Supervisor Rob Brown, whose district includes the Black Forest, awarded the proclamation to Joel Witherell, an original Save the Black Forest Committee member who has taken an active role in organizing community volunteers for the Earth Day project.
“All of your hard work is definitely appreciated,” Brown told Witherell, who he called “an army of one.”
The effort is a Bureau of Land Management demonstration project, according to Rich Burns, field office manager for the Ukiah BLM office. The plan is to remove brush to create a shaded fuel break at the edge of the forest along Soda Bay Road to reduce the likelihood of a forest fire.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and Konocti Conservation Camp crews will begin clearing brush, fallen trees and limbs up to 8 feet above the forest floor and between 50 and 100 feet into the forest itself, Witherell said.
Volunteers and students from Carle High School will bring the brush down to the roadside, where volunteers on Earth Day will loan the materials on trucks for transport to a chipper nearby.
Witherell thanked Brown and invited the community to come and take part in the project.
“We hope all of you can participate and bring a friend,” Witherell said.
Volunteers can arrive anytime between 7 a.m. and noon “and we'll put you to work.”
Witherell said it's important for the community to work together to prevent major fires such as those which happened last year in Middletown, Anaheim on Monday, San Diego and, in the early 1990s, Oakland.
For those who wish to help out, bring tree trimmers, and wear heavy shoes, gloves and protective clothing, Witherell said.
For additional information or to register, email Witherell at
Board of Supervisors' proclamation
Proclamation designating Saturday, April 21, 2007, as the Black Forest Fire Prevention Project Day.
WHERAS, the 250 acre Black Forest consisting of three parcels at the north east base of Mt. Konocti, along Soda Bay Road, was deeded by the Lake County Land Trust to the US Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management and to the County of Lake in 2004; and
WHEREAS, the Black Forest represents a significant environmental preserve for a variety of plants and animals, a view and water shed for the surrounding communities, a significant erosion control for the Buckingham Park Subdivision and an opportunity for hiking and general enjoyment for the public; and
WHEREAS, due to the Forest’s high fuel load and location along Soda Bay Road, this wilderness land is highly susceptible to accidental fires that could consume adjacent homes and open space; and
WHERAS, both Earth Day and the National Public Lands Day programs encourage public agencies and the community to participate in projects such as the Black Forest Fire Prevention Project; and
WHEREAS, the BLM Ukiah Field Office has submitted a plan for the Black forest Fire Prevention Project that will provide funding and sponsorship of local efforts by both public agencies, private businesses, schools and volunteers to develop a shaded fuel break that will extend 50 to 100 feet inward into the forest along Soda Bay Road; and
WHEREAS, the Countywide Parks and Recreation Advisory Board approved a similar proclamation in support of the Black Forest Prevention Project at their scheduled meeting of February 21, 2007
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAMINED, that the Board of Supervisors of the County of Lake, does hereby designate Saturday, April 21, 2007, as Black Forest Fire Prevention Project Day, and encourages full participation by the community in developing a shaded fuel break
BE IT FURTHER PROCLAMINED, that certain County resources, such as road barriers and signage for detours, chipping services or other appropriate County resources, authorized by the County Administrator, shall be offered to make this project a success.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 13th day of March, 2007.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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