Friday, 29 March 2024

The Living Landscape: Rodman Slough County Park

"The bluebird carries the sky on his back." – Henry David Thoreau

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Rodman Slough County Park is located on the shores of Clear Lake, at 1005 Nice-Lucerne Cutoff in Nice.

This is a good spot to launch a kayak or even a small boat.

It is, as all of Clear Lake is, a bird-watching heaven.

Look for osprey, grebes, mud swallows, herons, double crested cormorants and more.

The osprey which inhabit the tall nest at the pinnacle of a pole gifted to the great birds by Pacific Gas and Electric saves the birds from an untimely death by electrocution.

The park is 40 acres and is the perfect picnic, fishing or swimming site. Not to be confused with the Lake County Land Trust's more than 400-acre Rodman Preserve on Westlake Road in Upper Lake, Rodman Slough County Park is open year-round.

Take some time in your busy week to sit still here near a sentinel boulder, to “see better.”

Listen to the delicate patter of a late spring rain on the ancient  waters of the lake, then breathe in nature's perfume that languidly fills the air.

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The breezes ruffle reeds, creating a symphony of delicate sounds and cool currents of fresh air.

When you open your eyes you may be treated to a parade of grebes floating by in their regal style, replete with a newly hatched baby bird or two in tow, on its back.

The greenery that fringes  each shoreline seems to yield secrets like 3-D poetry, if you pay attention, with care.

Each new bud protrudes, proclaiming emphatic facts of themselves wherever you look.

Lapping waters announce the laws of physics – action and reaction all around.

The light sparkling and playing on the lake originated from our star, the sun, more than 93 million miles from us.

There is nothing like the great outdoors to view the wildlife, woods and wetlands of Clear Lake to put things into perspective!

For more information see the Konocti Regional Trails Web site, which contains maps and information on pathways, land and water trails in Lake County.

Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is a retired educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also formerly wrote for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.

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Upcoming Calendar

30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Lakeport Community Cleanup Day
30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Second annual Bunny Brunch
30Mar
03.30.2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Lake County poet laureate inauguration
31Mar
03.31.2024
Easter Sunday
31Mar
03.31.2024 1:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Lakeport Rotary Club Easter Egg Hunt
1Apr
04.01.2024
Easter Monday
1Apr
10Apr
15Apr
04.15.2024
Tax Day

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