate in will include: stream and shoreline surveys, conducting habitat evaluations, mapping invasive, native plant and wildlife, developing training documents for restoration and invasive species removal crews, providing assistance to storm water staff in developing and distributing storm water education and outreach materials, and providing assistance in water quality and quantity sampling and monitoring programs, as all of these activities provide insights into lake and watershed management, of which AIS education, outreach, and management plays a key role.

Desired Skills

The ideal Fellow will be comfortable being on and around the water and outdoor spaces like parks, gravel and cement launch ramps and shorelines. The Fellow should be willing and comfortable working in a small vessel and / or kayak in order to collect data, and talk to boaters. They should be comfortable working in a variety of field and weather conditions. Interest in local government and day to day operations will also be of benefit, as well as a desire to provide education and scientific knowledge to all age groups. A sense of enthusiasm, comfortable talking to members of the public, strong project management skills, conducting online research, experience with ArcGIS and Microsoft Office (Excel), formal writing abilities, community outreach and strong communication skills are important.

Organization & Community Highlights

Settled between Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino Counties, Lake County is a rural Northern California community with a population of a little under 65,000 residents. With the Mayacamas Mountains running along the Westside portion of the county, one of the oldest lakes in the country and largest in the state of California in the northernmost part of the county, and rolling hills in between, Lake County is a unique and beautiful gem of Northern California. Although a rural county, Lake County prides itself on creating a sense of community. From the Annual Kelseyville Pear Festival, The Clear Lake Seaplane Splash In, farmers markets, the weekly live music events that occur throughout the County to guided nature hikes, there is constantly something to do to immerse yourself in the quaint and welcoming community of Lake County.

This sense of community also rolls over to the Lake County Water Resources Department. The Department has 12 full time employees, and 15 part-time employees who work the public access ramps conducting AIS boat screenings and inspections. Water Resources staff works as a team within the Department along with other local agencies, departments, and tribes to fulfill its mission and the community’s mission in protecting Clear Lake and its watershed. The Fellow will quickly gain the understanding that it takes a village to fulfill this mission – this will be of benefit to the Fellow as they will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the multiple projects and programs under the Lake County Water Resources Department. From Flood Management, Aquatic Plant Management, Highland Springs Recreation Area, Invasive Mussel Prevention, Middle Creek Restoration Project, Clean Water Program, to Sustainable Groundwater Management, the Fellows will have plenty of opportunity to hone in on professional development skills such as GIS, community outreach, report writing, project management, and data management.

The service that the Fellow completes in collaboration with the Water Resources Department will help with community engagement to boost the resources and local knowledge around the importance of natural shorelines for the improvement of Clear Lake water quality and natural habitats. Several of the Department’s fellows have moved on from Lake County with the skills and confidence to take on graduate school programs and other agency positions.

Remote or On-Site Placement

The ideal Fellow will serve on site for the duration of the 2022-2023 Service Year, conducting routine field activities when needed. The County of Lake offices and personnel are expected to follow all remaining COVID recommendations (PPE will be provided when needed). The Fellow will be provided safety gear (hats, bright identifying clothing) when working on public ramps or spaces.