The Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake is a federally recognized tribe of Pomo Indians in Lake County , California . The tribe's reservation, the Upper Lake Rancheria , is 119 acres (0.48 km) large and located near the town of Upper Lake in northwestern California .
122-667: The Habematolel Pomo are indigenous to California's Clear Lake Basin . Artifacts made by early Native Americans in the Clear Lake Basin have been carbon-dated to 8,000 years ago, although tribal occupation probably extends back further in time. By 6,000 years ago the entire lake was used by tribes evenly settled around the lake shore. By 1800, Pomo population in California was an estimated to be 10,000-18,000 people, belonging to 70 different Pomo tribes and speaking seven different Pomo languages . The Habematolel Pomo, were some of
244-702: A Berkeley -based company that would eventually become Earthrise Nutritionals, contacted the Clear Lake Algae Research Unit (CLARU), an initiative resulting from the collaboration of the county's Flood Control and Water Conservation District and the California Department of Water Resources . The company expressed interest in the "possibility of harvesting the county's algae for sale in specialty markets in Europe and Japan". The project didn't materialize, as harvesting spirulina ,
366-614: A United States Army contingent under Lieutenant Nathaniel Lyon cornered as many as 200 Pomo on an island in Clear Lake and slaughtered most of them—including scores of women and children. The historical marker for the Bloody Island massacre is on Highway 20 between Upper Lake and the Robinson Rancheria . The Pomo were later forced to live in small rancherias set aside by the federal government. Clear Lake
488-577: A cattle drive "Captain" (and after whom the town of Rumsey in Yolo County was named), was one of the first to record the water levels of Clear Lake. Its level was originally controlled by a rocky ledge in Cache Creek called the "Grigsby Riffle" (which is now submerged upstream of the 1914 dam). In 1872 Rumsey installed a gauge in Lakeport to record the water level. He defined the level when
610-492: A 1,155,000 acre⋅ft (1,425,000 dam ) capacity. Average depth is 27 ft (8.2 m), maximum is 60 ft (18 m), lake elevation is 1,329 ft (405 m), and average water temperature is 40 °F (4 °C) in winter and 76 °F (24 °C) in summer. Clear Lake is believed to be one of the oldest lakes in North America. The lake sits on a huge block of stone which slowly tilts northward at
732-436: A Lake County Quagga/Zebra (QZ) Sticker on the watercraft. Shops in the vicinity carry out the inspection. At every entry to Lake County, signs warn boaters not to spread hydrilla in the county's bodies of water. Extensive management efforts have controlled the presence of hydrilla in Clear Lake, although it may return at any time. The lake is also the site of an annual "splash-in", the "oldest and largest seaplane gathering in
854-456: A court ruled that the official low water mark (which determines property ownership) is zero feet Rumsey. The Rumsey gauge, now automated, is still in operation. Yolo County acquired riparian rights to Cache Creek's water in 1855, and after gaining water storage rights in 1912 they built the Cache Creek dam. Water companies which rely on the lake have to pay Yolo County for their water. The Gopcevic (1920) and Bemmerly (1942) Decrees prohibited
976-617: A drop in the lake level of about 3.5 feet (1.1 m). If the level on May 1 is below 3.22 feet (0.98 m) they can draw none, with a proportional amount for other levels. They must stop on October 31, or if the level falls to one foot (30 cm). In compensation, the Indian Valley Reservoir , also entirely in Lake County, was constructed in 1975, and is under the full control of Yolo County. The northern end of Clear Lake adjacent to Rodman Slough and Middle Creek
1098-576: A group of Northern Pomo people bought 7 acres in Coyote Valley. In 1880, another Northern Pomo group bought 100 acres along Ackerman Creek (now known as Pinoleville)". In 1881, Yokaya Rancheria was financed by central Pomo people. Once the Pomo Indians had bought the land, it was time to make money. Baskets were in so much demand at this point, even though they were once used for trade and bartering with other tribes and people, they now became
1220-489: A growing population of the rare tule elk , recently reintroduced after being locally hunted to extinction one hundred years before. A large colony of bald eagles is found in the Cache Creek canyon. In addition to the native Clear Lake hitch (called chi by the native Pomo), the lake hosts channel catfish , white catfish , brown bullhead , crappie (both black and white species), and other native fish species, as well as Florida strain largemouth bass and carp placed by
1342-454: A healer spirit. A later shamanistic movement was the "Messiah Cult", introduced by the Wintun people. It was practiced through 1900. This cult believed in prophets who had dreams, "waking visions" and revelations from "presiding spirits", and "virtually formed a priesthood". The prophets earned much respect and status among the people. The record of Pomo myths, legends, tales, and histories
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#17327979289231464-498: A larger scale beyond the region. Decorative beads and ornaments were made in this phase, and approximately half of the artifacts were made of obsidian. Steatite or soapstone objects were also found, which must have been imported into the region through trade, as the rocks do not exist locally. Relatively soft and easy to carve, soapstone was used to make beads, pendants , as well as mortars. The largest and only substantial steatite mine in California existed on Catalina Island , one of
1586-785: A portion of its original land base and eventually the Department of the Interior places 11.24 acres of land into a trust for the Tribe in 2008. The Tribe began initiating the proceedings to develop a casino on its trust land by first negotiating a Tribal-State Compact with the state of California. On Memorial Day Weekend 2012, the Habematolel successfully opened Running Creek Casino, a full-service gaming destination in Upper Lake. The Tribe has continued to make substantial investments in
1708-536: A significant form of land use in the region since the mid-19th century. Analysis of sediment cores drawn from the lake indicate that the increase in sedimentation rates corresponds with an increase in the use of heavy agricultural equipment in the 1930s. Other agricultural activities such as stream channelization , groundwater pumping, application of fertilizers and pesticide use have contributed to lake sedimentation, hillside erosion and floodplain encroachment. The primary pollutant of concern associated with agriculture in
1830-608: Is 458 square miles (1,190 km ) (526 square miles (1,360 km ) including the lake), which is large compared to the lake's 68 square miles (180 km ). The surface area of the lake is divided into three arms: the Upper Arm, the Oaks Arm and the Lower Arm. Cache Creek , the only outlet for the lake, originates from the Lower Arm. Cache Creek has two major tributaries: North Fork Cache Creek and Bear Creek. The Upper Arm
