LOWER LAKE – The Sierra Club Lake Group is hosting a special Town Hall Forum to inform Lake County residents about a proposed new conservation initiative that would create a National Conservation Area (NCA) in the Blue Ridge Berryessa region.

Boundaries are still to be determined, but the NCA could potentially encompass about 800,000 acres from the Vaca Mountains in Solano County to the Snow Mountain Wilderness, and would include substantial portions of eastern Lake County.

Coordinated management between various public agencies, opportunities for public participation, and increased funding opportunities are among the anticipated benefits.

The meeting will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday Jan. 19, in the Brick Hall on Main Street in Lower Lake.

UC Davis botanist Dr. Susan Harrison will provide the featured presentation: “Why is our region a hotspot of botanical diversity ... and what can we do to conserve it?” followed by a discussion of the NCA idea itself led by Tuleyome president Bob Schneider, with lots of maps, photos, and opportunities for questions and comments – refreshments, too.

The event is free and everyone is invited. Call Sierra Club Chair Victoria Brandon at 707-994-1931 for additional information, or visit the Lake Group Web site, http://redwood.sierraclub.org/lake.

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