Topics included:

• An overview and history of the Mt. Konocti acquisition
• Make-up of the Mt. Konocti Master Management Plan Committee
• Roles and responsibilities of Friends of Mt. Konocti

It was decided to created a 501c(3) non-profit organization – the organization and bylaws are being created by a small subgroup.

The Friends of Mt Konocti would be involved with:

• Protection and preservation (policing, information dissemination, interpretation)
• Lead hikes and/or supervise the use of the Cal Fire Lookout Tower
• Be trail users and watchers
• Hold fundraisers and create a website to support the mountain
• Provide input and support for county operations, including trail management/construction; fire management; input on types of usage within the confines of the purchase agreement; help to create policies and procedures.

Sign up to be a Friend of Mt Konocti!

Public Services Director Kim K. Clymire announced today that an organizational meeting to create a non-profit “Friends of Mt. Konocti” group will be held on Thursday May 13, 2010, from  6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in the Board’s Chambers that is located in the Lake County Courthouse at 255 No. Forbes St. in Lakeport on the 1st Floor.  An overview and update will be given on the progress the Master Management Plan Committee has made toward developing the plan that is being driven by preservation, resource and cultural conservation of the site. When the park opens, that is tentatively scheduled for late June or July, only hikers will be allowed initially, while specifics of the plan are determined over the next year or two, that may or may not include equestrian, dogs on leash, mountain bikes and other potential uses.  The focus of the organizational meeting will be to recruit volunteers to lead hikes, be trail watchers, docents to supervise access to the Cal Fire Look Out Tower, contingent on Cal Fire approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), etc.
If you have questions regarding this matter, please feel free to contact the Public Services Department at 262-1618.

11/2009 – A committee has been appointed to work on developing a  Mount Konocti Master Management Plan that will include types of use, flora and fauna identification, fire and emergency management plans, etc. The plan will be dictated by conditions of the purchase that include day use only (except by special permit), no motorized vehicles (except authorized), keeping the existing gate at the bottom of the hill locked and closed (except by permit), etc.

Appointed members include:

• Brad Barnwell, Lake County Land Trust/ Recreational users group Rep.
• Rich Burns, BLM
• Battalion Chief Linda Green, Cal Fire
• Mike Stone, Kelseyville Fire Chief
• James Harvey, Registered Forester
• Charlotte Griswold, Countywide Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Rep.
• Mike Fowler Seller
• Steve Brooks, member at large
• Tribal Rep position vacant

The park is tentatively scheduled for an official opening in mid summer, 2010

Communities and Destination Areas :
Kelseyville, Rivieras, Clear Lake State Park, Highland Springs, Mt. Konocti, Lakeside Park, Black Forest

Types of trails are Existing, Proposed (approved in plans) and Conceptual Connections (wish list) divided into a three-tiered hierarchy:

• Regional Trails (RT), connecting neighboring communities or regionally significant attractions.
• Community Connector Pathways (CP), link important land uses and areas of interest, into the regional system
• Local Trails/Pathways (LT), connect neighborhoods to schools, shopping; trails within parks.

Please note: Conceptual connections listed may or may not be possible trail routes due to a variety of reasons – terrain, cost, land issues. These are just a suggested wishlist and will be researched/revised in the future.

Communities and Destination Areas :
Kelseyville, Rivieras, Clear Lake State Park, Highland Springs, Mt. Konocti, Lakeside Park, Black Forest

Konocti Region List from Workshop 1 and Online Survey
Type    Description.
RT    Highland Springs to Kelseyville
RT    Kelseyville to Lakeport
RT    Connections to Mt Konocti from Kelseyville
RT    Connections to Mt Konocti from Highland Springs
RT    Connections to Mt Konocti from State Park
RT    Connections to Mt Konocti from Soda Bay
CP    Kelseyville to CLState Park via Kelsey Creek
CP    Lakeside Park to Kelseyville
CP    Soda Bay Road and Gaddy Lane
LT    Trails on Mt Konocti
Proposed Trails: Bike Lanes (pink dotted lines); Water Trails (pink lines)

Konocti Region List from Workshop 2
RT    Highland Springs to Lakeside Park via Adobe Creek (F)
RT    Highland Springs to South Cow Mtn (via Donovan Valley, Keithly, Granite Construction)(G)
CP    Kelsey Creek Drive to Live Oak via Gross Cutoff (I)
CP    Konocti to the Eli Stage stop (A)
CP    Black Forest to Riviera Heights (D)
CP    Toll Rd via Adobe Creek to Bottlerock Rd. (H)
LT    Trails around and within Black Forest (E)
LT    Trail to Clark Peak from Clarke Drive (B)
LT    Black Forest/Buckingham to Konocti (C)
LT    Riparian bike trail by Kelsey Creek –Loassa /Gaddy /Clarke Drive (J)
LT    Riviera Bike Loop (K)
LT    Riviera West Loop (L)