1952-572: Is a natural freshwater lake in Lake County in the U.S. state of California , north of Napa County and San Francisco . It is the largest natural freshwater lake wholly within the state, with 68 square miles (180 km ) of surface area. It has an age of nearly 500,000 years. It is the latest lake to occupy a site with a history of lakes stretching back at least 2,500,000 years. Clear Lake supports large populations of largemouth bass , crappie , bluegill , carp and catfish . Two-thirds of
2074-558: Is considered sacred to the Pomo tribe and baskets were produced for a variety of purposes. Pomo children were cradled in baskets, acorns (a major food staple to the Pomo) were harvested in great conical burden baskets, and food was stored, cooked, and served in baskets—some even being watertight. There were even "baskets" that were made as boats to be pushed by men to carry women across rivers. A commercial market for authentic baskets developed in
2196-637: Is extensive. The body of narratives is classed within the Central California cultural pattern. Carex roots are used to make baskets, and used to tend fishing traps. They are also used to make torches. Pomo baskets made by Pomo Indian women of Northern California are recognized worldwide for their exquisite appearance, range of technique, fineness of weave, and diversity of form and use. While women mostly made baskets for cooking, storing food, and religious ceremonies, Pomo men also made baskets for fishing weirs, bird traps, and baby baskets. Making
2318-630: Is in the process of revival due to efforts by Clear Lake Pomo Cultural Preservation Foundation. The Pomo Indian cultures are several ethnolinguistic groups that make up a single language family in Northern California. Pomo cultures originally encompassed hundreds of independent communities. Like many other Native groups, the Pomo Indians of Northern California relied upon fishing, hunting, and gathering for their daily food supply. They ate salmon, wild greens, gnats, mushrooms, berries, grasshoppers, rabbits, rats, and squirrels. Acorns were
2440-614: Is largely driven by sedimentation due to erosion from agricultural activities as well as channel erosion, mining activities, wildfires, off-highway vehicle use, and timber harvesting. Harmful algae blooms have been found in the waters of private wells close to the lakeshore. Types of toxin -producing cyanobacteria that have been identified in Clear Lake include the following genera: Anabaena , Microcystis , Oscillatoria , Planktothrix , Aphanizomenon , Cylindrospermopsis , and Lyngbya , all of which can cause short- and long-term health effects. Studies are ongoing to determine
2562-435: Is overseen by the California Department of Food and Agriculture ’s Hydrilla Eradication Program, whose goal is the eradication of existing hydrilla populations and prevention of future infestations. The program has been highly successful, managing to keep the lake hydrilla-free for two years before being detected once again in 2019. Furthermore, the lake has been subjected to a long history of non-native fish introductions. In
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#17327979289232684-554: Is pumped to The Geysers geothermal plant. On September 15, 2014, the lake level fell to −0.31 feet (−9.4 cm) on the Rumsey gauge, the lowest level since the 1977 drought. When full, the lake level measures 7.56 feet (230 cm). The Clear Lake Watershed contains both freshwater marshes and vernal pools . The freshwater marshes are characterized by emergent vegetation including tules and cattails among other species. Ecologists have identified over 1,500 vernal pools in
2806-459: Is seen occasionally. Common reptiles and amphibians include the northwestern pond turtle, California king snake , Pacific gopher snake , garter snakes , northern pacific rattlesnake , common bullfrog and the rare California giant salamander among many others. Much of the shoreline is developed, but parks, reserves, miles of open water and private land also exist allowing many opportunities for observing and enjoying nature. The county also hosts
2928-400: Is the largest of the three arms and receives 75% of drainage from the watershed. Rodman Slough , contained within the Upper Arm, receives drainage to its marsh from Scotts Creek and Middle Creek , the largest tributaries to Clear Lake as well as Kelsey Creek , which enters from Big Valley. Erosion and sedimentation are key environmental concerns in the Clear Lake region. Seventy percent of
3050-799: Is the lead agency for Lake County's participation in the Westside Region's long-term (2013–2033) water management programs. Within the jurisdictional boundary of the County of Lake, the Watershed Protection District provides the "Lake County Clean Water Program" for compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) pollution prevention programs, and with the NPDES stormwater management permit (issued by
3172-615: Is unbroken, while Mono Lake's sediments have been disturbed by past eruptions of the Long Valley Caldera and associated volcanoes. At one time Clear Lake was even bigger than it is now, and included the Blue Lakes (to the northwest of Clear Lake). Volcanic eruptions and subsequent landslides changed the landscape dramatically, forever separating Clear Lake from the Blue Lakes and from its former westward drainage into
3294-638: The Bureau of Indian Affairs oversaw an election of a tribal council, who began drafting a new tribal constitution and bylaws. In 1983 the tribe won its federal court case and tribal recognition was restored in 1998, when a new council was elected. The current constitution was ratified in 2004. The tribe is federally recognized and has nearly 300 enrolled members. The Habematolel Pomo operate their own housing, environmental, and educational programs, including computer classes and GED preparation. The tribe has been able to purchase land on its traditional territory, near
3416-402: The Bureau of Land Management , the U.S. Forest Service , irrigated agriculture, and the County of Lake The lake and the surrounding watershed are being monitored through sampling of gauges placed by the California Department of Water Resources . The Middle Creek Project was started in 1995 by Lake County to restore native wetlands to the Clear Lake area. The project set a goal of expanding
3538-552: The Channel Islands off the coast of what is now Los Angeles County . The existence of steatite in Pomo and Northern California native sites is a strong indicator of the size and complexity of native California trade networks. The next phase, named the "Smith Phase" after the Pomo consultants, lasted from 1300 CE to the mid-19th century. Researchers mapped 30 sites in this era, showing a gradual evolving and intensification of trends. Archery , and its associated applications,
3660-572: The Clear Lake hitch spawning and migration. Clear Lake is well known among entomologists for the Clear Lake gnat ( Chaoborus astictopus ) and historical control efforts. This species of "phantom midge" (so called because the larvae are transparent and very difficult to see) measures less than 1 ⁄ 4 inch (6.4 mm) long and resembles a tiny mosquito , but is non-biting. Clear Lake gnat hatches start anytime from March through June, depending on weather. Before pesticide use began in
