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.  

We have had two very successful work days in April and May where a lot
of brushing back and some surface improvements were done on Dead Horse
Trail and Bronco.  Thanks to all of you who helped and worked so hard.

Kim and I had brief but very productive meeting with Scott DeLeon last
week.  He is going forward on the order for signs.  Thanks to Carol
Roberstson who did the fundraising and all who contributed, we will
soon have some trail name signs!  We also discussed the uploading of
new data for the Highland Springs map and made contact with the county
person who will help us do that!!  WE know everyone is patiently
waiting for a map and trail signs and we are making progress.

Don't forget to check out the new Kiosk at the Dam Y Parking.  It
currently has some great wildflower and local bird photos, and will be
updated with a map and HSRA information soon.  Thanks again to Diane
Bajada, who made this happen with her time, $ and volunteer helpers.

Scott has given written permission for our trail work days and
upcoming Summer Wednesday night happy hour and trail work evenings. He
is supportive of all our efforts and we hope to keep making progres on
keeping trails open and improved with everyones help!

Speaking of that, please consider coming to help us this Saturday
morning June 11, with our final Saturday work day until fall.  We have
a surprise caterer and you won't want to miss a great (and free)
lunch...remember,please try to RSVP so we have a good head count. We
will be staging at Carol Bigg's property (last right on Highland
Springs Road before the split at the dam)l  look for signs and
flagging.  We have permission to work on Kneeknocker trail, whch has
become extremely brushed over and dangerously rutted.
I pre-rode it today and my horse slipped twice badly on the ruts; it
wil be equally bad for hikers.  Please help, it's fun, and not hard
work...we even need people to just pull brush out of the way.  This is
also the trail that goes down the backside of Boot Hill.  The trail is
very near the Biggs property, so not a long walk.  Hike in or ride
horses and tie up!

For more information email greymare56@gmail.com, or call 349-1559 or
riley4@hughes.net

Thanks,
Karen Sullivan

The public is invited to provide input on the update of the Lake County Regional Transportation Bikeway Plan. 

Main Street Bicycles is hosting the open house at their business at 125 North Main Street  in Lakeport on Wednesday May 25^th, 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. 

This is an informal open house without a structured presentation to allow people to drop by at their convenience.  Information will also be available about bicycle commuting.  The focus of the Lake County Regional Transportation Bikeway Plan is routes for commuting to work, school, shopping and other destinations. 

For more information, please contact

Terri Persons at Lake County/City Area Planning Council (APC).367 N. State Street, Suite 206,Ukiah, CA  95482.

(707) 263-7799  Fax (707) 463-2212 or via email at personst@dow-associates.com