In April 2009, Tuleyome with the help of many supporters and donors purchased the 72-acre Cold Canyon Headwaters in the upper watershed above the Stebbins Cold Canyon UC Natural Reserve.

For many years the managers at the reserve have provided public access and hiking to the old Homestead site located about one mile up Cold Creek.

More recently in 2002, they created an exhilarating five-mile loop trail that continues from the old Homestead site to the ridge, north along the ridge and then drops back down to the creek. It is a moderately strenuous hike with 360 steps along the way.

Over the last year Tuleyome volunteers have built a two-plus mile additional loop to this trail which was named after Anne Schneider, a founder and Tuleyome board member who died in 2010.

It is an exhilarating trail loop that branches off the Cold Canyon loop trail at the low gap on the southern part of the ridge at the Tuleyome trail sign.

Hikers travel for a ways along an old firebreak trail before turning off on Annie’s trail. The trail winds through a wonderful oak glade before climbing high on the ridge. Near the top is Annie’s Rock with awesome views to Snow Mountain 100 miles to the north.

For the hike, meet at the parking lot across the street from the Cold Canyon trailhead at 8:45 a.m.

To join them for the barbecue, meet at the Lake Solano Park Picnic Area, Pad D at 3 p.m. Burgers and hot dogs will be provided; all attendees are asked bring a side dish to share.

For more information call Tuleyome at 530-350-2599.

Visit the group online at www.tuleyome.org .

AMIA’s proposal to take over the operation of the Park has now received preliminary approval from the Parks Department headquarters in Sacramento.  AMIA is very excited about this development - a big step forward on the path to keeping the Park open after July 1. The next steps are to negotiate the actual contract terms and to get the final approval for the agreement from the State.

Under the operating agreement, AMIA will operate the Park for the next three years.  The hope is that by then, the State will be able to figure out a way to properly fund the State Parks so that these stop-gap nonprofit operating agreements will no longer be needed.

Under the proposed agreement, AMIA will continue to perform the tasks that it currently does, including opening the Park gates during daylight hours on Saturday and Sunday, interpretive Nature Walks and Ranch House Tours led by AMIA volunteer docents, hosting senior and student field trips to the Park and conducting other interpretive events led by AMIA volunteers. 

In addition, AMIA will take over responsibility for maintaining the trail system for use by the public, for contracting for refuse, toilet and utility services and for performing grounds-keeping, housekeeping and maintenance as required.  Plans also include offering kayak tours of Anderson Marsh.

The Parks Department will continue to maintain authority and responsibility for the stewardship and management of Natural, Cultural and Historic Resources, including the Native American artifacts found at the Park.  State Parks shall also continue to be responsible for law enforcement at the Park, with periodic patrols and response to calls for assistance as required.

AMIA is in the middle of its fundraising drive to raise the money necessary to operate the Parks for the next three years.  Many generous individuals and groups of donated to the cause, some of them also pledging to make the same donation for the second and third year of operations.

We urge those of you who have not yet joined AMIA to do so at whatever level of support you can afford.  Every donation helps.  You can get information about joining on their web site:  www.andersonmarsh.org.

Volunteers are also needed to help with the work of running the Park, including trail clearing, maintenance and many other activities. They also need help with staffing tables and booths at various County events so that we can get the word out. Please contact AMIA if you can help out in any way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association

PO Box 672

Lower Lake, CA 95457

Tele: 707.701-4207

• Vigilance Winery & Vineyards, 13888 Point Lakeview Rd, Lower Lake. 707-994-9656
• Shannon Ridge Vineyards & Winery, 12599 East Highway 20, Clearlake Oaks. 707-998-9656
• Gregory Graham Winery, 13633 Point Lakeview Rd, Lower Lake. 707-995-3500

Public Services Director Caroline Chavez announced today that a public meeting originally scheduled on November 30^th about the planning status for the County’s newest park Mt. Konocti has been postponed for the winter. The last meeting was held on November 2^nd and meeting participants were brought up to date on the current status of the Mt. Konocti Park development. However, additional improvements are on hold through the winter months.  Therefore, there is no additional development to report.

Participants were also asked to submit their preferences for priorities and questions on the planned development which will be reviewed by County staff and the newly-formed Konocti Regional Trails (KRT) Team. The KRT Team has had some initial meetings to begin reviewing the community input and developing priorities for Mt Konocti and other regional trail systems including a communications plan to keep people informed of plans and progress.

The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for February 2012. Mt. Konocti is currently open only to hikers while plans are developed and the special order vault restrooms are built, delivered and installed.  For more information, check the County’s trails website for information at www.konoctitrails.com.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact the Public Services office at 262-1618.