Obstacles/Challenges
•    Cooperation between volunteer groups and county government
•    Money for signs on the Highland Springs trails that were developed with ALL volunteer labor time.
•    CL State Park to Kelseyville via Kelsey Creek: issues with easements, follow the creek out of Kelseyville clean up the mess around Kelsey Creek  all Riparian corridors blue lines on maps might be way to connect areas.  Would be great demand for this.  State Park is a big draw so making connectors from here is a good idea.
•    Mt Konocti from soda bay: There is an existing trail on top of Riviera Heights that may be a good way.  Potential  issues with homeowners, traffic, parking. Also a trail in Riviera West same issues as above
•    Issues with federal planning process including BLM.
•    Wants to ride road bike safely  getting out of Rivieras is difficult

Further explanation of new connection concepts listed above
•    Loop A:  Konocti to the Eli Stage stop   A corridor that comes from the state park comes down to the Eli Stage stop also to Thurston lake through the top of Anderson marsh.  Issues with traffic and the busy highway corridor.  Also potential to purchase, get easements etc of  500 acre Mulvaney lands and preserve Thurston creek watershed(Beckstoffer already has headwaters in a conservation easement) and 500 acre corridor.
•    Loop B:  Existing Trail to Clarke peak used to come from Clarke drive

•    Loop C:  from Black Forest/Buckingham to Konocti   Possiblr problem with the peregrine falcon nesting area.
•    New Loop C: existing trail top of Riviera Heights  issues with homeowners, traffic, parking but can loop
•    Loop D:  Black forest to Riviera Heights.  Perhaps priority one only one land owner to deal with
•    Loop E: Should be a trail around and within the Black Forest. How do we loop all trails up merge existing with new parking issues
•    Loop F:  Adobe creek out of highlands springs use riparian corridor that goes to the Lake County Park
•    Loop G:  Suggested connections to other study/recreational areas:  Highlands springs to South Cow Mountain.  Easements through Donovan valley/Keithly/Granite Construction big hook up.
•    Loop H:  top of Toll Road goes right to Adobe Creek which runs the ridge all the way to Bottle Rock.  Jeep Road to Boggs mountain as well.  Problem: extensive property owners and the Geysers.
•    Loop I:  From Kelsey creek to Live Oak Drive an old road to get to town

Ideas:
•    Mt. Konocti: There is a need for connecting routes from here and all that have Konocti in it.  Start at the top and figure out how to get down.
•    Old trails on topo maps that are now overgrown that can be identified and reclaimed.  Use Google Earth.  Can ultimate plan have both “low hanging fruit” but also prioritize trails if all was in the ideal?
•    What is the easiest to identify and get going on now.  Get the main ones done before you can expand out.
•    This is citizen designed and citizen driven.
•    From county stand point trails on the mountain.  From a citizen standpoint will take the opportunities presented.
•    Looking for carriage friendly trails fairly level and fairly wide.  Clarke drive has carriages right now.
•    Highlands springs focus:  they already have a strong volunteer group led by Karen Sullivan and back country horseman of California Lake Mendo chapter
•    Identify points of interest on all trails for instance huge grave marker/stone from former resident on Konocti.
•    Next step is to get volunteers.
•    There are 100 trail possibilities.  Call schools set up an email list where local trail project needs can be advertised so that the entire community of Lake county trail  junkies can spawn
•    Maintenance and patrolling must be built in.  bikers, docents, scouts etc
•    State park to Kelseyville is high priority.

Communities and Destination Areas : Nice, Lucerne, Clearlake Oaks, Nylander Park, Clearlake Oaks Boat Launch, Lucerne Harbor Park, Alpine Park, Hammond Park, Hinman Park, Holiday Harbor, Keeling Park

Types of trails are Existing, Proposed (approved in plans) and Conceptual Connections (wish list) divided into a three-tiered hierarchy:

• Regional Trails (RT), connecting neighboring communities or regionally significant attractions.
• Community Connector Pathways (CP), link important land uses and areas of interest, into the regional system
• Local Trails/Pathways (LT), connect neighborhoods to schools, shopping; trails within parks.

Please note: Conceptual connections listed may or may not be possible trail routes due to a variety of reasons – terrain, cost, land issues. These are just a suggested wishlist and will be researched/revised in the future.

