Learn about challenges and efforts to 
Clean up Clear Lake’s valuable ecosystem
Clear Lake’s ecosystem faces urgent challenges, from habitat loss and sedimentation to harmful algal blooms and declining native fish populations. Efforts to combat these problems will be explored at the Thursday, March 20 program meeting of the Redbud Audubon Society. The program is presented on Zoom and starts at 7 p.m.
Candace Reynolds, a Restoration ecologist and senior biologist specializing in habitat restoration and invasive species management, will review the Revitalizing Clearlake Oaks Initiative which is tackling these issues through two interconnected projects: the Schindler Creek Habitat Restoration Project and the Clear Lake Keys Rehabilitation Project.
These efforts aim to restore fish passage for the threatened Clear Lake hitch (Lavinia exilicauda chi), improve water quality, and enhance habitat resilience. Currently, the initiative is in Phase 1: Planning and Design and preparing a funding request to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Watershed Restoration Grant Program. If awarded, this funding will support community outreach and engagement efforts, hydrological studies, engineering assessments, and environmental permitting to develop targeted restoration strategies, including sediment reduction and circulation improvements in the Clear Lake Keys. This presentation will provide an update on planning efforts, outline next steps, and highlight opportunities for community involvement in shaping the future of Clear Lake’s ecological health.
Candace Reynolds is a California native and Humboldt State University graduate. She applies nature-based solutions to guide restoration planning, grant development, and stakeholder engagement. She has worked across California’s diverse ecosystems, conducting biological surveys, habitat assessments, and ecological monitoring.
With extensive expertise in the full lifecycle of habitat restoration, Candace collaborates with conservation groups, agencies, and communities to develop and secure funding for ecological restoration projects and currently leads efforts to advance the Revitalizing Clearlake Oaks Initiative. She works for Hana Resources, an Environmental Consulting firm. Based in Humboldt County, Candace enjoys exploring California’s landscapes with her two teenage children and remains passionate about conserving biodiversity in harmony with people for future generations.
