Geography
Lakeport is located at 39°02′35″N 122°54′57″W / 39.04306°N 122.91583°W / 39.04306; -122.91583. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km2), of which, 3.1 square miles (8.0 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (4.39%) is water.
The Lakeport area is located on a sediment-filled valley adjacent to Clear Lake. Exposed materials within the area are limited to serpentinite and quaternary sediments. These sediments are poorly consolidated to unconsolidated mixtures of sand, silt, clay, and gravel derived from older rock in the adjacent mountains. Because of the low strength of the quaternary sediments, they are subject to rapid erosion and shallow slumping.
The greatest number of faults in the County occur in the Cobb Mountain area and Hopland Grade area running southeasterly to the southern County line. The southeastern portion of the County also appears to have considerable earthquake faults. There are also active faults within the vicinity of the City of Lakeport, including the San Andreas Fault which is 30 miles (48 km) to the west, and the Healdsburg Fault which is 15 miles (24 km) to the west. These faults have been responsible for moderate to major earthquakes in the past. The maximum creditable earthquake magnitudes are 8.25 for the San Andreas fault and 6.75 for the Healdsburg fault.
There is a potentially active rupture zone (defined as a fault that has been active during quaternary time - the last 2,000,000 years) existing immediately east of the City limits running parallel and adjacent to the shoreline of Clear Lake. Within the past 200 years, no major potentially damaging earthquakes have occurred along any faults within Lake County, including the Big Valley fault adjacent to the eastern City boundaries. Geologically, recent faulting is indicated, however, by the apparent displacement of quaternary earth materials along the Big Valley fault.
The largest earthquake to affect the City was the 1906 San Francisco earthquake which had a magnitude of 8.3. Although shaking was severe, overall damage in Lakeport was comparatively minor and generally limited to the fall of decorative masonry and chimneys.
The city relies on wells for the majority of its potable supply. In periods of high rainfall flooding from Clear Lake, Scotts Creek and Forbes Creek, have caused historic property damage.
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