• Introductions.
• Update on the Master Management Plan progress.
• Discussions on the following topics:
• Update on trail development plans as part of Konocti Regional Trails (KRT) program including KRT Team recruitment and KRT Project member recruitment
• Property Acquisition of two parcels that dissect County park land.
• Opening the park to hikers only and discussion regarding Special Trail Use by Permit only to include but not limited to Equestrian, Non Motorized Mountain bikes, dogs on a leash and special events.
• Ordinances: park hours, prohibiting smoking, fires, cutting or taking wood, rocks, or artifacts off the mountain. (other informational signs).
• Fire Management.   
• Status of the Memorandum of Understanding with Cal Fire for the Tower access and recruitment of docents.
• Parking.
• Grant funded restrooms, signs, benches, and tables.
• Organizing “Friends of Mt. Konocti.”
• Next meeting(s).
• Adjourn.

To Lake County Trails Enthusiasts!

We are pleased to announce that Mt. Konocti will be open to the public beginning Saturday Sept 24th! While there will not be an initial "Grand Opening" this year, the first day of public access will be in conjunction with the Kelseyville Pear Festival held the same day. Kim Clymire, Director of Public Services, will be at the Festival to talk about Mt. Konocti and to distribute the first hiking trail brochure in the Konocti Regional Trails System - the Wright Peak Summit Trail.

The Wright Peak Summit Trail is a 6+ mile round-trip hike from the Upper Parking Lot near the access gate on Konocti Road, with an approximate 1,600 ft elevation gain. The trail takes hikers along the main access road, past walnut and apple orchards, through an amazing Canyon Oak grove to the Mary Downen cabin, built in 1903. It then continues up to Wright Peak and the CDF Tower, with possible side trips to Howard Peak.

While currently available for access, another hiking trail brochure to Buckingham Peak will be launched in Spring 2012.

The park will open initially for day-use hiking only, with other uses by a Special Facility Use Permit, available from the Lake County Public Services Department. A Master Management Plan is being developed by County staff and a committee of volunteers that will help guide the operation and maintenance of the park.

Other opening regulations include:

• Non-motorized day-use except for official authorized vehicles.
• Absolutely no fires or smoking on the mountain.
• The park will open for hiking only, with other uses such as equestrian, non-motorized mountain bikes, dogs on leash, and others possibly allowed under a special Facility Use Agreement (FUA).
• The first section of the hiking trail passes through private property around Fowler's Orchard on an easement. Respecting the privacy of the homeowner by staying on the trail is paramount to preserving the public's right to access the park.
• The park may be closed during high fire danger, severe winter weather or for other health and safety reasons.

Currently, the County is working on the following projects to ensure a smooth opening.

• Cal Fire and the County Road Division Crews are grading the main access, Konocti Road up to Wright and Buckingham Peaks, and trimming brush back.
• A hiking trail to circumvent the Fowler's walnut orchard has been built. This was required prior to opening, as a condition of the sale. We ask that all hikers please respect their privacy, and not trespass on private property, signs are being installed.
  

• Waterless/vault composting restrooms will be ordered and hopefully installed prior to the rains. Benches, tables and additional signs will be installed in late fall or early spring.
  

• The County has negotiated a five-year lease with the State for use of the Cal Fire Look Out Tower, located on Wright Peak, to be used for supervised recreational activities in exchange for maintenance. We will need volunteer docents, preferably trained in C.P.R. and First Aid, to supervise tower access.
• During the initial lease period the County will work on legislation to extend the lease or have the State donate the tower to them.
• Utilizing $60,000+ in donated acquisition funds, the County is in the process of purchasing another 47.5 acres of the Mazzola and Harbey properties where the road crosses their property; this will allow irrevocable public access and replace the existing easement agreement.

If you have any questions, wish to volunteer or need additional information; please feel free to contact the Lake County Department of Public Services at 262-1618.

More information will be available as needed on the County website at www.LakeCounty.com. Copies of the Wright Peak Summit Trail brochure will be online at www.KonoctiTrails.com beginning 9/24/11, as well as at the County Visitor Centers.

Thanks to all who have helped make this dream a reality,

Kim Clymire, Director of Public Services,County of Lake

• Identifying and describing potential trail routes or projects, refining and building on the concepts in the Master Plan, and soliciting community input;
• Recommending high priority projects, using the evaluation criteria and guidelines in the KRT Master Plan;
• Assisting with detailed project planning, which may include route assessment, research, and coordination of community input, working with the County;
• Assisting with project implementation in coordination with the County including drafting grant applications and funding requests;
• Organizing volunteer projects; and
• Supporting feasibility studies or more detailed preliminary planning.

For reference, see the KRT Master Plan.  Please refer to Chapter 5 and Appendix L of the KRT Master Plan for more details on the role of the KRTT. 

The meeting will provide information about the roles and responsibilities of KRTT members and about the application process.