FEBRUARY 5, 12-2PM -- low-cost pet vaccination at Clearlake Veterinary Clinic (3424 Emerson St, off Olympic near Safeway), with 10 percent of the proceeds donated to the Lake County Land Trust: keep your pets safe, socialize, meet everyone's animals, and chat with the Land Trust representatives who will be there to talk about the organization and assist vet clinic staff. Call 994 9100 for more info.

FEBRUARY 6. 5-7PM -- one of three kickoff meetings for the Integrated Regional Water Management Plan covering the Cache and Putah Creek watersheds and including the entire Clear Lake basin. Public agencies in five counties will address water resource issues including water supply, water quality, contamination, floods, and invasive species. Public participation is invited. Clearlake City Hall, corner of Lakeshore and Olympic. For more info download the flyer.

FEBRUARY 11 -- Sierra Club Long Valley Hike. Located on the Knoxville Preserve, we will hike up Long Valley Creek at the base of the Blue Ridge. Return hike will be along a ridge giving spectacular views of Mt. St. Helena, Cobb Mt. and much of eastern Lake County. Class M-8-A. Carpool meets at Lower Lake Coffee Company, Main Street Lower Lake 8:30AM. Trailhead by 9:15. Reserve by calling hike leader Tom McFarling (707) 994-5490 tmcfarling@callatg.com. Rain cancels

FEBRUARY 11, 3-6PM -- Second Saturday Cinema in Middletown opens its "Heart and Soul" series with the film "The Story of the Universe" and presentation by Supervisor Denise Rushing of her book, "Tending the Soul's Garden." Middletown Methodist Church, 11581 Armstrong St: FREE.

FEBRUARY 12, 5:30PM -- Second Sunday Cinema screening of "Freedom Riders (Could You Get on the Bus?)" a suspenseful documentary follows the 400 people who boarded buses in 1961 to fight for racial equality. Clearlake United Methodist Church, 14521 Pearl Ave in Clearlake: always FREE. For more info call Shannon at 889-7355 

FEBRUARY 16, 7PM -- Redbud Audubon meeting at the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum. Wildlife biologist Chet Ogan will present images and vivid descriptions of his 18-day voyage to Antarctica in 2010, among albatrosses, penguins, whales, and icebergs. FREE

FEBRUARY 18, 9AM -- 4.5 mile moderate-paced Sierra Club/Friends of Boggs Mt hike with Boone on various Boggs trails. Bring water, a snack and wear sturdy shoes. We meet in Boggs parking lot. Neutered and spayed dogs on leash welcome. Questions? fobm@mediacombb.net or 928-5819.

FEBRUARY 19, 9AM - 7-8 mile fast-paced Sierra Club/Friends of Boggs Mt hike with Carol on various Boggs trails. Bring water, a snack and wear sturdy shoes. We meet in Boggs parking lot. Neutered and spayed dogs on leash welcome. Reservations required - c.magill@mchsi.com - 928-5423.

FEBRUARY 21, 6PM -- 10th Annual Watershed Year in Review event, at the Odd Fellows Hall in Upper Lake: informal potluck supper followed by a celebration of the accomplishments of the Upper Cache Creek Watershed groups during 2011. FREE, public invited with no need to RSVP.

FEBRUARY 22, 10AM -- Friends of Boggs Mountain 2 mile casual-paced nature walk with Darlene on the Hoberg Loop Trail. Bring water and wear sturdy shoes. We will meet at the top of Entrance Road across from Hoberg's Resort. Questions? heco@mchsi.com - 928-5591.

FEBRUARY 25, 9AM -- tree-planting work day at Anderson Marsh SHP: new valley oak trees will benefit wildlife and enrich future habitat. Bring lunch, work gloves, and lots of enthusiasm. Call or email Tom McFarling (994 5490 or tmcfarling@callatg.com) to RSVP -- or just show up.

FEBRUARY 26, 1PM -- McLaughlin Reserve lecture, "Ecosystem Restoration in the Eticuera Creek Watershed presented by Dr. Paul Aigner, Leslie Scott, and Catherine Koehler of the Reserve. To register (REQUIRED at least three days before the event) contact Cathy Koehler at koehler@ucdavis.edu or 995 9005. Please provide the name of EACH person for whom you are making reservations.

MARCH 4, 8AM - 8-10 mile fast-paced Friends of Boggs Mountain hike with Carol on the Glen Eden Trail from Scotts Valley. Bring water, a snack and wear sturdy shoes. Reservations required - c.magill@mchsi.com - 928-5423.

