Mt. Konocti Chaparral Land Donated to LCLT

This past January Lake County Land Trust (LCLT) gratefully accepted a property donation from the De La Montanya family. In November Dennis De La Montanya contacted LCLT with the generous offer to donate 40 acres on the south side of Mt Konocti. The parcel is contiguous with Mt Konocti County Park. It could offer future trail possibilities on the mountain and vital protection of chaparral habitat.

The De La Montanya family owns and operates the De La Montanya Vineyards and Winery in Healdsburg. They have a strong connection to Lake County and have been part-time residents for 30 years. The Lake County Land Trust appreciates their foresight in conserving land on Mt Konocti. It is fitting that De La Montanya means “From the Mountains.”

Native chaparral is one of the most dominate biomes of Lake County. It covers the scenic hillsides appreciated by residents and visitors; it is home to a variety of birds and mammals and provides numerous plants upon which endangered pollinators like native bees and butterflies thrive.

Native Salvia part of the sage family, highly fragrant and drought resistant.

Coyote Bush has leaves covered with a waxy coating that holds water during droughts and is fire retardant because of their chemical makeup that reduces their ability to burn quickly.

Toyon The flowers are visited by butterflies and other insects, and have a mild, hawthorn-like scent. The berries are consumed by birds, including mockingbirds, American robins, and cedar waxwings. Mammals including coyotes and bears also eat and disperse the berries.

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Upcoming Events

Click here to Register for LAND TENDING DAYS

LCOE Cares Sponsors

Guided walks at Rodman Preserve for Employees

April 22, May 13 and May 27

9:00 am

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Annual Dinner

There has been a change of plans. Watch for Annual Dinner update as the details become available.

Recent Sightings at LCLT properties

Soap Root or Wavy Leafed Soap Plant the native Americans had many uses for this plant such as soap & brushes

A Fungi at Rodman Preserve

Star Lily blooming at the Rodman Preserve

Land Tending Days:

Land Tending Group at Rodman Preserve on

April 2, 2023

Wetland is Back at Rodman Preserve

LCOC guided walk at Rodman Preserve. Pictured with Harry Lyons, Parker Spadaro, Heather Koehler

A prized valley oak at Rodman

Click here to submit your photos.

Expanding Our Understanding of the Natural World

Through recommended books, podcasts, articles, etc.

Fire, Chaparral, and Survival...

by Richard W. Halsey

Richard Halsey, a retired biologist and one-time fire fighter is a passionate defender of chaparral, one of the major biomes in California and also one of the most maligned. Even though this book focuses on Southern California, because that is where Halsey lives and has experienced fires, it applies to Lake County as well. The author bravely confronts some of the accepted myths about chaparral that many people cling too, even environmentalists. These myths include ideas like Chaparral is “fire-dependent,” or old-growth chaparral is “decadent,” or “overgrown,” brush; or that fire suppression has led to an “unnatural,” accumulation of chaparral, leading to huge wildfires. Before you react to these statements, or deny them, I urge you to read Halsey’s book.

He simply urges us to seek the truth about the root causes of destructive wildfires and not accept the standard myths that are blindly accepted by many.

Here is a quote from his book: “California chaparral is one of the most pristine and beautifulMediterranean-type shrublands on earth. . . Chaparral is pure California. It exists in every single county. It’s a frequent home to the California Quail (State Bird), is occasionally decorated by the California poppy (State Flower), and was the preferred habitat to the now extinct California grizzly bear (State Animal). . .Once the beauty of chaparral is

pointed out, it’s hard to miss.

-Roberta Lyons