Northshore List from Workshop 1 and Online Survey
Type    Description
RT    Northshore Ridgeline
RT    Bartlett Springs to Long Valley and Walker Ridge
RT    Access to MNF from High Valley Rd
RT    Northshore to Lakeport trail/bikelane
RT    Cache Creek Wilderness area
RT    Bartlett Springs Road to Pinnacle Rock
CP    Backroads of Clearlake Oaks
CP    Power line easements above Nice off Lakeview and Dodge
CP    Paperlot subdivisions in Nice and Lucerne
LT    Pathways into Plaza from foothills in Clearlake Oaks
Proposed Trails: Bike Lanes (pink dotted lines); Water Trails (pink lines)

North Shore List from Workshop 2:
Type    Description
RT    Continuing #B to Borax Lake via Sulphur Bank Drive
RT    Clearlake Oaks to Hwy 53 via Sulphur Bank Drive
RT    High Valley Road back into Fuller Canyon
RT    Downtown Clearlake Oaks up to Shannon Ridge
RT    Connection from Long Valley/Spring Valley along evacuation route to High Valley Road
RT    New/Old Long Valley Roads connection
RT    Doe Trail from Spring Valley to Indian Valley Reservoir
CP    Larger loop connecting Lucerne to the Ridgeline/High Valley Road/old campground
CP    Downtown Clearlake Oaks to Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine/EPA Site
CP    Paradise Valley from basin up to Ridgeline, loops
CP    Downtown Clearlake Oaks up along Schindler Creek
LT    Connecting parks in Clearlake Oaks to Clark Island

Additional notes from Workshop 2:

• Additional Destinations:  Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine Historic Site
• Questions: Ridgeline Trail – Status, Timeline
• Amenities desired: Connectivity to Parks, food, etc.; Multi-use trails, camping, day use; Picnic facilities/tiered use; Signage (distance from point A to point B); Cell phone connection info; Stewardship; Patrol, maintenance, service calls; Emergency access
• Concerns: Liability concerns, Vandalism, trash, illegal dumping, marijuana gardens; Safety
• Opportunities: Volunteer coordination intern at MNF/volunteer opportunities

Communities and Destination Areas :
Upper Lake/Lakeport, Rodman Slough, Upper Lake Park, Library Park

Types of trails are Existing, Proposed (approved in plans) and Conceptual Connections (wish list) divided into a three-tiered hierarchy:

• Regional Trails (RT), connecting neighboring communities or regionally significant attractions.
• Community Connector Pathways (CP), link important land uses and areas of interest, into the regional system
• Local Trails/Pathways (LT), connect neighborhoods to schools, shopping; trails within parks.

Please note: Conceptual connections listed may or may not be possible trail routes due to a variety of reasons – terrain, cost, land issues. These are just a suggested wishlist and will be researched/revised in the future.

Westshore List from Workshop1 and Online Survey
Type    Description.
RT    Trails to Blue Lakes
RT    Connections to Snow Mountain
RT    Lakeport to Glen Eden Trail/Cow Mountain
RT    Upper Lake to Glen Eden Trail/Cow Mountain
RT    Lakeport to Upperlake
RT    Lakeside Park to Lakeport
RT    Connection to Ukiah
CP    Bridge Arbor Trail
CP    Family Friendly trails in Cow Mountain Area
CP    Scotts Valley/Goat Rock Trail
CP    Rodman Slough to Sutter Lakeside
LT    More trails on Rodman Slough
LT    Within City of Lakeport
Proposed Trails: Bike Lanes (pink dotted lines); Water Trails (pink lines)
Existing Bike Lanes (red solid line)

Westshore List from Workshop 2
Type    Description
RT    Lakeport to Highland Springs
RT    Connect to Westside Park
RT    Water Trail from Rodman Slough down to Library Park area
CP    Loop circling Lakeport
CP    Connection to Bloody Island
CP    Interpretive trail through solar array area, treatment facility, etc.

