LAKE COUNTY — Lake County Public Services Director, Kim K. Clymire, announced Monday that the negotiations for an easement across the seller”s property to access the new Mount Konocti County Park site are closer to completion.
By the time the grading season opens on April 15 the easement documents are anticipated to have been approved by the seller and the Lake County Board of Supervisors.
After those approvals and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) document is final, probably the middle of June, construction of a 1,350 foot hiking trail will begin across the easement and it is hoped that it will be done by the official opening date.
In the interim, park staff will continue to work on getting the CEQA process completed that will include hiring an archeologist to do a study to address concerns by American Indians regarding the sacredness of the mountain and to take a specific look at the areas where improvements are planned to be done.
Those improvements that will cause minimal impact to the mountain, will include parking, signage, benches, picnic tables and restrooms.
The county is working with a volunteer committee to develop a Master Management Plan for the site that includes representatives from the public, Bureau of Land Management, CALFIRE, Kelseyville Fire, Countywide Parks and Recreation Board, an environmental group, an equestrian, non-motorized mountain bike and a dogs on leash.
Tribe members attended the meetings and are interested in the future of the mountain, but have not yet officially accepted a seat on the committee. Contingent on CEQA approval, the park will officially open on July 2 for day-use hiking only.
Other uses may be approved by applying for a special facility use permit that will require a sponsoring entity to take responsibility for the event and comply with county policies and rules governing the park. Clymire expressed appreciation to the Fowler Family for selling the property to the county, to the Lake County Board of Supervisors for its forward thinking and authorizing the acquisition and the thousands of citizens who have supported this opportunity.
For more information call 262-1618 or e-mail kimc@co.lake.ca.us.
