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Blaine Baker was honored at the year in review event. Photo courtesy of Linda Juntunen.



LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The annual year in review for the local watershed groups is always a fun, informative evening, and this year’s look back at 2006 was no exception.


A crowd of 50 enjoyed a potluck dinner and presentations by Greg Dills, watershed coordinator for the East Lake and West Lake Resource Conservation Districts (RCD); Dwight Holford, watershed coordinator for Upper Putah Creek Stewardship; and Linda Juntunen, project coordinator for West Lake RCD.

 

The crowd was welcomed by Kevin Ingram, the new chairman for the Big Valley Coordinated Resource Management and Planning (CRMP) group. This was the first time for the group to host this event, and they did a tremendous job.

 

The evening was one of celebration and congratulations for all the work that the watershed groups do throughout the year. Each year the public is invited to attend the event to learn more about the contributions these ambitious volunteers make to their communities. Along with the impressive presentations, the crowd enjoyed an excellent potluck that seems to get better and better each year.

 

Dills started the evening by highlighting the activities of the watershed groups, the resource conservation districts and their numerous partners in the Upper Cache Creek Watershed.

 

The presentation reflected a remarkable list of accomplishments during 2006, and also reminded all in attendance of the enormous storm and subsequent flooding that started that year. It was a haunting backdrop for the work that’s been accomplished in an effort to heal the flood damage.

 

Presenting an equally inspiring list of accomplishments for the Upper Putah Creek Stewardship, Holford offered some stunning photographs of the watershed, and touched on the many valuable activities the group has accomplished.

 

Upper Putah Creek Stewardship provides outstanding guidance and care for the watershed in the southern area of Lake County, and does admirable work for the good of their community.

 

Juntunen joined the list of presenters this year, showing the activities and monitoring outings of the Upper Cache Creek Watershed Stream Team. These volunteers are trained members of a citizens’ water quality monitoring team that visited numerous creeks throughout the watershed.

 

Later in the evening a portion of a letter was read from the Central Valley Region of the State Water Quality Control Board, commending the group for their “care for the watershed and water quality.” The Upper Cache Creek Watershed Alliance awarded these outstanding volunteers with personalized binders, complete with the Stream Team logo; each binder contained a copy of the letter of commendation from the state.

 

The West Lake Resource Conservation District also joined in the evening’s presentations by bestowing their annual “Partner of the Year” award. This year’s well-deserved award was presented to recently retired Upper Lake and Covelo District Ranger, Blaine Baker, along with the U.S. Forest Service, Mendocino National Forest.

 

Recognized for their continuous support of the RCD’s popular ”Kids in the Creek” program, this branch of the Forest Service has been an outstanding partner to the RCD and local watershed groups.

 

Baker, a longtime partner, has given mainstay support for the “Kids in the Creek” program since its inception. West Lake Director Chuck Morse made it clear, as he presented Baker with a beautiful plaque, that the program would not have become what it is today without Baker’s support.

 

Jeff Tunnell, fire prevention technician for the Upper Lake District, received a second plaque on behalf of the Mendocino National Forest personnel who also are actively involved with the program.

 

This year’s event ended with a real surprise for the attendees, with gifts purchased by the Upper Cache Creek Watershed Alliance from local Kelseyville merchants. To give recognition to those in attendance for caring about Lake County and its watersheds, the gifts were distributed by random-number selection.

 

Another highlight of the evening was the drawing of the winning number for the raffle of an incredible gift basket, donated by the Lake County Winegrape Commission.

 

Good food, great volunteers, caring members of the community … the perfect combination for another successful annual meeting. Keep an opening on next year’s calendar for the 2007 Year in Review.

 

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