LAKEPORT – Many years ago, so the legend goes, a Board of Supervisors had a unique opportunity to make a purchase that would impact the future of the county. They were offered the water rights to Clear Lake, but passed them up. {sidebar id=92}

On Tuesday, the current Board of Supervisors – Rob Brown, Anthony Farrington, Ed Robey, Denise Rushing and Jeff Smith – had a similar far-reaching opportunity, but this time the result was different, with a unanimous vote given to purchase 176 acres on Mt. Konocti for $1.2 million and sign a purchase option agreement on more than 1,500 more acres, which will cost $2.6 million.

The word “historic” was heard a lot at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting. The purchase agreements were discussed before a nearly full audience, which itself offered unanimous support.

Public Services Director Kim Clymire – who said he's wanted to purchase the mountain since joining the county 27 years ago – even danced a little jig on his way up to present the item to the board.

Late last year the Fowler family offered the property on Mt. Konocti – which it has owned for more than 50 years – to the county. Since then, negotiations have been under way, with the county negotiating team including Clymire, Chief Administrative Officer Kelly Cox, Supervisors Ed Robey and Rob Brown, and County Counsel Anita Grant.

Cox said Tuesday that the Fowlers are retaining 168 acres subject to a conservation easement.

The only concern about the purchase related to the condition of Konocti Road, which leads up the mountain. The road is going to need some improvement, one resident warned, if accidents are to be avoided.

That was the main concern in a discussion largely filled with optimism.

“This is a great day,” said Supervisor Denise Rushing.

“We all have a relationship with this mountain,” she said. “The opportunity to acquire these lands will never present itself again.”

Supervisor Jeff Smith said acquiring the Mt. Konocti property will be remembered far into the future. “To me this is probably the biggest thing we can do for the county.”

Supervisor Anthony Farrington echoed Rushing's and Smith's sentiments. “It is a historic endeavor,” he said, thanking the negotiating team.

Cox said a “windfall” of unanticipated geothermal revenue from the federal and state governments last year made the purchase possible.

The money, which won't be repeated again, was connected to a new lease the federal government sold in The Geysers for a very large amount of money, said Cox.

Those funds were kept aside and saved, said Cox. They can be used for specific things, including parks and resource preservation.

Cox said he had wondered how the county might be able to pull off the purchase. “The stars were aligned right and this money arrived.”

Supervisor Rob Brown, who said the mountain forms “a big, big chunk” of his district,” offered the motions to purchase the 176-acre Buckingham Peak property as well as to approve the purchase option agreement for the 1,512-acre area.

“I would imagine at the end of my term, my tenure as supervisor, when asked the question, 'What did you do that you're the most proud of? – this would be that,” he said.

The unanimous votes on both motions garnered applause from the audience.

The board also approved a memorandum of understanding with Conservation Partners, which may allow the county to access between $300,000 and $1 million in Bureau of Land Management Property Exchange Funds for Mt. Konocti acquisition costs.

“I've always loved that mountain and thought it should belong to all of us,” said Clymire, who then handed the board a check, on behalf of himself and his wife, to go toward the purchase.

Clymire told Lake County News Tuesday afternoon that the geothermal funds the county received are being set aside as a “safety net” to buy the property in case other sources of funding fall through.

The county also is asking Congressman Mike Thompson, and Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein for help, as well as seeking federal bond funding, Clymire said.

Clymire called Konocti “the jewel in the crown of the lake.”

“It's going to be preserved in perpetuity as park property,” he said, and will feature both equestrian and pedestrian hiking opportunities.

Clymire said the county is setting up special account and trust funds into which it will deposit donations from the community for the purchase.

Tax-deductible donations can be sent to Lake County Public Services at 333 Second St., Lakeport, 95453; Clymire said to note “Mt. Konocti acquisition” on the check.

All of the money donated will go directly to the purchase, he said.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

{mos_sb_discuss:3}