LAKE COUNTY – The county of Lake and the Lake County Fire Safe Council have released the public draft of the Lake County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), and are inviting public review and comment.

The CWPP is a plan to reduce risks and hazards from wildfire while exercising due care of natural resources.

The plan provides very specific strategies and recommendations on how to achieve these goals by identifying, prioritizing and implementing fire protection and fuel hazard reduction programs and activities.

It also takes into account the challenges of coordinating fire protection strategies across property boundaries and jurisdictions, as well as identifying ways to encourage the integration of private land management goals with community needs and expectations.

The CWPP is intended to benefit all of Lake County. As such, it was developed through the collaborative efforts of many stakeholders including the county Board of Supervisors, local fire districts, Bureau of Land Management, Cal Fire, U.S. Forest Service, the Cities of Lakeport and Clearlake, Resource Conservation Districts, tribal representatives, Lake County Air Quality Management District, and most important, residents throughout the county.

Development of the CWPP involved an extensive planning and development process which was led by Tracy Katelman of ForEverGreen Forestry (www.forevergreenforestrv.com) who is a Registered Professional Forester. She was assisted by Linda Juntunen, the Coordinator of the Lake County Fire Safe Council.

The process began with a series of 10 community meetings where input from residents was critical in identifying wildfire hazards, and in prioritizing projects intended to mitigate such hazards. Thereafter, the process focused on engaging the technical expertise of the various stakeholders.

"The Fire Safe Council recognized the importance of this project, and helped as much as they could," said Juntunen.

Denise Rushing, chair of both the Board of Supervisors and Fire Safe Council, stressed the importance of the plan and the process. "Working on the CWPP was a good example of how the public and private sectors can work together to call attention to the risk of wildfire in Lake County and help provide education on what citizens can do to prepare for it. With fire season already here, all of us need to take responsibility for the safety of our homes and the protection of our fire fighters."

The entire draft plan can be viewed and downloaded from the County's Web site (www.co.lake.ca.us) or at www.forevergreenforestry.com/lakecwpp.html.

Free copies on CD, as well as reviewable hard copies, are also available at the following locations:

• Upper Lake Library: 310 2nd St, Upper Lake.

• Lakeport Library: 1425 N. High St., Lakeport.

• Redbud Library: 14785 Burns Valley Rd, Clearlake.

• Middletown Library: Corner of Calistoga and Callayomi Streets, Middletown.

• Spring Valley Community Center, 3000 Wolf Creek Road.

• Office of the Lake County Air Quality Management District: 885 Lakeport Blvd, Lakeport.

• County Administrative Office: 255 N. Forbes St, Lakeport.

Public comments may be submitted to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Comments may also be submitted in writing to the Lake County Administrative Office at 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport, CA 95453.

The public comment period on the draft plan will continue through July 1.

A public meeting to discuss the CWPP will be held on Monday, June 8, at 6 p.m. in the Board of Supervisor's chambers.