Original Manning Creek Discovered!

May 2026

A picture is worth 1000 words...or a $1.3 million restoration grant

by Angela De Palma-Dow, LCLT Executive Director

Can you spot the difference between these two aerial images 10 years apart above the current Kuhlanapo Wetland Preserve? Hint: Look for the half mile of meandering riparian creek corridor.

This is a friendly reminder to never underestimate the value of research – and a good aerial photo. As you may be aware, the Lake County Land Trust with tribal partners at Big Valley Rancheria, and consultants at FlowWest, are designing a large creek and restoration project along lower Manning Creek within the Kuhlanapo Wetland Preserve. The restoration planning team had developed a preliminary conceptual design that would enhance the current Manning creek out to Clear Lake to provide more suitable habitat for hitch and remove barriers from migration during both dry and rainy, wet years.

The team was all prepared to take the next step and fully engineer the design. Then came the discovery of an aerial photo from 1942. This photo was taken 10 years earlier than any of the previous site photos that had been used for project planning. The 1942 photo showed an original version of the highly vegetated, meandering Manning creek on the preserve property that no longer exists. In fact, when comparing

the 1942 aerial photo to the 1952 photo (see image above), the original, beautiful, meandering and lush Manning Creek had been completely wiped off the face of the earth – and this is not hyperbole. By 1952 the original creek had been filled in, removed, and leveled to create more field space for farming and grazing activities.

Regardless of how and why the land was changed, as responsible land and water stewards, with an obligation to protect Clear Lake Hitch for the benefit of Clear Lake ecology and our tribal partners, we had to include this revealing “new” information in our design plans. For the last couple months, LCLT, Big Valley Rancheria, and FlowWest have been working closely with regional fish and hitch partners to develop five restoration options for the Manning Creek project. The group, with Big Valley tribal Business council approval, selected the preferred design in March and now the detailed engineering, hydrology, and vegetation planning can move forward. We are so excited about being able to restore Manning Creek to her former glory while still being able to plan for wetland and current stream enhancements, creating improved and increased habitat for Clear Lake hitch on the Preserve!

For more information please visit our new Kuhlanapo Wetland Preserve Manning Creek Restoration Project Website here .

Sunday, May 17, 2026

Come out and Support Your Local Land Trust

All Proceeds Go Directly to Lake County Land Trust

Your ticket includes hor d'oeuvres and wine

Rodman Preserve

Open for walks

Saturday 9-2*

Thank you to Hubbard M. Jones Photography for sharing these photographs taken durning a walk a Rodman Preserve in April 2026.

*We are open many weekdays from 10:00-4:00 pm. Call ahead to check, 707-262-0707.

Western blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum)

Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)

non-native

Alfalfa Butterfly (Colias eurytheme)

Ithuriel's Spear (Triteleia laxa)

Meadowfoam (Limnanthes flocossa)

True babystars (Leptosiphon bicolor)

Native California Wildrose (Rosa california)

First Guided Walk of the Season!

Kuulanapo Wetland Preserve

Saturday, May 16th 9am

Guided Hike Details:

With high lake levels this year, some of the trail is still underwater, but this out-and-back guided walk will still provide lots of opportunities to observe nature, birds, wildflowers, wildlife, and water fowl at the Kuhlanapo Wetland Preserve.

During this walk with LCLT staff and partners, you will learn about the Land Trust's wetland restoration project along Manning Creek and eastern levee.

Mosquitos and some ticks may still be around so long pants and sleeves--and bug repellent--are suggested. Sturdy shoes are best, and bring water. A portable restroom will be available. The birds and wildlife is abundant--bring binoculars!

Click here for directions

Lake County Land Trust

A Charitable Non-Profit Protecting Land in Lake County

PO Box 1017, https://www.lakecountylandtrust.org/

Lakeport, CA 95453

707-262-0707

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