3782-524: The Department of Fish and Wildlife for sporting purposes. Along the shoreline and creeks, there are aquatic growths of tule , cattail , willow , cottonwood , box elder , and many other types of riparian plant life. The streams feeding Clear lake contain Sacramento pikeminnow , California roach , and rainbow trout. Pacific lamprey are present in at least one stream, Kelsey Creek . Prior to
Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake - Misplaced Pages Continue
3904-806: The Russian River Valley, a missionary colonized and baptized the Makahmo Pomo people of the Cloverdale area. Many Pomo left the valley because of this. One such group fled to the Upper Dry Creek Area. The archeology surveyors of the Lake Sonoma region believe that European and Euro-American encroachment was the reason why Pomo villages became more centralized; the people retreated to the remote valley to band together for defense and mutual support. The Pomo suffered from
4026-645: The Russian River . Clear Lake lies within the Clear Lake Volcanic Field , as designated by the United States Geological Survey . The volcanic field contains The Geysers , a steam field which powers a network of the world's most productive geothermal power plants. There are numerous small faults present in the south end of the lake as well as many volcanoes , ranging in age from 10,000 to 2.1 million years,
4148-561: The cyanobacteria genus the company was interested in, didn't prove economical nor reliable. The company opted instead for algae farming . The Clear Lake Algae Research Unit was disbanded in October 1978 for lack of funding, eight years after its start. The Clear Lake Watershed is contained within the Upper Cache Creek USGS hydrologic unit, an area that encompasses 271,360 acres (109,820 ha). The drainage basin
4270-587: The infectious diseases brought by the Euro-American migrants, including cholera and smallpox . They did not have immunity to such diseases and fatalities were high. In 1837 a deadly epidemic of smallpox, originating in settlements at Fort Ross , caused numerous deaths of native people in the Sonoma and Napa regions. Mission treatment of Pomo was similar to that of slavery, and many Pomo died due to inhospitable living conditions. The Russian River Valley
4392-564: The 1860s and 1870s, goldfish ( Carassius auratus ) and lake whitefish ( Coregonus clupeaformis ) were some of the first species to be introduced to Clear Lake. Mississippi silverside ( Menidia audens ) were the most abundant fish in the lake soon after their introduction in 1967. Moreover, both the Florida strain largemouth bass ( Micropterus salmoides floridanus ) and the Northern largemouth bass ( M. salmoides salmoides ) populations of
4514-448: The 1940s, the gnat was so abundant around the lake in the summer that large piles of dead gnats appeared beneath streetlights, looking like dirty snow. The gnat swarms were so thick that people driving along the edge of the lake reported stopping every 1 ⁄ 4 mile (0.40 km) to clean the insects off the windshields and headlights of their cars so they could see, and pedestrians tied kerchiefs over their faces to avoid inhaling
4636-432: The Clear Lake Basin, primarily Pomo , Yuki , and Wappo with some Lake Miwok . European settlers arrived starting around 1845. Frequently they abused and exploited the native Pomo people . A number of Pomo were enslaved and abused by settlers, notably Andrew Kelsey (whose name is attached to the town of Kelseyville ) and Charles Stone. The Pomo eventually revolted and killed Kelsey and Stone in 1849. The following year,
4758-578: The Clear Lake watershed—including federal, state, and local land owners in the County of Lake—are described in the "Clear Lake Integrated Watershed Management Plan". Pomo The Pomo are a Native American people of California . Historical Pomo territory in Northern California was large, bordered by the Pacific Coast to the west, extending inland to Clear Lake , mainly between Cleone and Duncans Point . One small group,
4880-652: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's small-dollar lending rule and concerns about the Bureau's posture toward Tribal sovereignty. In 2017, the Tribe's lending entities were sued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau dismissed the action in 2018. After reorganizing its government and ratifying its new constitution, the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake immediately set out to restore
5002-579: The Miwok Pomo and Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. Many of her baskets are in museums in Yosemite, Mono Lake and other museums; she even presented her baskets to Queen Elizabeth II . The materials for baskets were sedge root, willow shoots and roots, bulrush or blackroot, redbud shoots, sometimes bracken fern and a variety of colorful bird feathers, abalone and other types of shells, magnesite beads and sometimes glass beads. Redbud shoots, used for
Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake - Misplaced Pages Continue
5124-567: The Pomo Indians to work in very intense and unorthodox conditions, and sexually abused the Pomo women. The Pomo men were forced to work in harsh conditions and were not given any respect by the settlers. Exasperated with the violence and oppression of Stone and Kelsey, they rebelled. The Pomo men set up a sneak attack and killed both Stone and Kelsey. Because of the deaths of Kelsey and Stone, United States lieutenant J. W. Davidson and captain Nathaniel Lyon sent an army to retaliate against
5246-531: The Pomo also manufactured elaborate jewelry made from abalone and clamshells. Assembled during the winter, during the summer the Pomo would travel from various sites along the coast where they would fish and gather all of their materials needed to create their jewelry. The Pomo Indians would create stunning, beautiful, and intricate forms of jewelry that were worn during celebrations and rituals, and even given as gifts. Both of these traditions of creation and culture have slowly dispersed and have become less common over
5368-627: The Pomo descend from Hokan -speaking peoples; per this theory, a Hokan-speaking people migrated into the upland valley regions near Clear Lake ca. 7000 BCE , where their language evolved into Proto-Pomoan. Another theory places the Pomoan ancestral community in the Sonoma region, where coastal redwood ( Sequoia sempervirens ) forests met with inland valleys and mixed woodlands , bolstered by Clear Lake and its abundant natural resources. Around 4000 BCE to 5000 BCE , some of these people relocated into
5490-454: The Pomo people's way to make money and build their newly found empires. Women had preserved Pomo basket weaving traditions, which made a huge change for the Pomo people. The baskets were wanted all over California; it was a piece of art that traders wanted. Grandmothers and daughters taught other Pomo women, who had lost the tradition of basket weaving, how to make the all-powerful baskets. Within this time period in addition to basket weaving,
