LAKE COUNTY >> The Lake County Resource Conservation District (LCRCD) accomplished a lot over the past year, even though the office is still focused on staffing.
Secretary of the LCRCD Victoria Brandon said they are currently working on filling in positions. At the moment only directors and a small staff work on the various projects, including annual weed tours, Field Days in the Creek, Scholarships, the Eightmile Valley Project, Goats Rue eradication project, free chipping of wood from the fires and the Indian Valley Wetland Restoration project.
“Our Reforestation Project is the big deal,” she added. “Last year we ordered 100,000 native conifers from a nursery up in the Sierra and got funding from Lake County Rising and the Rotary and also a very generous donation from the people who own the Walnut Creek Fireplace.”
Brandon detailed the LCRCD’s achievements in a report to the Lake County Board of Supervisors, the first issued after two regional conservation districts were merged just over a year ago. The district has primary authority to establish local conservation measures.
“We’ve had a whole lot happen in the last year and just to give some background we have seven directors and staff that run particular projects,” Brandon said.
Invasive weeds was identified as a long term project.
“Goats Rue is a really, really nasty weed and is very pretty and in some areas even sold as an ornamental,” Brandon said. “It’s very toxic to live stalk and creates a tremendous amount of seeds and once it gets established it is really hard to get rid of.”
Right now there is an infestation on Cow Mountain that was discovered in 2011. Most of it has been eliminated but there is still work being done on making sure it is fully removed.
Most of the projects offered are used for educational purposes and for students to participate and learn about the environment. With some of the funds they receive for their scholarship program, the LCRCD was able to start an internship program.
Last year they had two interns but had only one continue into 2017.
“The final project for the intern was to create a map for Kelsey and Putah watersheds, which come together at the Garden of Cobb School,” Brandon said. “This area right around the school is kind of an oasis in the south county and did not burn and is where many members of the community come to just have a reminder of what this place was like before the fire.”
Before merging, the East Region and West Region Conservation Districts concentrated primarily on soil. Over the years leading up to the merger, the scope of their work expanded to conservation of soil and water, wildlife habitat enhancement, invasive species management and watershed restoration.
The LCRCD started in the 1930s and originally had five different groups but consolidated to East Lake and West Lake in the 1950s. They have combined as one group to have coordinating efforts on both sides of the lake and will continue their efforts to enhance the county.
