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    <id>https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/</id>
    <title>Cole Creek Flooding Updates</title>
    <updated>2026-09-01T12:00:00.000Z</updated>
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    <author>
        <name>Cole Creek Flooding</name>
        <uri>https://colecreekflooding.com/</uri>
    </author>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/"/>
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    <subtitle>The latest Cole Creek Flooding advocacy updates, field work, public meetings, and calls to action.</subtitle>
    <icon>https://colecreekflooding.com/favicon.ico</icon>
    <rights>Copyright © 2026 Cole Creek Flooding</rights>
    <entry>
        <title type="html"><![CDATA[Lake County clears two debris blockages in Cole Creek along Clark Drive]]></title>
        <id>https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/water-resources-debris-cleanup/</id>
        <link href="https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/water-resources-debris-cleanup/"/>
        <updated>2026-09-01T12:00:00.000Z</updated>
        <summary type="html"><![CDATA[On September 1, Lake County Water Resources crews cleared two major accumulations of woody debris from Cole Creek along Clark Drive. At the first site, logs and branches had packed beneath a bridge in the channel. Crews pulled the material from under the span and loaded it into a dump trailer. Farther downstream, they cut apart a second dense blockage and hauled the debris out.]]></summary>
    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title type="html"><![CDATA[New sensor data: two winters at Pharo Place, two very different floods]]></title>
        <id>https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/two-winters-of-monitoring-data/</id>
        <link href="https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/two-winters-of-monitoring-data/"/>
        <updated>2026-07-15T12:00:00.000Z</updated>
        <summary type="html"><![CDATA[We now have hard numbers on what the creek work did. Since January 2025, sensors on a pasture at Pharo Place have been tracking standing water and groundwater every 15 minutes. The monitoring is run by O'Connor Environmental, working with the State Water Board and Big Valley Rancheria, and Matt O'Connor just shared the first full data set with us.]]></summary>
    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title type="html"><![CDATA[Lake County selects FlowWest for Cole Creek restoration planning]]></title>
        <id>https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/lake-county-selects-flowwest/</id>
        <link href="https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/lake-county-selects-flowwest/"/>
        <updated>2026-05-15T12:00:00.000Z</updated>
        <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Lake County selected FlowWest to plan and design the restoration of Cole Creek. This is the $200,000 to $500,000 planning contract we’ve been waiting for (Task C of the September 2025 wildlife RFP). The money funds the engineering and water flow studies to restore a 1.55-mile stretch of the creek. This is a major step toward fixing the bottlenecks that flood our neighborhood and clearing the way for spawning Clear Lake hitch.]]></summary>
    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title type="html"><![CDATA[Public comment on the Lake County 2050 General Plan]]></title>
        <id>https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/lake-county-2050-general-plan/</id>
        <link href="https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/lake-county-2050-general-plan/"/>
        <updated>2026-04-07T12:00:00.000Z</updated>
        <summary type="html"><![CDATA[The draft Lake County 2050 General Plan is out for public review. This is the county's blueprint for the next 25 years. It decides where funding goes and which projects get built. The drafts name Cole Creek as a "primary source of flooding," but stop there. They don't recognize the Cole Creek Collaborative's work or mandate the fixes we need. We submitted a public comment pushing for concrete changes: priority funding for Green Acres, mandated channel maintenance, evacuation-constrained mapping for our flooded roads, and the Collaborative as the county's template for restoring channelized creeks.]]></summary>
    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title type="html"><![CDATA[Clear Lake hitch spotted spawning in Cole Creek during community survey]]></title>
        <id>https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/hitch-spawning-survey/</id>
        <link href="https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/hitch-spawning-survey/"/>
        <updated>2026-03-20T12:00:00.000Z</updated>
        <summary type="html"><![CDATA[We counted about 50 Clear Lake hitch in Cole Creek on March 10 during a community survey for the county. The spawning run kicked off around the same time, which is great to see after years of channel problems.]]></summary>
    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title type="html"><![CDATA[Center for Biological Diversity moves to sue over Clear Lake hitch protections]]></title>
        <id>https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/clear-lake-hitch-lawsuit/</id>
        <link href="https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/clear-lake-hitch-lawsuit/"/>
        <updated>2026-02-03T12:00:00.000Z</updated>