5612-609: The Pomo people. During the Bloody Island Massacre of 1850, on an island in Clear Lake the 1st Dragoons US Cavalry slaughtered between 60 and 100 people, mostly women and children of the Clear Lake Pomo and neighboring tribes. Shortly after the massacre, during 1851 and 1852, four reservations for the Pomo were established by the United States government in California. Pomo were also part of
5734-659: The Solano decree may also be increased. The passage of Assembly Bill 707 allowed for the creation of the Blue Ribbon Committee for the Rehabilitation of Clear Lake. The committee is made up of 15 county-appointed members from tribes, universities and various governmental organizations. The committee is charged with providing scientifically sound recommendations for the management of Clear Lake's “economy, ecosystem, and heritage”. A Cyanobacteria Task Force
5856-522: The Spanish, and Euro-Americans have impacted these languages, and many are no longer spoken due to language shift to English, accelerated by policies such as the 1887 ban on the teaching in Native American languages put into place by John DeWitt Clinton Atkins . There are about twelve Pomo language varieties that are still in use by Pomo people. One, xay tsnu , which is spoken by Elem Pomo,
5978-532: The State Water Resources Control Board as Water Quality Order 2013-0001-DWQ), by implementing the Lake County "Stormwater Management Plan". Lake County also complies with the NPDES aquatic pesticide permit program, allowing licensed pesticide applicators to eradicate nuisance aquatic weeds, in accordance with the "Clear Lake Integrated Aquatic Plant Management Plan". Multi-jurisdictional programs for natural resource management in
6100-488: The Tceefoka ( Northeastern Pomo ), lived in the vicinity of present-day Stonyford , Colusa County , where they were separated from the majority of Pomo lands by Yuki and Wintuan speakers. The name Pomo derives from a conflation of the Pomo words [pʰoːmoː] and [pʰoʔmaʔ] . It originally meant "those who live at red earth hole" and was once the name of a village in southern Potter Valley , near
6222-418: The United States. Of these, 8,578 reside in California. Pomo, also known as Pomoan or less commonly Kulanapan, is a language family that includes seven distinct and mutually unintelligible languages, including Northern Pomo , Northeastern Pomo , Eastern Pomo , Southeastern Pomo , Central Pomo , Southern Pomo , and Kashaya . John Wesley Powell classified the language family as Kulanapan in 1891, using
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#17327979289236344-728: The Upper Lake community, benefiting education and public safety. California Congressman Mike Thompson named Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake's Sherry Treppa as Woman of the Year in 2023. He acknowledged the work she has done as tribal chair to advance programs that support the tribal community needs and the philanthropic work the Tribe does to support surrounding communities. The tribe provides scholarships and housing opportunities for tribal member students in higher education. 39°11′02″N 122°54′49″W / 39.18389°N 122.91361°W / 39.18389; -122.91361 Clear Lake (California) Clear Lake ( Pomo : Lypoyomi )
6466-793: The Western United States". The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment released an advisory statement regarding eating fish caught from the lake, based on the mercury level. The Clear Lake basin attracts large quantities of waterfowl, including mallards , western grebe , coots , various species of geese , ospreys , plovers , mergansers and many others. Wild turkeys , blacktail deer , gray squirrels , ground squirrels , skunks , river otter , raccoon , mink , and muskrat . There have been occasional sightings of mountain lion and ringtail . Opossums , red-tailed hawks , turkey vultures , and other species are also common. The endangered northern spotted owl
6588-584: The appreciation for American Indian art has been on the rise, and the art has become in demand – specifically Pomo Indian basketry. Dr. Joallyn Archambault, director of the American Indian Program at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History says: "Since the 1880s, when Pomo baskets first became sought after, the Pomo have changed their lifestyles enormously." Pomo today live normal modern lifestyles, but
6710-513: The area is nitrate , with elevated nitrate levels having been identified in the Big Valley area. Agriculture impacts area groundwater sources through pumping, and is responsible for 82% of water usage in the watershed. This usage may contribute to early drying of stream beds, which impacts local wildlife and riparian vegetation. In 1949, as part of an effort to boost tourism and improve the local economy, DDD (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane)
6832-484: The area, largely located on private lands. The largest remaining wetlands include Anderson Marsh State Park and Rodman Slough. Wetlands in the Clear Lake watershed serve a variety of important ecological functions, including providing habitat for local fish and wildlife, as well as filtering sedimentation entering the lake from streams. Due to increased agricultural and urban land use, Clear Lake's historic wetland habitats have been reduced by 79%. Agriculture has been
6954-505: The areas of today's Russian River Valley and northward, near present-day Ukiah . Their language diverged into western, southern, central and northern Pomoan, respectively. Another people, possibly Yukian speakers, lived first in the Russian River Valley and Lake Sonoma areas prior to being displaced by the Pomo, who subsequently took over the region. Modern archaeological analyses and discoveries have suggested that
7076-531: The artists and communities. Dealers and collectors may have exploited the lucrative basket market, but it still paid well enough to provide income to Pomo women where hunting and gathering were no longer feasible and money was needed for survival. Today you will see rare baskets being sold for the prices mentioned above. Due to the time and preparation necessary to weave these pieces of art; basket weavers today have more requests than they can fulfill, and many customers wait months before receiving orders. The rarity of
7198-426: The basket itself. Pomo women sometimes spent months or years making such gift baskets. The materials used to make the baskets—including, but not limited to, swamp canes, saguaro cactuses, rye grass, black ash, willow shoots, sedge roots, the bark of redbud, the root of bulrush, and the root of the gray pine—were harvested annually. After being picked, the materials are dried, cleaned, split, soaked, and dyed. Sometimes
7320-666: The basket weavers are still heralded and praised within the community for their artistic ability and skill. One of those basket weavers is Julia F. Parker . She is a master weaver, having woven under Lucy Telles . Her childhood was rough, constantly moving around until boarding school after her parents' death at 6. Lucy had taught Julia because of her perceived interest in preserving Indian culture and specifically basketry. Julia Parker became cultural demonstrator after Lucy Telles death in 1956. She continued in her studies and later studied Pomo basketry with Pomo master weaver Elsie Allen (1899–1990) at Ukiah and several others. Julia belongs to
