Clearlake,Ca. Up and Coming into its own! (Santa Rosa, Redding: low income, houses)

[BREATHfresh]

This is for those whom have ask about life in the City of Clearlake, on the east side of the largest natural lake in the US, except for the Greatlakes!

It is a town that has its problems, but if you enjoy the outdoors, kyacking, canoe, natural hot springs, camping, gardening, natural history, this area is surrounded with these avenues. It is still relatively inexpensive to live in this area, and one can purchase a nice home for under $200K.

There is a branch of Yuba College within the City, and within a 20 mile drive to Lakeport there is a branch of Mendocino Jr. College.

The hospital located in Clearlake is a branch of the Adventist Hospital in St. Helene (Napa Valley), they also support several outpatient offices.

Within one hour drive, a person can be in Santa Rosa (Sonoma Wine Country) Napa Valley (Wine-Spa's-resturants) Mendocino(Wine, Redwoods,Ocean); the biking around the lake is great....wheather motor or otherwise...Lakes; Blue lake, (trout-Bass-boating) Mendocino Lake(boat-swim-fish) streams, Lake Pillsbury, Lake Berryesa, Conn Lake.

The farmers markets, fresh grown vegies and fruits are great in the area.

I have a home in Clearlake, I purchased because my Mother was close...it is a nice retirement community. There is a lg cross section of population...I do have a dirt road in front of my house, but I have an orchard, a garden, and a quiet country life, within the city limits. Most of the houses in the area where I live are stickbuild, and all are well kept. My neighbors talk to me over the fence about the weather and "what we can do to improve our area"! I leave for long periods and have never had a problem leaving my home!

The positives: the lake, the short drive to the Bay Area (the most expensive area in the US)-access to theater, recreation, and fresh foods.
The local fresh water springs, Soda Bay has natural hot springs running into the lake, the Concerts at Knocti are great, just above the lake all summer. The bird life....a great diverse population of Cranes, Eagles, and song birds. Land continues to be afordable compared to surrounding counties. Reported to have the Best Air Quality in California.

The negatives: poor infrastructure, (improving) there is a drug element, but the police force is large (1 officer for about every 300 people), The lake does have some natural mercury and every year at the end of summer there is an algae in the lake that dies, this causes that awful odor of decaying organic matter, however this washes out within the month and leaves the lake fresh...it is a natural lake so this is the way it lives.

What I would like to see, is good people move in and love the life in CL, people who are interested in imporving the living conditions, and being proactive. Starting with the local City Governement. That is a major source of "lack of incentive" for change! The City needs people who are willing to "THINK FAUSTIAN" a few more Goethe's in the city government.

CLEARLAKE IS RIPE FOR CHANGE. THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT WATER COMPANIES IN THIS TOWN...WHAT DOES THAT SAY? These companies raise the $$$ on water to those they supply, but what are they doing to improve the lake?

Ok, off the soap box granny! I'll keep an eye on this site and see what comes back to me! "Breath

[bipolarpunk]

Clearlake is a cute little town.. The Casino down the hill, I believe in Lakeport(?) is very cool as well..

[LivingLikeAGradStudent]

But are there any mid-career jobs for professionals that don't involve a long commute? An area can be as cute (or not) as anything, but if the employment base is not there, it wouldn't work for many people.

[Beth56]

Let's hope they are able to clean up the mercury polluted lake.

ATSDR - PHA - Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine, Clearlake, Lake County, California


Help for the Lake coming from stimulus package.

California Department of Toxic Substances Control Applauds U.S EPA for Providing Millions in <b style="color:black;background-color:#ff9999">Stimulus</b> Money for Toxic Clean-up


I drove through this area once and thought it beautiful. It appeared to be mostly a retirement area due to the remote location. This can attract a drug element also, similar to Kern and Redding.

I wouldn't be worried about a few pot heads, unless the drug cartel is abundant there. But if meth labs are in the area, they need to be destroyed.

I will hope the area gets revitalized with caring citizens who clean things up. For myself, I think it would be a nice place to retire or have a second home. I had a friend who lived in Clearlake Oaks and loved it there. Sadly, she has since passed to a higher place.

[Steve97415]

I frequently drive from the northern coast to the Central Valley. Occasionally I'll do so by driving through the Clear Lake corridor (CA-20) from just north of Ukiah to Williams. There's no doubt the area has a great deal of potential. With its location between the coast and the valley, the quality of sunlight there is just wonderful. There is a real Mediterranean feel in some areas that is evocative of certain parts of southern Europe. For now, it will remain a somewhat isolated enclave for creative entrepreneurs and the retired. Soon it will no doubt be the next "it" place to be assaulted by over development and will pass from bucolic to congested in the blink of an eye. Enjoy it while you can.

[Paige5]

I have retired family living in Lake county. Really it is quite rural and not the best place for a professional job seeker. Medical field would probably do well there.

There are quite a lot of retired and low income people living there. Limited shopping.

I may retire there myself when the time comes. It's a pretty area for sure. But only if you don't mind having little going on around you.

[eureka1]

I'ts already becoming a bedroom community for Santa Rosa/Petaluma.

[bood747]

Breathfresh obviously has no geography skills and doesnt know what he/she is talking about. LAKE CHAMPLAIN IN THE GREAT STATE OF VERMONT IS THE LARGEST NATURAL LAKE IN THE UNITED STATES OUTSIDE OF THE GREAT LAKES read a map or go bacvk to school before you go spouting off incorrect information about clearlake california ...........................

[BayAreaHillbilly]

IIRC Champlain is not entirely in the US, part is in Canada. Excluding that and the Great Lakes, as well as man made lakes, I would have thought Tahoe was larger than Clear. Are there others?

[mrsltd]

I think BreathFresh meant "largest fresh-water lake wholly within the state of California".

Tahoe is bigger but is shared with Nevada.