KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated on April 22, on which events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection.

It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network and celebrated in more than 192 countries each year.

So what better way to demonstrate environmental protection than to repair a severely eroded trail at the Highland Springs Recreation Area?

The Lake Trail, which encircles the Highland Springs Reservoir, has been a favorite trail for Lake County equestrians for many years.  In the past few years, a 350 foot section had become gullied and unsafe.

The Lake County Horse Council received a grant to improve this severely damaged portion of the Lake Trail last year and have been moving forward with planning to proceed with the repair this spring.

Brentwood, Tennessee-based Tractor Supply Co., www.TractorSupply.com , made the $6,300 grant through an American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) trail conservation program.

On Sunday, April 21, the Council hosted a trail repair kick-off event at the Highland Springs horse staging area.  

With 25 people in attendance, the day started off with brushing back and clearing an overgrown trail that will be used to access the damaged portion of trail. This trail will be used for equipment, materials and gravel transport.

With the trail work completed, everyone sat down to a potluck lunch and a historical presentation of the Highland Springs area presented by the Highland Springs Trails Volunteers.  

This was followed by special guest speakers from Tuleyome: Charlotte Orr, Carol Kunze, and Mary Hansen, with a presentation on the proposed Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area along with additional information regarding regional trails and trail access.  

Tuleyome is a volunteer advocacy-oriented nonprofit organization that is focused on protecting both the wild and agricultural heritages of the Inner Coastal Range and the Western Sacramento Valley for current and future generations.

These areas include all or parts of Yolo, Lake, Napa, Colusa, Glen, Mendocino and Solano counties in northwestern California.

For more information regarding this trail repair project or to volunteer, please contact Virginia Vovchuk at 707-245-9091.  

For more information regarding the Lake County Horse Council see www.lakecountyhorsecouncil.com .  

For more information regarding Tuleyome, see http://www.tuleyome.org .  

For more information regarding the Highland Springs Trails Volunteers, see www.highlandspringstrailsvolunteers.com .