7442-577: The baskets and the skill are required in making them in what makes them valuable. The demand is greater than the supply, and collectors facilitate a high demand for these artistically made baskets. The United States acknowledges many groups of native people of the United States as " federally recognized tribes ", classifying them as "domestic dependent nations" under the jurisdiction of the federal government, but with some autonomy from their respective states, including California. Many other self-identified Native American groups are not federally recognized. Since
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#17327979289237564-457: The baskets required great skill and knowledge in collecting and preparing the needed materials. Materials for weaving baskets changed with the seasons and years. The Pomo usually covered a basket completely with the vivid red feathers of the pileated woodpecker until the surface resembled the smoothness of the bird itself. With the feathers, 30-50 to every inch, beads were fastened to the basket's border and hung pendants of polished abalone shell from
7686-624: The baskets that signify different cultural meanings. For example, the Dau is a pattern woven into a basket by creating a small change in the stitching to create a small opening between two stitches. The Dau is the design that is also called the Spirit Door. This Spirit Door allows good spirits to come and circulate inside of the basket while the good or bad spirits are released. Although baskets were made for decorating homes and as gifts, they were centrally used in Pomo daily life as well. Basket weaving
7808-476: The coldest. December and January are the wettest months, with an average of 5.95 and 6.45 inches (151 and 164 mm) of rain per month, respectively. With over 100 miles (160 km) of shoreline, Clear Lake is a popular spot for water-sports enthusiasts. According to the California Water Board, Clear Lake sees 15,000 recreational boaters per year. There are 11 free boat launch ramps around
7930-606: The construction of a dam on the outlet of Clear Lake, both steelhead and Pacific lamprey ascended Cache creek to spawn in Clear Lake's tributaries. As of March 2024, farming operations along the Big Valley Groundwater Basin watershed have been ordered to report of their water use by the California State Water Resources Control Board in order to study the effect of groundwater pumping and water diversions on
8052-541: The current wetlands area to double its current size. Lake County has additionally ensured no further loss of wetlands by the passage of the County Shoreline Ordinance which prohibits the removal of wetland vegetation on private property. In 2009 the Middle Creek and Hamilton City Flood Damage Restoration and Ecosystem Act (AB74) was signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger . The project
8174-419: The darker reddish colors in basket designs are gathered in October. Good redbud is hard to obtain around Ukiah, so it is usually found at Clear Lake. All these materials are gathered with a thankful heart and the gatherers talk continuously to the plants. They were, after all, living things that were giving themselves for something useful and beautiful. In order to preserve the soil and creek banks, sedge gathering
8296-584: The estimated 350 Northern Pomo. The Habematolel Pomo belong to the Northern and Eastern Pomo language groups, both of which are considered today to be extinct. Known for their extensive trade networks, the Habematolel Pomo traded magnesite and obsidian with the Coast Miwoks for a variety of shells. Pomo are known for their woven baskets and elaborate feather headdresses. The Bloody Island Massacre or Bonopoti occurred in 1850, on "Old Island", at
8418-605: The fish caught in Clear Lake are largemouth bass, with a record of 17.52 pounds (7.95 kg). In addition to fish, there is abundant wildlife within the Clear Lake basin. There are year-round populations of ducks, pelicans, grebes, blue herons, egrets, osprey, and bald eagles, and the basin supports sizable populations of deer, bear, mountain lion, raccoon and other animals. The expansive, warm water of Clear Lake makes it popular for watersports , such as swimming , water skiing , wakeboarding , sailing , boat races , and jet skiing . Hok-has-ha , Ka-ba-tin , and Lupiyoma are
8540-525: The forced relocation known as the "Marches to Round Valley" in 1856, conducted by the U.S. federal government. By using bullwhips and guns, white settlers demanded relocation to reservations of the Pomo Indian. The justification given was that to protect their culture, the Pomo Indians had to be removed from their ancestral land. Richerson & Richerson stated that before the European conquests there
8662-482: The future would have in store. It was a time to build, a time to connect, a time of hope, and a time of change. The Pomo Indians did not have enough money to buy land. The Pomo men decided to work for ranchers and the woman went back to making baskets. The "white" people loved the baskets, especially the designer, feathered ones, which led to a basketry movement. Finally, in 1878, the Pomo Indians bought their first piece of land in California. Paula Giese noted, "In 1878,
8784-544: The gnats. The rugged coastal mountains surrounding Clear Lake are covered with thick stands of oak-madrone forest, manzanita , sage shrubs, chaparral , and grasses. Most common trees include blue oak , valley oak , interior live oak , Pacific madrone , California scrub oak , plus very occasional coast redwoods and tanoak . Large stands of western white pine may be seen in the higher elevations. The heavy forestation and ruggedness of this part of California has helped prevent wholesale real estate development or farming. On
8906-571: The historical tribe village of Maiyi. The Habematolel Pomo are governed by an elected, seven-member tribal council. In 2012, the Tribe entered into the online consumer financial services industry after approving a regulatory ordinance and establishing a separate arm of the Tribal government to regulate its e-commerce entities. Chairwoman Sherry Treppa testified before the House Financial Services Committee in 2016 on
9028-404: The history of the tribe but more evident in today's culture. Pomo basket weaving is still valued and honored today, not only by the Pomo Indians themselves, but also by amateur enthusiasts, buyers for curio dealers, and scientific collectors. The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria are a federally recognized American Indian tribe of Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo Indians. During the past 30 years,
9150-483: The increased lake area will be allocated to municipal districts drawing water from the lake. Yolo's water allowance under the Solano Decree may also be increased. The management of the lake level is thus designed to avoid flooding, provide water to Yolo County and local water companies, and maintain enough water for recreational use. Sewage from many Lake County towns no longer flows into the lake; instead, it
