Mendocino Complex Erosion Mitigation Project

From July 27 to September 18, 2018 the Mendocino Complex Fire, the largest in California history, burned more than 450,000 acres in four counties, with the largest portion in northern Lake County. To reduce the threat of increased sedimentation into Clear Lake, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board  awarded a $605,000 grant to the Lake County RCD to install and maintain erosion and sediment control  measures in areas identified as being of particularly high priority.

Native Plant Project

There are many advantages to landscaping with California native plants. They provide outstanding natural habitat and are usually drought tolerant; many are fire-resistant, deer resistant and in the right location, easy to grow. With funding from the Department of Conservation, the District is propagating and distributing a wide variety of California natives suited to  Lake County conditions.

Reforestation after Wildfire

With funding from the Lake Area Rotary and Lake County Rising, the RCD is in the third year of an ongoing project to distribute seedling conifers to private landowners impacted by the Valley and other fires.

Eightmile Valley Project

The approximately 16-acre Eightmile Valley in the Upper Scotts Creek Watershed approximately 9 miles west of Lakeport.is characterized by grasslands and riparian habitat.  The valley’s wetlands were reclaimed for agriculture in the early 1900s, causing stream degradation and sedimentation into Clear Lake. In partnership with the BLM and Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians, and with funding from the Central Valley Water Quality Control Board LCRCD has has engaged in a project to  reduce sediment transport to Clear Lake, stabilize and restore the streambed, and restore habitat value to the degraded meadow/riparian ecosystem.  The project was delayed a year by the River Fire, and work is now scheduled to begin in the summer of 2019

Goats Rue Eradication

Goat’s rue (Galega officinalis) is a federally listed noxious weed that has infested the headwaters of Scotts Creek. In collaboration with the county Ag Department, BLM, and Scotts Valley Tribe of Pomo Indians, Lake County RCD is in the third year of an eradication project.

Ravennagrass eradication on cache creek

The District undertakes a wide variety of on-the-ground conservation projects as grant funding becomes available. For example, an American Recovery and Reinvestment (ARRA) grant supplemented by funding from the Rose Foundation allowed the RCD to undertake an innovative partnership project to eradicate a potentially devastating infestation of Ravennagrass (Saccharum ravennae) from some 70 miles of Cache Creek in Lake and Yolo Counties. Read more . . .

Drought and water Conservation

 As drought conditions persist, there will be an increase in forest pest activity and drought related stresses in the foothills and mountain forests. The following guidance, provided by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, will cover the most common issues landowners are likely to experience and help answer questions they might have. Read more . . .