Recreation
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Public Services Director Caroline Chavez announced the spring 2013 schedule for docent-led hikes on Mt. Konocti.
Hikes are planned for the following dates: Saturday, March 30; Saturday, April 20; Sunday, May 19; and Sunday, June 9.
The meeting spot will take place at the main parking lot of the park and the approximately four hour guided hikes will begin at 8 a.m.
The park is accessed by taking Konocti Road up the mountain from Kelseyville.
The hike is moderately strenuous and will cover approximately six miles roundtrip. Participants are encouraged to wear sturdy shoes appropriate for rugged terrain and to bring a lunch, a supply of water, a daypack, as well as binoculars and/or a camera.
The number of spaces for the docent led hikes is limited, and reservations are required. Minors must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Inclement weather cancels the hike.
The hike, which will be led by experienced docents, will include visits to the historic Downen Cabin and the top of Wright Peak, with an optional climb to the top of the Cal Fire lookout tower.
At 4,299 feet in elevation, Wright Peak is the highest point on the mountain, and the tower, which was built in 1976 and used until recently by fire lookout crews, provides stunning 360-degree panoramas.
The climb to the top of the tower requires accompaniment by a guided docent, and it will be accessible only to those 18 years of age and older.
Hikers who wish to climb the tower will be required to sign a release of liability form. Tower access requires a moderately strenuous climb up several flights of exterior stairs, and thus, may not be appropriate for those prone to vertigo or with heart-related and other health conditions.
Tom Nixon, a retired State Parks Ranger and member of the Konocti Regional Trails Team (KRTT), leads the docent tour program.
The docents are knowledgeable about a range of topics including the mountain and its geology, history, flora, fauna, and even folklore.
Mount Konocti County Park is primarily an undeveloped park with somewhat rugged terrain and gravel areas. Three waterless vault restrooms have been installed on the mountain, as well as several picnic tables and benches. Smoking is strictly prohibited.
As with other county-owned parks, glass and alcohol are prohibited. Rattlesnakes are present, and care should be taken to avoid disturbing rocks.
In its monumental 2011 acquisition, the county of Lake purchased 1,520 acres of land on top of Mount Konocti, a dormant volcano that is one of Lake County’s most dominant and recognizable natural features. This acquisition created the new Mount Konocti County Park and placed it into public hands for perpetuity. The county-owned land is contiguous with an additional 821 acres of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
The reservation deadline for the first guided hike is March 15, 2013. All other reservations need to be made by April 1, 2013.
To reserve a space, contact the Lake County Public Services Department at 707-262-1618.
For information on Mount Konocti County Park, including a downloadable map, visit www.konoctitrails.com .
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The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is seeking stakeholder input regarding regulation options to reduce the take of abalone in 2014.
A key goal of abalone management is to provide for a productive and sustainable fishery. CDFW conducts annual field surveys to assess abalone population status and track changes in density (the number of abalone per given area) at established survey sites.
Results from recent surveys have shown downward trends in abalone numbers, particularly in Sonoma County.
These trends appear to have worsened as a result of the August 2011 die-off that was related to an unusual harmful algal bloom, also known as a red tide.
Because the abalone decline has reached predetermined trigger points for taking management action, the CDFW must develop options for fishing regulations that will reduce the take of abalone, thereby reducing the risk of overfishing and improving the health of the resource.
These proposed regulations will be presented to the Fish and Game Commission for consideration later this year.
Two management actions are mandated by the Abalone Recovery and Management Plan (ARMP) for consideration based on the density triggers reached: reducing the overall red abalone fishery take by 25 percent, and closing the Fort Ross area to allow for recovery at that particular site, where abundance is especially low.
Constituent involvement is an important part of successful fishery management. Therefore, CDFW is conducting an online survey, available at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/abalonesurvey , to gather input from people who are interested in the abalone fishery.
Anyone with an interest in this fishery is encouraged to take a few minutes to provide feedback on the various options presented in the survey.
The ARMP is available online at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/armp/index.asp .
For additional information, please contact Ian Taniguchi at
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