        <summary type="html"><![CDATA[The Center for Biological Diversity notified U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that it intends to sue over stalled Endangered Species Act protections for the Clear Lake hitch. The federal agency proposed listing the hitch as threatened back in January 2025 but never finalized the rule. If the agency doesn't act within 60 days, the Center plans to take them to court.]]></summary>
    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title type="html"><![CDATA[UC Davis report identifies Cole Creek as nutrient hotspot with volatile flows]]></title>
        <id>https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/clear-lake-rehabilitation-report/</id>
        <link href="https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/clear-lake-rehabilitation-report/"/>
        <updated>2026-01-26T12:00:00.000Z</updated>
        <summary type="html"><![CDATA[UC Davis published its Clear Lake Watershed and Lake Remediation Final Report in January 2026 with several findings specific to Cole Creek.]]></summary>
    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title type="html"><![CDATA[California Conservation Corps clears vegetation from Cole Creek]]></title>
        <id>https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/ccc-vegetation-removal/</id>
        <link href="https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/ccc-vegetation-removal/"/>
        <updated>2025-12-16T12:00:00.000Z</updated>
        <summary type="html"><![CDATA[California Conservation Corps (CCC) crews have been active across Lake County in recent weeks, carrying out the vegetation clearing that was flagged as pending in November. Between December 9 and December 16, they spent three days on Cole Creek cutting back vegetation that had been choking the channel. Working with 15-25 people each day, they loaded and hauled away a total of 30 dump-trailer loads of cut material so it would not wash downstream and clog the creek again.]]></summary>
    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title type="html"><![CDATA[Cole Creek Advisory Collaborative keeps meeting; vegetation relief pending]]></title>
        <id>https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/ccac-monthly-progress/</id>
        <link href="https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/ccac-monthly-progress/"/>
        <updated>2025-11-21T12:00:00.000Z</updated>
        <summary type="html"><![CDATA[We continue the monthly Cole Creek Advisory Collaborative (CCAC) meetings with Lake County Water Resources, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), California State Parks, Big Valley Rancheria, FlowWest engineers, and community representatives.]]></summary>
    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title type="html"><![CDATA[Lake County publishes Fish & Wildlife Management and Planning Services RFP]]></title>
        <id>https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/lake-county-rfp/</id>
        <link href="https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/lake-county-rfp/"/>
        <updated>2025-09-15T12:00:00.000Z</updated>
        <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Lake County opened bidding for the comprehensive “Fish and Wildlife Management and Planning Services; Task A, Task B, Task C” contract. Task C is focused entirely on Cole Creek planning and design, with an expected contractor cost range of $200,000–$500,000.]]></summary>
    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title type="html"><![CDATA[County crews remove vegetation and sediment upstream of Clark Drive Bridge]]></title>
        <id>https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/cleanup-week/</id>
        <link href="https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/cleanup-week/"/>
        <updated>2025-08-14T12:00:00.000Z</updated>
        <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Lake County Water Resources spent a full week cutting through vegetation and scooping sediment from a short reach of Cole Creek just upstream of Clark Drive Bridge.]]></summary>
    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title type="html"><![CDATA[County of Lake officials conduct site visit]]></title>
        <id>https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/county-officials-site-visit/</id>
        <link href="https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/county-officials-site-visit/"/>
        <updated>2025-04-17T12:00:00.000Z</updated>
        <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Supervisor Jessica Pyska (District 5), Supervisor Brad Rasmussen (District 4), and Water Resource Director Pawan Upadhyay walked the flooded parcels to see the damage firsthand.]]></summary>
    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title type="html"><![CDATA[State Water Resources Control Board tours Cole Creek flooding with Big Valley Rancheria]]></title>
        <id>https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/state-water-board-visit/</id>
        <link href="https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/state-water-board-visit/"/>
        <updated>2025-03-27T12:00:00.000Z</updated>
        <summary type="html"><![CDATA[California State Water Resources Control Board Board Member Nichole Morgan, along with staff from the Division of Water Quality, Division of Water Rights, Region 5, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, joined Big Valley Rancheria for a firsthand tour of the Cole Creek flooding.]]></summary>
