LAKE SONOMA MUSEUM AND TRAILS

THE LAKE AND MUSEUM ARE MANAGED BY THE ARMY CORP OF ENGINEERS. BACK IN THE EARLY 80'S WHEN WE FIRST MOVED HERE I WORKED ON A PROPOSAL FOR A REMODEL FOR A MUSEUM AT LAKE SONOMA IN HEALDBURG. WE DID NOT GET THE CONTRACT. HOWEVER, I HAVE SPENT A NUMBER OF DAYS HIKING THE RIDGES AND SOME STEEP TRAILS BY THE LAKE. OUR FAMILY HAS GONE TO CLOVERDALE TO SWIM IN THIS LAKE. I HAVE USED THEIR PICNIC GROUNDS ON SEVERAL GROUP GATHERINGS. THEY HAVE A FISH HATCHERY HERE AT THE DAM THAT WAS BUILT IN 1983. THE VISITOR CENTER HAS A FISH HATCHERY AND THEY EXPLAIN HOW SALMON, COHO SALMON AND TROUT REPRODUCE. THEY EXPLAIN HOW THEY COUNT THEM AND WHEN THEY RELEASE THEM BACK INTO THE LAKE AND DRY CREEK. IT IS AN INTERESTING MUSEUM IN THAT THE EXHIBIT POMO BASKETS - MINIATURES AND BEAUTIFUL BIRD FEATHER BASKETS. THEY HAVE A REPRODUCED POMO CAMPSITE WITH A WIKIUP AND MODELS COOKING AROUND A CAMPFIRE.

THEY HAVE MANY PRESERVED BIRDS IN THE AREA AND I REMEMBER SEEING A PEREGRIN FALCON THERE. THEY HAVE MANIPULATED THEIR NESTS SO THE YOUNG SURVIVE THERE. THEY EVEN HAVE EAGLES AS WELL. THEY EXPLAIN HOW THEY EXTRACT FISH EGGS FROM PREGNANT FEMALE FISH AND PUT THEM IN THEIR HATCHERY. NEITHER I NOR MY SON LIKE THE SMELL IN THIS HATCHERY.

THE SCENERY IS BEAUTIFUL WITH A LAKE OF 2700 ACRES. THERE ARE 40 MILES OF TRAILS HERE - SOME SHORT AND SOME LONG AND SOME FOR HORSE RIDERS ONLY. THEY HAVE FERAL PIGS THAT PEOPLE HUNT. MANY PEOPLE HAVE THEIR BOATS DOCKED HERE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE HAVE RENTED A HOUSEBOAT WITH OUR FRIENDS HERE LONG AGO.