9272-535: The indigenous people settled the lands more extensively, and permanently. Archaeologists believe a Pomo group took over the lands from earlier peoples during this phase. They founded 14 additional sites in the Warm Springs and Upper Dry Creek areas. Bowls and mortars and pestles appeared in this phase, probably used by women to pound acorns (as opposed to the milling stones used for seeds). The sites were more settled and, likewise, more "complex". Trade took place on
9394-623: The interest of assimilating Natives into mainstream society, the US government passed the California Rancheria Act of 1953. This law enabled the US to terminate relationships with the Habematolel Pomo and break up the lands of the Upper Lake Rancheria into individual allotments. The tribe responded with a lawsuit, Upper Lake Pomo Association v. James Watt , in 1975 saying that termination was an illegal policy. In 1980
9516-497: The lake ceased to flow over the ledge as "zero feet Rumsey," which corresponds to an elevation of 1,318.26 feet (401.81 m). The reading is referred to as being "on the Rumsey Gauge" or "(x) feet Rumsey," which can fall below zero due to evaporation (over 3 feet (91 cm) a year) and pumping of water. The highest recorded level is (13.66 feet (4.16 m) in 1890, and the lowest is −3.50 feet (−107 cm) in 1920. In 1991
9638-418: The lake have persisted for decades after introduction. The lake is also actively monitored for quagga mussels ( Dreissena bugensis ) and zebra mussels ( D. polymorpha ), although there are no established populations of either species in Clear Lake. Due to its shallow depth and warm temperatures, Clear Lake is naturally eutrophic . Written records documenting cloudy discolorations in the lake exist from
9760-467: The lake is a ceremonial gathering and healing place. Both of these Skaggs-Phase sites contained millstones and other handstones for grinding seed and nuts. The villages may have been used for hunting or temporary camps. Obsidian was used, albeit rarely, from Mount Konocti , in present-day Lake County . There were no petroglyphs . The population lived only along major creeks. The "Dry Creek" Phase lasted from 500 BCE to 1300 CE . During this phase,
9882-544: The lake specialize in fishing equipment. Numerous fishing tournaments and derbies are held throughout the year. In 2016, Clear Lake was ranked by Bassmaster Magazine as the #3 best bass lake in the United States and the #1 best bass lake on the West Coast . All boaters entering Lake County are warned that Dreissenid mussels, also known as quagga and zebra mussels , are a great threat to Clear Lake. By law, boats are required to be inspected before launching, and must have
10004-500: The lake that are open to the public. Individuals may rent boats and personal watercraft from many businesses around the lake. Clear Lake is sometimes called the "Bass Capital of the West." Largemouth bass, which are farmed and planted in the lake by California Department of Fish and Wildlife, crappie, catfish, bluegill, and rainbow trout can be found in the county's lakes. Fishing boats can be rented, and many stores and facilities around
10126-516: The lake's "water has a peaty and rather unpleasant flavor", and that "the condition of the water differed in the upper and lower portions of the lake", noting "dead fish floating here and there". Clear Lake was used as an outlying seaplane base for Alameda Naval Air Station during World War II and the early years of the Cold War . Flying boats could land on Clear Lake when conditions were unsafe on San Francisco Bay . In 1977, Proteus Inc,
10248-402: The lake's south arm. Abundant fish, game and waterbirds made Clear Lake an oasis in the otherwise harsh conditions of Northern California's mountains. The native Clear Lake Hitch ( Lavinia exilicauda ) was once so abundant that millions of hitch clogged the lake's feeder streams in dry months. When the Spanish missionaries came to California, they found that thousands of Native Americans lived in
10370-516: The lake's water quality impairments are addressed by federal and state regulatory programs. Multiple water suppliers in communities surrounding the lake provide potable water for municipal uses in accordance with California's public health regulations. Lake County participates in the state's Department of Water Resources' Integrated Regional Water Management programs, within the Westside Region including Lake, Colusa , Napa , Solano , and Yolo counties. The Lake County Watershed Protection District
10492-503: The largest being Mount Konocti , sitting at the middle of the lake's south shore. There have been no eruptions from the Clear Lake Volcanic Field for thousands of years, but there are indicators currently being monitored that suggest there is the potential for future eruptions. These indicators include volcanic-type earthquakes, hot spring activity and seepage of volcanic gas. It is not uncommon for temperatures in
10614-524: The late 19th century. Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) in the lake can produce blooms often beginning in the spring and lasting through the fall. Referred to as harmful algal blooms (HAB), these blooms consist of solid mats of scum and are associated with unpleasant odors. Studies have shown that increased nutrient contents, especially in the form of phosphorus , from fertilizer runoff can potentially influence cyanobacteria blooms The California Water Boards have found that phosphorus loading in Clear Lake
10736-606: The late 20th century, some states have begun to give formal recognition to tribes in varying ways. The Pomo groups presently recognized by the United States are based in Sonoma , Lake , and Mendocino counties. They include the following tribes: Many Pomo were impacted by the California Rancheria Termination Acts and lost lands due to lack of understanding the tax system, along with predation by merchants who took advantage of land-rich but cash-poor tribal members. Along with losing their lands,
10858-463: The latter part of the 19th century, lasting from about 1876 to the 1930s. Two Pomo people who capitalized on this market were William Ralganal Benson and his wife, Mary Knight Benson and the Bensons may have been the first California Indians who supported themselves solely by crafting and selling their baskets to collectors and museums. Even though most of their original land was taken over, this
10980-486: The local ecology. From 1962 to 1975, carefully planned applications of methyl parathion were made for Clear Lake gnat control. The gnat still occurs in Clear Lake, but at much lower numbers than in the 1940s–1970s. Its population is believed to be kept in check now by two introduced fish species (the threadfin shad and the inland silverside ) that compete with the gnat for its preferred zooplankton for food. The ecology of Clear Lake has been significantly altered due to
11102-660: The local native economy, which was based on women processing acorns by mortar and pestle , and first observed by the Spanish upon their arrival in Central California , may have developed during the Mostin Culture period (ca. 8500 BP –6300 BP) in the Clear Lake Basin. Over a thousand prehistoric charmstones and numerous arrowheads have been unearthed at Tolay Lake, southern Sonoma County, attributed to both Pomo and Coast Miwok people. A sacred site,