    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title type="html"><![CDATA[Sam Euston captures fresh drone footage of the flooding]]></title>
        <id>https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/drone-footage/</id>
        <link href="https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/drone-footage/"/>
        <updated>2025-02-18T12:00:00.000Z</updated>
        <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Sam Euston documented widespread inundation across Green Acres, Kelseyville. The unedited drone footage shows water stretching across fields and driveways, illustrating how long the floodwaters linger.]]></summary>
    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title type="html"><![CDATA[Board of Supervisors hears Clear Lake Hitch emergency briefing and Cole Creek testimony]]></title>
        <id>https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/board-of-supervisors/</id>
        <link href="https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/board-of-supervisors/"/>
        <updated>2025-02-11T12:00:00.000Z</updated>
        <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Lake County Water Resources and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife presented a Clear Lake Hitch emergency update to the Board of Supervisors, beginning near the 1:24:42 mark in the recording.]]></summary>
    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title type="html"><![CDATA[U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service team tours Cole Creek flooding]]></title>
        <id>https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/usfws-tour/</id>
        <link href="https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/usfws-tour/"/>
        <updated>2025-01-31T12:00:00.000Z</updated>
        <summary type="html"><![CDATA[A delegation from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service walked the flooded portions of Green Acres alongside Lake County Water Resources, Big Valley Rancheria, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to understand how Cole Creek’s stagnation is impacting the Clear Lake Hitch and nearby homes.]]></summary>
    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title type="html"><![CDATA[State Water Board installs monitoring gauge in pasture well]]></title>
        <id>https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/state-water-board-gauge/</id>
        <link href="https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/state-water-board-gauge/"/>
        <updated>2025-01-29T12:00:00.000Z</updated>
        <summary type="html"><![CDATA[The California State Water Resources Control Board installed a monitoring gauge inside an unused pasture well to capture how prolonged flooding affects groundwater levels.]]></summary>
    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title type="html"><![CDATA[Agencies agree to monthly Cole Creek restoration meeting]]></title>
        <id>https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/monthly-restoration-meeting/</id>
        <link href="https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/monthly-restoration-meeting/"/>
        <updated>2024-08-23T12:00:00.000Z</updated>
        <summary type="html"><![CDATA[The first monthly Cole Creek Restoration Project meeting came together after we spoke with interested agencies at the 21st Tule Boat Festival in July.]]></summary>
    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title type="html"><![CDATA[Emergency pump keeps 2024 storm flooding in check]]></title>
        <id>https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/pump-assisted-drain-setup/</id>
        <link href="https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/pump-assisted-drain-setup/"/>
        <updated>2024-02-15T12:00:00.000Z</updated>
        <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Ahead of another atmospheric river, we cleared the outlet pipe and set up a three-inch pump so the pasture could start draining before the storm hit.]]></summary>
    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title type="html"><![CDATA[County and NRCS staff survey Cole Creek bottlenecks]]></title>
        <id>https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/depalma-dow-lundquist-visit/</id>
        <link href="https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/depalma-dow-lundquist-visit/"/>
        <updated>2023-10-13T12:00:00.000Z</updated>
        <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Angela De Palma-Dow from Lake County Water Resources and Erica Lundquist, District Conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, met onsite ahead of the rainy season to understand the chronic blockages along Cole Creek.]]></summary>
    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title type="html"><![CDATA[CDFW authorizes emergency culvert clearing after months of flooding]]></title>
        <id>https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/cdfw-emergency-culvert-unblock/</id>
        <link href="https://colecreekflooding.com/updates/cdfw-emergency-culvert-unblock/"/>
        <updated>2023-05-12T12:00:00.000Z</updated>
        <summary type="html"><![CDATA[After holding back water from January through mid-May, we brought Jennifer Garcia, Environmental Program Manager at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, to Cole Creek to see the trapped water for herself.]]></summary>
    </entry>
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