Sometime in the late 1920s or early 1930s an unknown individual(s) planted a non-native species of fish in Lake Almanor—carp. In the 1930s and 1940s efforts were underway to eradicate the fish. During the mid-1930s and early 1940s spearing carp became a popular pastime. In 1935 Vern Hart owner of the Lake Almanor Inn, said it was pretty simple when it came to spearing carp. He said the only thing necessary was a three-pronged spear or a pitchfork.

In 1939, the California  Department of Fish & Game came up with a new plan to remove the carp—commercial operators. Carp did have one beneficial use, they could be converted into fish meal and. a ready market for poultry feed. In July 1940 alone over 30,000 carp were harvested weighing in at over 35,000 pounds. The carp were shipped to Los Angeles for processing. In 1943 it was even proposed to build a carp processing plant at Lake Almanor, but it failed to receive approval from the federal War Priorities Board. After that efforts were suspended on the eradication of the carp.

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The region, like most of California is earthquake prone. Actually, on any given week there are small quakes in the region, registering under 3 on the Richter Scale. The tremors are so faint, no one feels them.

However, that was not the case on May 23, 2006, when an earthquake struck the east shore of Lake Almanor at 8:47 p.m. It got everyones attention as it measured 5.7. It was widely felt throughout the region.

In the spring of 1914, a swarm of earthquakes hit the region, a prelude to Lassen Peak’s eruption that May.  At the same time, Big Meadows was being flooded to be transformed into Lake Almanor. Many locals believed that was cause of the Lassen Peak eruption.

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This is not a April Fools prank. On March 15, 1915, the Surprise Valley Record, Cedarville, Modoc County had a small article about “Another Volcano.” Lassen Peak, during the previous year, had become an active volcano. This account of Stover Mountain as an active volcano, I found rather “surprising.”

“Another Volcano-Westwood, Cal. Mar. 7-Another volcano in active eruption in this vicinity, a mate to Mount Lassen was reported today to the officials of the Red River Lumber Company.

”It is Mt. Stover, 22 miles west and located 15 miles southeast of Mount Lassen.

”On the strength of the reports men were sent to investigate as the country is in the heart of the timber holdings of the company.

”Mt. Stover, it was reported, has been smoking slightly for the past two days but early this morning an active eruption was seen with a column of dense smoke rising far above the lofty peak. No flames were seen or damaged reported. Mt. Stover is said to be in second in height of Mt. Lassen and the outbreak at the distance from the original volcano is regarded as a sign of subterranean disturbances.”

Tim