CLEARLAKE—Today, Senator Mike McGuire has announced a $2.5 million state investment for the County of Lake to advance needed repairs and upgrades to the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant in Clearlake following the devastating Robin Lane sewage spill earlier this year. 

The funding, secured by Senator McGuire in the state budget, will support critical repairs and upgrades to Clearlake’s wastewater collection infrastructure including the modernization and reliability of the system while preventing future failures. Critical improvements include rebuilding the headworks of the plant which acts as the entry point where wastewater first enters the plant, replacement of the lines that carry effluent into the wastewater treatment facility, and the addition of two lift stations which pumps sewage into the plant from surrounding areas.

This critical investment comes on the heels of the declaration of a state disaster in Lake County that McGuire worked to secure, making the County of Lake and other local governments eligible to seek reimbursement through the California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA), with the state covering up to 75% of eligible costs associated with responding to the wastewater emergency.

On January 11, a 16-inch force main pipe ruptured in the Burns Valley area of Clearlake, sending 2.9 million gallons of raw sewage onto Robin Lane for more than 37 hours, affecting 500 rural residents. A local health emergency was declared the following day.

“This investment will help ensure what happened earlier this year—a massive spill of raw sewage upending the lives of Robin Lane neighbors—will never happen again,” said Senator McGuire. “For more than 37 hours, raw sewage flooded the area of Robin Lane, affecting residents, contaminating groundwater, and disrupting lives. This was truly horrific. That’s why the state is stepping up with a $2.5 million investment to help repair and upgrade this critical wastewater system and get it back on track. We’re going to keep working to ensure the full cost of the repairs is secured.”

 

“What happened earlier this year was horrific and it impacted the lives of over 100 Lake County neighbors. From day one, Senator McGuire told us he would deliver and that’s exactly what he’s done,” said Chair of Lake County Board of Supervisors, Brad Rasmussen. “Working with us to get the emergency declaration was a huge shot in the arm and now delivering $2.5 million to help special districts rebuild the wastewater treatment plant will ensure the county can move forward with the modernization project immediately.”

 

"It has been very trying times for the community neighboring the Southeast Treatment Plant. We owe it to them to make sure this never happens again,” said Lake County Supervisor Bruno Sabatier. “That's why this $2.5 million state investment is so important for the future stability of this infrastructure. Senator McGuire asked us what was needed, told us he would fight for us, and he has followed through for us. This funding will allow us to break ground and ensure the modernization needed at the plant is completed in a timely manner."

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Mike McGuire is President pro Tempore Emeritus of the California Senate. He represents the North Coast of California, which stretches from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border, including Del Norte, Trinity, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Marin Counties. Website of Senator McGuire: https://sd02.senate.ca.gov/