Forrest and Gage Fowler loading clay into wheelbarrow at the Clarks Island natural building project Clearlake Oaks, Calif. Photo by Miguel Lanigan.

The first phase of the project included making adobe bricks for a gateway and wall with arches and island signage.

The project was initiated by District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing in January. Rushing envisioned it as a small project with a big visual impact using natural building materials.

Part of the thrust of this project is to show kids and young adults they can participate in community actions in their own community.

The county hired natural builder Massey Burke to lead the work for the Clarks Island Sustainability Initiative.

Burke, who also oversaw the building of an award-winning covered bench and curved wall at Lucerne Creek Park, recently completed a project for West Coast Green at Fort Mason in San Francisco.

Massey Burke, project manager, and District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing do stone work at the Clarks Island entrance in Clearlake Oaks, Calif. Photo by Miguel Lanigan.

Copper Cross Vineyards donated clay for the Clarks Island project, and Clay and Margarita Shannon of Shannon Ridge Winery gave the necessary straw.

Clearlake Oaks County Water District installed a hose bib for the project and Carlé Continuation High School students participated in the adobe making effort.

Both red and black clay is being used for visual contrast.

The total cost estimate presented to the Board of Supervisors was $6,000. The Lake County Redevelopment Agency put in $4,500, with the balance – $1,500 – being donated by community members, local businesses and local organizations.

Six to eight students from the San Francisco University's Architect and Design Program are planning to come to work next weekend.

A crumbling break-wall at the entrance to the bridge leading onto Clarks Island has been removed and the embankment graded.

A floating Island will be anchored to the lakebed with planted tules, as part of the effort to hamper the growth of algae in the canals.

A tule revegetation project is planned at the island this coming weekend. For more information visit http://sites.google.com/site/konoctitrails/clarks-island/tule-revegetation.

Miguel Lanigan contributed to this report.

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Seth Wachtel, University of San Francisco's director of Architecture and Community Design Program and his son Elliot, share the mud at Clarks Island in Clearlake Oaks, Calif. Photo by Miguel Lanigan.