LAKEPORT, Calif. – Volunteers have been busy this summer improving trails at Highland Springs.
This month the Lake County Horse Council completed summer repairs of approximately 600 feet of the Lake Trail at Highland Springs Recreation Area in Lakeport.
One of the most popular hiking and riding trails in the county, the four-mile Lake Trail, circles the Highland Springs reservoir, and connects to many other trails in the park.
The trail sustained severe damage and erosion secondary to wet weather use and was in danger of being closed permanently due to safety.
The Horse Council applied for and was awarded a national trail grant from the American Quarter Horse Association and Tractor Supply Company in August 2012.
At that time, a team was formed from members of the Horse Council and the Highland Springs Trails Volunteers, to design and organize the trail repair with plans to begin the work after the wet season in the spring of 2013.
The team included LCHC board members Bill Biggs, Scott Bennett, Mike Riley and LCHC President Virginia Vovchuk, in addition to several volunteers who helped with the work.
Available resources were studied as input to the project, including Equestrian Trail Guidelines developed by the University of Missouri-Columbia.
In April, members of The Horse Council, Sierra Club and Highland Springs Trails Volunteers met to get the project started, holding a work day and “Earth Day” potluck.
Guests included conservation organizers of the nearby Berryessa Snow Mountain area, who shared maps and the story of their efforts and results.
The actual trail repair work began in May, on a 350-foot section at the southeast side of the reservoir, under the supervision of the Lake County Water Resources department, which manages the 3,200-acre watershed.
Initially, a SWECO Trail Cat was utilized to re-grade the trail, carefully preserving the original trail footprint and surrounding vegetation. This was followed by placement of geotextile fabric and over 50 tons of road base to the repaired trail area.
Road base was moved from the trail head to the work site with motorized skid steers, then raked into place over the fabric, at a depth of approximately 4 inches.
Budget has been set aside to construct a set of gates that can be closed and locked at both ends of the affected southeast trail section in severe weather. This work will be done after the first rains when the ground is workable for post construction.
With the trail repair completed, the Lake Trail is now open to equestrian and other uses. The team, including Lake County Water Resources personnel, will closely monitor the condition of the repaired section of trail during the coming winter months in order to determine the need for any further adjustments.
“We were happy to contribute to the safety of one of our favorite places to ride and hike. Thanks to the volunteers and suppliers who helped make it happen,” said Virginia Vovchuk, Lake County Horse Council.
A commemorative Trail Ride with members of Clearlake Junior Horseman is planned for fall to acquaint them with the trail and the repair work made possible by the grant.
The Lake County Horse Council thanked the following volunteers and businesses who contributed to this effort: Kirk and Quincy Andrus; Aaron Bell; Bill and Carol Biggs; Scott Bennett; Marty Brookman and Roy Fernandez; Carleene Cady and Wendell Wells; Barbara and John Claiche; Jim Fetzer of Ceago Vineyards; Steve Devoto; Bob and Joel Fischer' Ken Ling; Dave Lowrie; Anna Rose Ravenwoode; Kim and Mike Riley; Karen Sullivan; Braulio Torres and Charlie Torres; Juliana and Alexandra Vidich; Virginia Vovchuk; Peter Windrem; Gary Hansen and Scott De Leon of Lake County Water Resources Department (supervision); Ag Unlimited (fence supplies); RB Peters (road base materials and delivery); and Defatte Equipment Inc. (skid steer rental and delivery).
For more photos and video of the project or more information about the Lake County Horse Council, go to www.lakecountyhorsecouncil.com .