LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Anderson Marsh State Historic Park, located on Highway 53 between Lower Lake and Clearlake, is comprised of more than 1,000 acres of wetlands, oak woodlands and grasslands.

Anderson Marsh is set on the largest lake situated wholly  in California, and the oldest lake in North America – Clear Lake.

There are more than 30 documented American Indian archaeological sites here, some of which are more than 10,000 years old.

Anderson Marsh has a rich history of European settlement as well. The Grigsbys settled here in the 1850s and the Andersons in the 1880s.

A walk in the park at Anderson Marsh is never the same twice.

You have a choice of trails to explore, along with the McVicar Wildlife Sanctuary. The Marsh Trail allows you an all-encompassing vista of the park's landscape. Its 1.6 miles long trail lopes through the park's predominant habitat – freshwater marsh, with 19 percent tule prairie and 42 percent sedge-rush prairie. A walk here garners a view of Bald Eagles in the winter months.

This jewel of a park protects an ecologically valuable tule marsh, which plays a significant role in the lives of birds, fish and mammals that make use of it for breeding, nesting and living in or amongst the tules.  

The tules here at Anderson Marsh are some of the remaining (about 8 percent) of Clear Lake's once immense expanse of tule reed habitat.

Tule reeds provide necessary habitat during the lifecycles of fish such as catfish, blue gill and crappie.

Tule reeds were carefully managed by Anderson Marsh's original inhabitants, the Pomo Indians. Then, the reeds were put to a variety of uses including tule huts, mats, baskets, clothing and even tule reed boats. American Indians were mindful of leaving enough of the plant to ensure plenty for future use.

The 1.2-mile Cache Creek Trail encompasses a riparian environment with a valley oak forest and cottonwood-willow woodland, and makes up 4.5 percent of the park.

There is an 800-foot-long bridge and boardwalk constructed, in part, by the Telephone Pioneers of America to take you along Cache Creek to the edge of Clear Lake.

Here, where the soil meets water, is where a wealth of plant and animal life live out their day to day dramas. This habitat is attractive to great blue herons, wood ducks, various hawks, warblers, American Robins and several types of hummingbirds.

It prospers in a rich insect-life which feeds the assorted fish and bird species. Migratory birds find their way here to pause on their long journeys, and a host of other wildlife may be seen here such as black-tail deer, raccoons, pond turtles and more.

Anderson Flats Trail meanders through a grassland environment, and is 0.8 miles long.

Set prominently amongst the grasses is a huge, ancient valley oak, known as the “kite tree” since it is frequented by black-shouldered kites. These avian acrobats beat their wings to hover – hence the name “kite” – then snatch up their prey with talons to enjoy a tasty treat of mice, insects, birds or small mammals.

Evidence of the park's past can be seen twinkling in the sunshine – a piece of glass-like obsidian. These once-valued volcanic remnants were mightily important in the Pomo Indian culture. The rock was painstakingly fashioned into arrowheads, fishhooks, scrapers and tools of all description.

Signs in the park warn against taking anything, including obsidian from the premises.

To gaze upon this stone can take you back in time when everyone in the community here had a job and a purpose: a hunter, food gatherer, basket weaver, a shaman or fisherman. Everyone relied on one another and knew that part intimately.

The 1.5-miles-long Ridge Trail rambles through an oak woodland ecosystem, and comprises about 7 percent of the park.

You can discover lots of blue oaks, manzanita and other shrubs, along with their inhabitants: great horned owl, Cooper's Hawks, various woodpeckers, California ground squirrel, Western gray squirrel, porcupine and other critters.

There is always a surprise in store when hiking the Ridge Trail. Western Redbud practically glows its distinctive magenta coloration on the trail in the springtime.  

Redbud played a part in Pomo basket weaving, when the bark from the plant's slim branches were incorporated to provide a brown color or, when peeled,  presented white colored strips for the ancient artisans. Pomo baskets can be found not only in our local museums, but the Smithsonian houses special Pomo basketry as well. Descendants of the first people here still pass on the exquisite art of basket weaving today.

We have local archaeologist Dr. John Parker to thank for our precious park. Parker worked diligently for years in the state and federal levels to help preserve the land that is now Anderson Marsh from becoming a residential area for 1,000 new homes.

He worked to promote the rich cultural awareness of Lake County history, bringing in the Native American community who pointed out plant materials used for basket making, food and medicine. Parker highlighted the importance of Clear Lake's ecosystem to aquatic life.

The local Redbud Audubon Society made a list of birds and other wildlife in the area, some of which were on the national rare and endangered lists. Groups such as the Cultural Heritage Council, Audubon and many, many concerned citizens fought to preserve the land.

In 1977 Anderson Marsh officially was classified as an archaeological district and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1982 the State of California acquired the ranch property and preserved a significant, rich cultural area of California.

Anderson Marsh State Historic Park's Interpretive Association, AMIA, celebrates its 30th anniversary, along with the sesquicentennial  anniversary of California's State Parks on May 31.

For more information about AMIA's 30th anniversary events, visit www.andersonmarsh.org or www.facebook.com/AMIA.org .

Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is an 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 writes 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.