11224-438: The materials are also boiled over a fire and set in the sun to dry. Women traditionally wove Pomo baskets with great care and technique. The three different techniques of Pomo basket weaving are plaiting, coiling, and twining. One drying method was wrapping maiden fern in blue clay and placing underground for several days. This prevented fading in the sun or when cooking mush. There are many different designs that are woven into
11346-553: The meaning of the word Pomo had been broadened, at least in the English language , to refer to not only the Pomo language but the entire group of people speaking it, as well—the people known as Pomo, today. The people called Pomo were originally linked by location, language, and cultural expression. They were not socially or politically linked as a unified group. Instead, they lived in small groups or bands linked by lineage and marriage. According to certain linguistic hypotheses,
11468-518: The modification of the Grigsby Riffle, set the normal maximum level of 7.56 feet (2.30 m) Rumsey, and required Yolo to keep the level below 9 feet (2.7 m) except for limited times during floods. Yolo was entitled to use all the water down to zero feet. The Solano Decree (1978,1995) limited the amount of water Yolo could use: if the lake is "full" on May 1—at 7.56 feet (2.30 m) Rumsey—then they can draw 150,000 acre-feet, equivalent to
11590-621: The most important staple in their diet. The division of labor in Pomo Indian communities typically involved gathering and preparation of plant-based foods by women, while men were hunters and fishers. The Pomo people participated in shamanism ; one form this took was the Kuksu religion , which was held by people in Central and Northern California. It included elaborate acting and dancing ceremonies in traditional costume, an annual mourning ceremony, puberty rites of passage , shamanic intervention with
11712-576: The name first introduced by George Gibbs in 1853. This name for the language family is derived from the name of one Eastern Pomo village on the south shore of Clear Lake. Stephen Powers (1877) was the first to refer to this entire language family with the name "Pomo", and the geographic names that have been used to refer to the seven individual Pomoan languages (e.g. Southeastern Pomo) were introduced by Samuel Barrett (1908). The Pomoan languages became severely endangered after European-American colonization of their native territory. Contacts with Russians,
11834-690: The north end of Clear Lake . The 1st Dragoons US Cavalry slaughtered almost 200 Pomos, mostly women and children of the Clear Lake Pomo and neighboring tribes. In 1856, the Lake County Pomo were rounded up by the US military and forced to relocate onto the Nome Cult Indian Farm in Round Valley in northern Mendocino County . This later became the Round Valley Indian Reservation . Faced with
11956-420: The northeast slope of Mount Konocti is a heavily forested area known locally as the "Black Forest" because it never gets direct sunshine. This area has some Douglas fir in very heavy stands. Archaeologists believe that the Clear Lake basin has been occupied by Native Americans for at least 11,000 years. (See: Post Pattern .) Evidence of this has been found at nearby Borax Lake and on Rattlesnake Island in
12078-530: The onslaught on non-Indian settlers in their homelands, four Pomo groups, the Danoxa, Kaiyo-Matuku, Xowalek, and Yobotui, pooled their resources and purchased 90 acres (360,000 m) of land in 1878 at Xabematolel. This community was called Habematolel in Upper Lake. In 1907, the US federal government created the Upper Lake Rancheria for the tribe on adjacent land. The reservation grew to be 564 acres (2.28 km). As part of its Termination and Relocation Policy in
12200-478: The original names given to Clear Lake by the indigenous people of the region, the Pomo , Lake Miwok and Wappo . In the early 19th century, European American settlers referred to the lake as "Big Lake" or "Laguna", before finally adopting Clear Lake by the mid-19th century. Clear Lake is 19 mi (31 km) by 8 mi (13 km) at its widest point, with a surface area of 43,785 acres (17,719 ha) and
12322-498: The people in the village to government lands and burned the village houses. From 1891 to 1935, starting with National Thorn , the artist Grace Hudson painted over 600 portraits, mainly of Pomo individuals living near her in the Ukiah area. Her style was sympathetic and poignant, as she portrayed domestic native scenes that would have been fast disappearing in that time. In 1770 there were about 8,000 Pomo people; in 1851 population
12444-485: The presence of invasive species . A notable invasive species is hydrilla ( Hydrilla verticillata ), a submerged aquatic plant which notably out-competes both native and non-native species to create pure stands. The plant established so successfully due to its ability to break into smaller propagules , which can survive in sediment for up to seven years. The presence of hydrilla can affect fish stocks, and interfere with recreational boating or fishing. Hydrilla prevention
12566-710: The presence of methylmercury compounds in lake sediments. Clear Lake has been identified as an impaired water body under Section 303(d)(1)(A) of the Clean Water Act . This designation indicates that the water body does not comply with applicable water quality standards. As such, the area is required to comply with quality management strategies such as Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) to satisfy federal regulatory requirements. The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board has identified point sources of pollution in Clear Lake as Caltrans and storm water permitees. Nonpoint sources of pollution in Clear Lake include
12688-484: The present-day community of Pomo , Mendocino County . The word may also have referred to the local deposits of red magnesite (mined and utilized for making red beads ) or to the reddish, earthen clay soil of the area, rich in hematite (also mined for use). In the Northern Pomo dialect, -pomo or -poma was used as a suffix after the names of places, to mean a subgroup of people of the place. By 1877 ,
12810-481: The same rate as the lake fills in with sediment , thus keeping the water at roughly the same depth. Core samples of the lake's sediments , taken by U.S. Geological Survey geologists in 1973 and 1980, indicate that the lake is at least 480,000 years old. Some experts feel that Mono Lake , to the east of the Sierra Nevada in California, is older than Clear Lake. However, the sedimentary history of Clear Lake
12932-501: The southern Pomo from the Santa Rosa Plain to Mission San Rafael, at present-day San Rafael, between 1821 and 1828. Only a few Pomo speakers went to Mission Sonoma , the other Franciscan mission, located on the north side of San Francisco Bay. The Pomo who remained in the present-day Santa Rosa area of Sonoma County were often called Cainameros in regional history books from the time of Spanish and Mexican occupation. In
