MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – On Wednesday, May 20, the East Lake Resource Conservation District was proud to host the annual “Field Days in the Creek” at Diamond D Ranch outside Middletown.

Approximately 130 fourth grade students from Coyote Valley, Minnie Cannon and Cobb elementary schools participated in this interactive educational event on the banks of Putah Creek, where the emphasis was on seeing, touching, and learning about the natural world and natural resource management in an outdoor setting.

The children moved from one demonstration station to another over the course of two hours.

Presenters included Katherine Blyleven from the Lake County Agriculture Department talking about native plants and invasive weeds; Dean Enderlin discussing local geology; Ben Ewing from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife demonstrating backpack electrofishing; Korinn Woodard and Kate O’Donnell from the Natural Resources Conservation Service providing a close up look at different soil types; Carolyn Ruttan from the county Department of Water Resources talking about invasive mussels; and Joe Koschik from the US Forest Service discussing forestry and fire protection and providing a close up look at the anatomy of a real fire truck. Several goats in an adjacent field belonging to the Middletown High School farm provided a bonus attraction.

After the demonstrations and hands-on activities, the students settled in for lunch – when who should appear but Smokey Bear!

It was hard to tell whether the presenters, the students or the organizers were having the most fun on this beautiful day in the South County.

A project of the Upper Putah Creek Stewardship Council for many years, Field Days came under the auspices of the East Lake RCD auspices in 2014, which is hoping to extend the program to the Konocti Unified School District at a future date.

For more information about the Resource Conservation District visit www.lakercd.org .

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – On May 19, Andrew Fulks was honored with a national “Trails Worker Award” at the 2015 American Trails Association's award symposium in Portland, Oregon.

Fulks, a licensed landscape architect, is presently the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Manager for UC Davis, managing 6 miles of stream and several hundred acres, as well as being the president of Tuleyome's Board of Directors.

He has been a constant advocate for appreciation of the Putah and Cache Creek watersheds in the central valley of California.

To draw attention to the region, he founded www.yolohiker.org , a local trails advocacy, hiking and outings Web page and co-founded the Capay Valley Hiking Club, an ad hoc group of hikers that meet twice a month to hike in the watershed.

In 2002 Fulks co-founded Tuleyome, a nonprofit conservation organization in Woodland.

If one had to pick a single “greatest accomplishment” it would be Fulks' work on the Berryessa Peak Trail in Northern California.

In the mid-1990s he was determined to find some way for the public to be able to get to and enjoy Berryessa Peak, a site in Napa County that had been landlocked by private property for more than 150 years.

It took almost 15 years to splice together the public, private and governmental components needed to make his dream a reality.

Most of the trail, which straddles the boundary between Napa and Yolo counties, was hand-cut by Fulks and a group of volunteers.

In December of 2013 the trail was finally completed – just one month before Fulks' 40th birthday.

The inaugural hike for the public took place on Jan. 27, 2014, and since then everyday citizens and hiking groups guided by Tuleyome staffers have been able to climb this incredible 14-mile (round trip) trail.

The summit is at 3,057 feet, the high point of the Blue Ridge, and provides a breathtaking panoramic view of the region. It is now considered one of the premiere “marathon” trails of Northern California.

In his position as board president of Tuleyome, Fulks also leads public hikes throughout portions of the Berryessa Snow Mountain region, and fights to permanently protect the region as a National Monument.

Fulks' efforts have enhanced the lives and health of members of the local community, extended public awareness of the natural areas in our region, and – it is hoped – will make a national impact on the country when the Berryessa Snow Mountain is designated as a National Monument.

His love of the outdoors, his dedication to making spectacular landscapes available to the public, and his persistent attention to the trails in our region made him an obvious choice for the “Trail Worker Award,” and Tuleyome is so grateful to the American Trails Association for recognizing his work.

SACRAMENTO – On Friday the State Water Resources Control Board approved a proposal from riparian water right holders in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to voluntarily cut back water use in exchange for assurances they would not face further riparian curtailment during the June-September growing season.

“This proposal helps Delta growers manage the risk of potentially deeper curtailment, while ensuring significant water conservation efforts in this fourth year of drought,” said State Water Board Chair Felicia Marcus. “It allows participating growers to share in the sacrifice that people throughout the state are facing because of the severe drought, while protecting their economic well-being by giving them some certainty regarding exercise of the State Water Board’s enforcement discretion at the beginning of the planting season.”

Growers who participate in the program could opt to either reduce water diversions under their riparian rights by 25 percent, or fallow 25 percent of their land.

In both cases, the reductions would be from 2013 levels. Riparian water right holders who choose not to participate in this voluntary program may face enforcement of riparian curtailments later this year, though risk of curtailment would not be any greater than it would have been if the program were not approved.

Water right holders throughout the state, including senior and riparian right holders, have been warned that curtailments are likely this year because of the continued unprecedented drought conditions.

Junior water right holders in the Sacramento and San Joaquin river watersheds and others have already been curtailed for the second consecutive year.

Last year, hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland were fallowed.

To be included in this program, participants will have to submit a specific plan to achieve the program’s conservation requirements by June 1, and the State Water Board will conduct spot checks during the growing season.

The program only applies to riparian water right holders in the Delta. Riparian water rights are held by those who own property that abuts a river or stream and divert water for use on that property.

Unlike appropriative rights, which are curtailed by seniority along a waterway, riparian rights are curtailed collectively by a shared percentage.

Because most of the farm land in the Delta abuts natural streams and sloughs, riparian water right claims are more extensive in the Delta than in other agricultural regions of the state.

These water rights are among the most secure in the state’s water rights system and are curtailed only when natural stream flow is inadequate to serve the reasonable uses of all riparians.