MARCH 10 -- Sierra Club hike on the Red Bud Trail to Wilson Valley in Cache Creek Wilderness This very enjoyable but long hike follows the Redbud trail climbing some 420 feet over the ridge to Baton Flat where it crosses Cache Creek, water level permitting. It continues on the other side, climbing about 300 feet before descending into Wilson Valley. We will return via the lower trail along Cache Creek. The round trip distance is 9 miles but if the water level is too high, we will only go to Baton Flat. Bring lunch, binoculars, water and shoes suitable for wading across Cache Creek. Contact the leader in advance to reserve a spot. Class H-9-A. Car pool from parking lot at Live Oak and Hwy 29 in Kelseyville at 8:00 a.m. Trail head: 9 a.m. off Highway 20 just west of the bridge over the North Fork of Cache Creek and eight miles east of Clearlake Oaks. By reservation only. Leader Steve Devoto sdevoto@mchsi.com

MARCH 17 -- Sierra Club hike on the Payne Ranch. BLM property in eastern Lake County along Hwys 20 & 16. We will hike to the Road Kill Cafe, then up onto gentle ridges and ranch pond for lunch. End of hike descends through beautiful Blue Oak forest and crosses Bear Creek to cars. Be prepared to get your feet wet at trail's end. Class M-7-A. Carpool meets at Lower Lake Coffee Company, Main Street in Lower Lake 8:30. Requires shuttle, hike starts 10AM trailhead Hwy 20. Leader Tom McFarling (707)994-5490 tmcfarling@callatg.com. Rain cancels.

MARCH 17, 2-5PM -- party at the Greenview Room, Hidden Valley Lake (outside the gates) to kick off Victoria Brandon's campaign for District 1 Supervisor.

MARCH 18, 10AM. - Friends of Boggs Mountain 1.3 mile casual-paced nature walk with Darlene on the Boggs Interpretive Trail. Bring water, a snack and wear sturdy shoes. We meet in Boggs parking lot. Questions? heco@mchsi.com - 928-5591

MARCH 21, 7PM -- Sierra Club meeting at the Lakeport Yacht Club featuring a presentation about the devastation of our public lands at the hands of criminal foreign drug cartels. Bureau of Land management representatives will show pictures and tell a story of land and water pollution, destruction of wildlife, and threats to the safety of legitimate recreational users, all on a massive scale. We'll also learn about ways local volunteers can help in cleaning up the mess. FREE, public invited. For more information call Victoria at 994 1931 or vbrandon@lakelive.info

MARCH 24 -- Sierra Club/Friends of Boggs Mountain hike in Boggs Mountain State Forest Hike. Appropriate footwear required, water/snack advised. Neutered/Spayed dogs on leash welcome. Class M-3.8-A. Meet 9 am-kiosk-main parking area. Bad weather cancels. Entrance Forestry Road 1.3 miles north of Cobb Village on Hwy 175. Leader Boone Lodge friendsofboggsmountain@earthlink.net (707) 928-5819.

MARCH 31 -- Sierra Club hike on Mt. Konocti. We will hike from the gate and back. Bring binoculars, lunch and water and enjoy the spectacular views over Big Valley and Clear Lake. Meet at 8:30 a. m. at Park & Drive at Live Oak Drive and Highway 29 in Kelseyville. Reservation required. Class S 8 B Leader Steve Devoto sdevoto@mchsi.com.

MARCH 31, 9AM-3PM -- Mclaughlin Reserve hike to Grateful Dead Peak, in a beautiful part of Lake County that few people ever visit. Be prepared for some steep ascents to the top of the rock;. hikers MUST wear hiking boots with good lug soles. Moderately strenuous, elevation gain 200 feet, length: 3 miles. Bring a lunch, water, snacks. Dress for all weather. RAIN CANCELS. To register (REQUIRED at least three days before the event) contact Cathy Koehler at koehler@ucdavis.edu or 995 9005. Please provide the name of EACH person for whom you are making reservations.

APRIL 22, 8AM-4:30PM -- Mclaughlin Reserve hike,High Road to Zim Zim Falls. Numerous creek crossings. Rating: Moderately strenuous, elevation gain variable (overall elevation loss of 900 ft), length: 8 miles. Bring a lunch, water, snacks. Dress for all weather. RAIN CANCELS. To register (REQUIRED at least three days before the event) contact Cathy Koehler at koehler@ucdavis.edu or 995 9005. Please provide the name of EACH person for whom you are making reservations.