13054-419: The spirit world, and an all-male society that met in subterranean dance rooms. The Pomo believed in a supernatural being, the Kuksu or Guksu (depending on their dialect), who lived in the south and who came during ceremonies to heal their illnesses, along with spirits from six cardinal directions, and Coyote as their ancestor and creator god . Medicine men dressed up as Kuksu , their interpretation of
13176-407: The summer to rise into the triple digits, or below freezing in the winter. Occasional summer thunderstorms occur but are not common. Snow can fall to lake level but accumulation is rare. Snow on the surrounding mountains is common. The average high temperature is 92 °F (33 °C) in summer, and the average low is 32 °F (0 °C) in winter. Normally, July is the hottest month and December
13298-435: The terrain has very shallow topsoil, which saturates after a rainfall of 3 to 4 inches (76 to 102 mm), after which runoff flows quickly into the lake. The maximum flow from the lake is determined by the narrow canyon of Cache Creek, not by the dam. The combination of rapid inflow and slow outflow results in frequent flooding of low-elevation areas such as downtown Clearlake and Lakeport. DeWitt Clinton Rumsey, previously
13420-592: The time of European contact. The way of life of the Pomo changed with the arrival of Russians at Fort Ross (1812 to 1841) on the Pacific coastline, and Spanish missionaries and European-American colonists coming in from the south and east. The Pomo native to the coastline and Fort Ross were known as the Kashaya . They interacted and traded with the Russians. The Spanish missionaries stole or enslaved many of
13542-443: The various environmental factors responsible for harmful algal blooms. The lake is heavily contaminated with mercury from the nearby Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine . The abandoned mine was declared a Superfund site in the early 1990s and is still undergoing clean-up. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife presently recommends that women of child-bearing age and children do not consume certain fish from Clear Lake, due to
13664-445: Was a major technological advancement which greatly benefited the population. The production of shell beads (and drills to create holes in beads), remained important, with drills being found in high numbers. Numerous clamshell beads, a major currency among the peoples of Central California, were also found, also suggesting a vast trade network. There were an estimated 8,000 to 21,000 Pomo among 70 tribes speaking seven Pomo languages at
13786-512: Was an estimated 3,000 Pomo Indians that lived at Clear Lake; after all of the death, disease, and killings, there were only about 400 Pomo Indians left. One ghost town in the Lake Sonoma Valley excavations was identified as Amacha, built for 100 people but hardly used. Elder natives of the region remember their grandfathers hid at Amacha in the mid-1850s, trying to evade the colonizing settlers. They tell that one day soldiers took all
13908-496: Was applied to the lake in heavy doses to eradicate the gnats that were driving summer tourists away from the lake. The treatment succeeded in controlling the gnats that year and for the following year; however, the gnat population rebounded in 1953, prompting another application in 1954. The final application of DDD to Clear Lake was made in 1957 (Cook 1963). Numbers of western grebe were found dead, their tissues containing high concentrations of DDD. The effects were devastating to
14030-670: Was blocked off with levees between 1900 and 1940, and the land was reclaimed for agricultural use. During the summer months, Clear Lake provides irrigation flows for agricultural operations in Yolo County. Management of the lakebed is provided by the County of Lake, in accordance with authorities granted by the State Lands Commission in 1973. A project is currently under way to breach the levees and restore 1,650 acres (670 ha) of lake and wetland. Bloody Island will again be an island. The additional water resulting from
14152-439: Was done with care. The commonly held decision would be leaving behind about half of what was found. Dyeing of the bulrush root takes about three to six months in a concoction of black walnuts, rusty metal and ashes in water. Today, new Pomo baskets might sell for as much as $ 1,000, and the more historical ones might sell for more than $ 10,000. Dealing of these baskets has not always been so lucrative and many have tried to exploit
14274-439: Was estimated between 3,500 and 5,000; and in 1880 estimated at 1,450. Anthropologist Samuel Barrett estimated a population of 747 in 1908, but that is probably low; fellow anthropologist Alfred L. Kroeber reported 1,200 Pomo counted in the 1910 Census . According to the 1930 Census there were 1,143 Pomo, and by the 1990 Census there were 4,766. According to the 2010 United States Census , there are 10,308 Pomo people in
14396-457: Was formed in 2014 which includes the Big Valley , Elem , Scotts Valley and Robinson tribes, as well as various state and federal governmental agencies. The task force focuses primarily on monitoring activities, particularly water sampling and testing for toxins. Various local ordinances protect the lake from land-use practices in the domesticated areas of the surrounding watershed, and
14518-568: Was one of the potential water supplies considered in the 1870s by the city of San Francisco , along with Blue Lakes in Alpine County , Lake Merced , Calaveras Valley , Spring Valley Water Works, and Pescadero Creek . The Clear Lake Water Works Company would have built a dam at the current location of the existing one, and piped water through a system of tunnels, canals and reservoirs to the San Pablo Bay . The surveyors reported that
14640-513: Was settled in 1850 by the 49ers , and the Lake Sonoma Valley was homesteaded out. The US government forced many Pomo on to reservations so that the European-Americans could homestead the former Pomo lands. Some Pomo took jobs as ranch laborers; others lived in refugee villages. During this time period, two settlers named Andrew Kelsey and Charles Stone enslaved many Pomo people in order to work as cowboys on their ranch. They forced
14762-464: Was the first turning point for the Pomo people. They had finally escaped the harsh road they were once a part of, and even though they had to settle on poor, isolated land, they finally got to make a stride towards tradition and basket weaving. From 1852 to 1878, many Pomo Indians tried to rekindle their cultures and find peace to what had happened to them. Many people let this time be a learning and spiritual time, where they could have visions and see what
14884-408: Was to provide funding to breach the levees and restore 1,650 acres (670 ha) of lake and wetland. Bloody Island should again be an island. The project has the additional aim of reducing the amount of phosphorus entering the lake by 40%. The additional water resulting from the increased lake area is to be allocated to municipal districts drawing water from the lake. Yolo 's water allowance under
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