User:BombusBear/Clear Lake (California)

Nomenclature
'''"Hok-has-ha," "Ka-ba-tin," and "Lupiyoma" are the original names given to Clear Lake by the indigenous people of the region. In the early 19th century, the lake was called European settlers called referred to the lake as "Big Lake" followed by "Laguna", before finally becoming known as "Clear Lake" by the mid 19th century. '''

... 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 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 the construction of a dam on the outlet of Clear Lake, both steelhead and Pacific lamprey ascended Cache creek to spawn in Clear lakes tributaries.

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Invasive species
The ecology of Clear Lake has been significantly altered due to the presence of invasive species. A notable invasive species is hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata). Hydrilla is a submerged aquatic plant, which notably out-competes both native and non-native species to create pure stands.  The plant is so successful as establishment 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 is overseen by the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Hydrilla Eradication Program. The goal of the program is eradication of existing hydrilla populations and prevention of future infestations of hydrilla. 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 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 the mid-to-late 20th century. Moreover, both the Florida strain largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides floridanus) and the northern largemouth bass (M. salmoides salmoides) populations of 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. '''