Additional Destinations:
•    (A) Mendocino College (point of interest); (B) Rodman Slough Visitor Center; (C)County Park at Rodman Slough; (D) Sutter Lakeside; (F) Lakeport Town Center; (G) Linder-Hanson Millbery Park to be developed by Trowel & Trellis; Solar array

What Excites You:
•    Diverse usage of trails; non-motorized trails (safety); combines recreation and transportation; connectivity with public transport; connectivity between Upper Lake and Lakeport; Flat – many people can use; places to stop; connection with water and land; connection between cultural and natural;

Opportunities:
•    Bike parking; funding, timing of APC, coordinated planning process; TOT tax as seed $ for bike paths; Lakeport park grants for staging areas (restrooms, etc.); more tourism in the shoulder months; disciplined bike trails will encourage more people to visit; SB?? $ for trails connected; bike race around the lake; ask for trail easements upon property sale; building youth stewardship; alleys as Right-of-ways in Lakeport; Internet as communication

Obstacles/Challenges
•    Easements; bike visibility; funding; community planning -> past -> today, coordinating multiple planning processes; “private rights” NIMBYS; don’t put large rocks in parking areas that have horses; “Fear of Liability” issues; Fear of vandalism, ATVs, litter, trespassing; requires law enforcement/supervision services

Ideas:
•    Farm sites included from Farm Trails and Wine Tasting; Art Trails; Map public restroom facilities; consider vaulted toilets; info kiosks; important – use trails for communities

South County Study Area

Communities and Destination Areas:
Middletown, Hidden Valley, Cobb, Boggs Mountain, Boggs Lake, Trailside Park

Types of trails are Existing, Proposed (approved in plans) and Conceptual Connections (wish list) divided into a three-tiered hierarchy:

• Regional Trails (RT), connecting neighboring communities or regionally significant attractions.
• Community Connector Pathways (CP), link important land uses and areas of interest, into the regional system
• Local Trails/Pathways (LT), connect neighborhoods to schools, shopping; trails within parks.

Please note: Conceptual connections listed may or may not be possible trail routes due to a variety of reasons – terrain, cost, land issues. These are just a suggested wishlist and will be researched/revised in the future.

South County list from Workshop 1 and Online Survey
Type    Description
RT    Hidden Valley to Middletown
RT    Connection to Napa/Sonoma
CP    Putah Creek
CP    Community pathways from Cobb to Boggs State Forest
CP    Bottlerock Road from Pine Grove to Rob Roy Golf Club
CP    Connection to Guenoc Ranch
LT    Bike lanes and walking paths through and on Cobb Mtn
LT    Vernal springs off Bottlerock Rd.

South County List from Workshop 2:
RT   Connect the Cobb and Middletown communities
RT    Connections between the “south county’ area and the rest of Lake County
RT    Cobb to Boggs Forest connection
RT    Bike route along Bottle Rock Road
RT    Konocti to Boggs connection
RT    Ziegler Road bike trail
RT    Big Canyon Road to Hidden Valley (hiking along Putah Creek)
RT    Connect Boggs to the rest of County because of heavy use.
RT    Connection to BRBNA via Robert Louis Stevenson State Park/Pope Valley
RT    Knoxville to Coyote Valley connection
CP    Potential trail access to area vineyards (general note: Langtry/Guenoc future possibility)
CP    Geysers access (land trust) compile mapping (who are key landowners?)
CP    Use Putah Creek as a connection to vineyard on Butts Canyon Rd. (Mdltn to Butts Canyon Rd.
CP    Connection Hwy 175 & Harbin Springs Rd. (McKinley)
CP    Ford Flat Road access to use this as a trail?
CP    Possible use of former logging trails on Mt. Hannah
CP    Glenn Drive connection to school (nature trail/ Boggs West Project)
CP    Harbin to Boggs forest (existing public access)
LT    Research existing trails on 175 & SC & in Boggs
LT    Explore possibilities of Knoxville (within)

Opportunities/Constraints

• Reach out to geysers landowners (geothermal)
• Lack of road ROW for Class II facilities
• Bikers/ horse & hiker conflicts on area trails
• Signage and education needed for trail users
• Coordinate/education awareness within area for mountain biking events (this is the main time of conflict between bikers/horses because equestrians are not aware of major biking events until they arrive in the area and see the event)
• Illegal marijuana growers
• Target shooting
• Meth. labs in Knoxville
• Design trails for ALL users (group not interested in specially designated trails for different users) This group is primarily equestrians
• Need for additional trailer parking at trail heads
• Mitigating mountain bike use impacts (idea: rotate bike use to different trails to minimize the impact on just a few trails)
• Areas for proposed designated fire breaks could be used for trails(contact South Lake Fire)
• Safety generally increases with increased trail use
• Conflict with squirrel hunters
• Multi-cultural/multi-lingual signage needed (Spanish, Asian)
• Insurance challenges for public access
• Potential access through Harbin Hot springs gate? (Currently is a toll gate)
• Discern/ research interest in collaboration amongst groups in the study area
• Interface with general plan/ blueprint 2030 meetings to provide trails input/ collaboration