The State Water Board welcomed the farmers’ proposal and staff has worked with them and other stakeholders to refine it.

The State Water Board is open to voluntary agreements to manage and mitigate drought impacts, as long as they do not harm other water rights and do not cause unreasonable effects to fish and wildlife.

Although this conservation program has been proposed by riparian water rights holders in the Delta, the program could be a template for riparians in other parts of the state, subject to adjustment for local and regional conditions.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Saturday, May 23, the Lake County Chamber of Commerce presented the annual Lakeport Memorial Day parade.  

“This was a perfect Lake County day with great crowds and beautiful weather,” said Chamber Chief Executive Officer Melissa Fulton.

The 2015 Theme was “Salute to Our Veterans,” a tribute to all the Armed Forces and their families for all they have given and continue to give to keep our freedom alive.

Fulton offered thanks to the following for their assistance in bringing this traditional welcome to Summer for Lakeport and Lake County: Lakeport Public Works and Lakeport Police Department; Lake County Fairgrounds; Mendo Mill Lumber & Home Center for providing the judges' stage; Paul Reading, an awesome announcer as always; and Wally Cox of the Kiwanis Club of Lakeport, who took care of posting the no parking signs on Main Street Friday morning – 24 hours prior to the required street closure.

The chamber also extended its appreciation to parade judges Merri Fauchald of Neils Construction, Chamber Director Bert Hutt of SERVPRO and Fulton. The equestrian judge was Kim Cipro of Lower Lake, representing the California State Horsemen’s Association.

Stage setup and decoration was done by Fauchald and Fulton; Ginny Clinton, chair for the Parade Lineup for the 24th year in a row was assisted by Mike Gomes of The Office Spot, Richard Neils of Neils Construction and Barry Clinton.

A last-minute entry was the Patriot Guard Riders, who weren’t in the script. The chamber thanked the group for its participation with Operation Tango Mike.

Stage and parking sign tear down was covered by Neils, Hutt, Fauchald and Fulton.

“It definitely takes a great many ‘hands’ to put a parade together, the chamber extends a huge thank you to everyone who helped,” Fulton said.

The results for the Lakeport Memorial Day Parade are as follows.

DIVISION I – FLOATS/GROUPS

Best of Division: Lakeport Senior Activity Center

COMMERCIAL

First place: Mendo Lake Credit Union

ORGANIZATIONS

First place: Operation Tango Mike
Second place: People Services
Third place: Lakeport Elks Lodge No. 2704

MILITARY

First place: Lake County Pearl Harbor Survivors          
Second place: 40 & 8 Voiture 912 of Lake County
Third place: Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 951                                   

SENIOR/ADULT

First place: Lakeport Senior Activity Center
                 
DIVISION II – VEHICLES

Best of Division: Pat Sperling/Veteran Jess Stevenson

CLUBS

First place: Corvettes of Lake County No. 1

CARS

First place: Pat Sperling w/Veteran Jess Stevenson
Second place: Miss Lake County and Miss Outstanding Teen
Third place: The Panfiglios

MOTORCYCLES

First place: Hillside Can-Am Spyder Group

DIVISION IV – JUNIOR

Best of Division – Junior Giants

SPORTS

First place: Junior Giants

DIVISION V – MUSIC

Best of Division – Clear Lake High School Band

BANDS

First place: Clear Lake High School Band

DIVISON VII – EQUESTRIAN

SENIOR NOVELTY

First place: Lonne Sloan

JUNIOR EQUESTRIAN                        

First place: Karissa Huggins

GRAND SWEEPSTAKES & THEME WINNER              

Operation Tango Mike

JUDGES' CHOICE                                                          

Lakeport Senior Activity Center

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Local author Robin C. Harris will conduct eight free weekly Saturday morning sessions designed to stimulate students entering grades 6 through 12 to put their creative energies on paper.

The writing group will meet at Lakeport Library, 1425 N. High St., from 10 a.m. to noon, beginning June 6 and ending Aug. 1, with the exception of July 4.

Whether the participants will become career authors, are looking for something fun to do or just want to impress a teacher next fall, the sessions will provide them with ideas and perspectives that will enhance their fiction or non-fiction writing skills.

Each session will stand alone to ensure that participants who miss a Saturday will not be out of the loop.

Registration is recommended but not necessary.

“Perhaps the word ‘workshop’ is misleading,” said Harris, a former teacher and summer camp director with a background in the entertainment industry. “Sure, serious writing is work, but our time together is going to be lively and fun. Besides, the library is cool on warm mornings, and it smells good in there.”

She added, “Above all, this is not an English class. In fact, when we learn the mechanics of dialog, grammar goes out the window.”

For more information about the teen writing group, contact Amy Patton at the library 707-263-8817, Extension 17105 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Lakeport Library is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, noon to 8 p.m. The phone number is 707-263-8817.

The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary .

NAPA, Calif. – Following an inspection and recommendation from the California Department of Transportation, Napa County Public Works has closed Oakville Crossroad Bridge, over the Napa River between Highway 29 and Silverado Trail, as result of the 4.1 magnitude earthquake on Thursday, May 21.

Properties east of the bridge can be accessed from Silverado Trail and properties west of the bridge can be accessed from Highway 29. 

Motorists wishing to cross the valley floor in that area should make use of Yountville Cross Road or Rutherford Road (Highway 128).

The bridge, set for a planned replacement beginning in Summer 2015, will remain closed until further notice. 

Information will be provided as it becomes available. Visit www.countyofnapa.org for more information.

To receive automatic updates, please register at http://local.nixle.com/city/ca/napa .