Lake County is incomparable when it comes to natural beauty, eco system diversity, wildlife populations, Native American heritage, and geological significance. This bountiful Northern California region is home to the suspected oldest lake in North America as well as over 50 other lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Other fascinating features include wildlife ranging from Bald Eagles to the endangered Clear Lake Hitch, a dormant volcano named Mt Konocti which towers over the surrounding foothills and landscape, and some of the earliest Native American civilizations in the United States dating back more than 10,000 years. Despite all this, there is a severe lack of environmental regulations here in Lake County and one of the most damaging is the lack of a plastic bag ban. I have observed these bags caught in trees, polluting waterways, and lining the sides of roadways. Lake County is unique in that it is the only county in California never reached by a railroad and thus received very little industrialization. This not only gives Lake County the cleanest air quality in the nation, but makes it an ideal location to be a base for nature preservation, environmental protection, and research. I call on the elected officials of Lake County to make a difference here, and to protect these one of a kind natural treasures before it is too late.