Additional Notes

• Research equestrian trail easements in Hidden Valley Subdivision
• Hunting Club access (Wilderness Unlimited/Diamond D)
• Highland Springs to Boggs connection & connecting South County to the rest of Lake County are KEY.
• What is the County owned parcel in SE corner??
• (County insurance needs/offers. Big challenge to landowners agreeing to an easement is their liability and who insures against accidents and how can reasonable rates be achieved?)
• Are there any land trust holdings in SC?
• Perform a public survey to solicit public trail priority list

Communities and Destination Areas : Lower Lake, Clearlake, Anderson Marsh, Cache Creek, Lower Lake Park, Redbud Park, Austin Park

Types of trails are Existing, Proposed (approved in plans) and Conceptual Connections (wish list) divided into a three-tiered hierarchy:

• Regional Trails (RT), connecting neighboring communities or regionally significant attractions.
• Community Connector Pathways (CP), link important land uses and areas of interest, into the regional system
• Local Trails/Pathways (LT), connect neighborhoods to schools, shopping; trails within parks.

Please note: Conceptual connections listed may or may not be possible trail routes due to a variety of reasons – terrain, cost, land issues. These are just a suggested wishlist and will be researched/revised in the future.

East Shore List from Workshop 1 and Online Survey:
Type    Description
RT    Connection to Berryessa
RT    Connection to Knoxville
RT    Dam Road to the dam
CP    Clearlake to Cache Creek
LT    Anderson Marsh
LT    Borax Lake
Existing Bike Lanes (red solid line)
Proposed Trails: Bike Lanes (pink dotted lines); Water Trails (pink lines)

East Shore List from Workshop 2
CP    Connections from school complex to the State Park
RT    Bike path on Perini Rd; Connect from Boggs Mtn to Lower Lake via Perini Road
RT    Connection from BLM Cache Creek Wilderness/Perkins Ridge to Cache Creek Dam
CP    Snows Lake Vineyard old road on Siegler Canyon Creek as a potential trail route
CP    Quackenbush Rd. leads to BLM via County Landfill, Cache Creek and Dam
CP    Lakeshore Blvd Bike path; Lakeshore Bike Trail past Borax Lake
CP    Sunrise Shores connection to Anderson Marsh extension parking
RT    Connection from Anderson Marsh to Clearlake Riviera County Park via Thurston Lake loop
CP    Connect existing bike lanes along the Highway (people walk to Walmart)
RT    Connections to Middletown and Napa
CP    Connections between City of Clearlake and Lower Lake

Additional Destinations:

• Snows Lake; Thurston Lake

Opportunities:

• NCTPA transportation agency in Napa will coordinate with Lake County on regional connections;
• 600 unit approved development (Provinsalia) and connection to Cache Creek Wilderness with internal trails on Cache Creek. Will these be public? Need a specific trail policy ;

Obstacles/Challenges

• Jurisdiction question about local pathways – many are within cities but this is a county plan – could we create an overlaying district and coordinating entity for all trails; Need to get more city staff and reps here; Lakeshore Blvd Bike path
• (A) idea for undercrossing from schools to Anderson Marsh State Park was designed in the 1980′s but scrapped – cross under highway at the creek or at Dam Road;
• Diamond hunters park and create problems on Perini Rd;
• Open gate off Lakeview Way to allow access to Anderson Marsh kayak launch; The Anderson Marsh Water trails could be used to promote tourism for bird & nature watching. Advertising in bird magazines, Sierra Mag, etc. Get AM State Park North Flat Parking open!
• Intervening private land between BLM side trail to Cache Creek
• (F) Parking at Sunrise Shores private land, is there an Audubon legal easement?
• (G) Thurston Creek is an important wildlife corridor. Developer was going to dedicate 300 acres. Is this for sale?

Ideas

• Bike ride/race on Perrini Rd needs signage to acknowledge regular usage;
• Have Clean Up Day at Anderson Marsh kayak launch to generate interest.
• Need policy language that requires public access in developments
• Have signposts indicating future potential connections, destinations and resources
• Need designated start-stop parking spots and bus connections along routes.
• Many trails along vineyards and farms; Agricultural community needs to be encouraged.
• (G) 10 mile loop running from Anderson Marsh (the Dell) along the ridgeline north of Thurston Lake to Riviera County Park, and back along the South side of Thurston Lake.
• (E/H) A noticeable, signed “visitor” bike trail along Lakeshore Blvd to encourage more use by citizens here and to attract tourists. Getting existing lodges along lake to participate.
• (A) Trail from Sleepy Hollow Trailer Park to the Dam along Cache Creek, look at easement