- Tolay Lake
Infobox lake
lake_name = Tolay Lake
image_lake = Tolaylakefromthesouth.jpg
caption_lake = View from south (February 2007)
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location =Sonoma County, California
coords = coord|38|12|33|N|122|30|50|W|region:US-CA_type:waterbody|display=inline,title
type =
inflow =
outflow =Tolay Creek
catchment =
basin_countries = United States
length =
width =
area = 200 acres (0.8 km²)
depth =
max-depth = 8 ft (2.5 m)
volume = convert|1200|acre.ft|m3|abbr=on|lk=on
residence_time =
shore = 2.4 mi (4 km)
elevation = 150 ft (46 m)
islands = "none"
cities = LakevilleTolay Lake is a shallow
freshwater lacustrine water body in southern Sonoma County,California ,United States . [United States Geological Survey, "Sears Point, California 7.5 minute quadrangle", U.S. government Printing Office, Washington DC] Thelake , nestled within the southern vestiges of theSonoma Mountains , is the site of significant Native Americanprehistoric seasonal settlement. In 2005, Sonoma County acquired the entirety of the lake and virtually its whole drainage basin from the Cardoza family for the sum of $18 million; the County's intention is to utilize the property as Tolay Lake Regional Park forecological andarchaeological preservation, as well as public use and enjoyment. [ [http://www.sonoma-county.org/opensp/district/news_tolay.asp Sonoma County Agricultural and Open Space Agency: Acquisition of Tolay Lake Ranch] ] Tolay Lake and its immediate drainage area is home to several nesting pairs ofGolden eagle s, "Aquila chrysaetos", [ [http://baynature.org/articles/jan-mar-2005/ear-to-the-ground Christine Sculati, "News From the Conservation Community and the Natural World", Bay Nature, January-March, 2005] ] and a number of rare,threatened orendangered species including theCalifornia red-legged frog , "Rana draytonii";Western pond turtle , "Actinemys marmorata"; and Western burrowing owl, "Athene cunicularia".Tolay Lake was initially altered about 1850 by
Europe ansettler s whodynamite d a natural earth dam on the lake's south side, in order to enable more intensive agricultural cultivation andgrazing of the basin; at times thereafter, the lake typically became almost dry in the summer months, when rainfall in this region is at its seasonalnadir . Another modern alteration is the construction of an east-west earthen causeway that effectively bisects the lake, impeding thorough water circulation and fragmenting plant and animal colonies of the lake.History
Dating to at least 4,000 years, habitation of the original Tolay Lake perimeter occurred on a seasonal basis by the
Coast Miwok ,Pomo and other native Californians. It is known that this has been a regional gathering place for diverse tribes, probably associated with the beliefs that healing powers were derived from this lake. One of the main bases for this knowledge is the discovery of many prehistoriccharmstone s and numerousarrowhead s in the lake bed. [http://www.friendsoftolay.org/cultural.html "Tolay Lake Park: Natural and Cultural History"] ] Evidence suggests that these stones were brought from distant parts ofCalifornia and as far away asMexico for aritual in which the native threw the stone into Tolay Lake, with the belief that this act rid the thrower of affliction ordisease or would invoke enhanced crop yields. Some of these artifacts are situated in a small museum on site, and a number of them are within the permanent collection of theSmithsonian Museum . These archaeological findings received such widespread attention that the lake was at one time alternatively known as Charmstone Lake.Greg Sarris , chairman of theFederated Indians of Graton Rancheria ofCoast Miwok orPomo descent has said: "The lake and surrounding area was highly sacred and was considered one of three areas in all of northern California where Indian doctors from different tribes convened for sacred ceremonies and the exchange of ritual objects and songs for the purpose of healing." [http://www.sonoma-county.org/parks/pk_tolay_history.htm County of Sonoma Regional Parks Department: Tolay Lake Regional Park] , August 20, 2007.] He also said the 1000 charmstones discovered there, to date are: "the most significant discovery of cultural material for my people, but no doubt for all native people in California."José Altimíra, founder of
Mission San Francisco Solano described the lake in 1823, saying: "We found on said hillock, a little further on, the large lake of Tolay--so-called after the chief of the Indians, who in former times settled there. Its width at some parts is, with little difference, one hundred and fifty varas (convert|420|ft|m|-1|disp=s), at others two hundred varas (convert|560|ft|m|-1|disp=s), and at one point one-fourth of a league, which is also its length." [cite web|url=http://www.calarchives4u.com/history/sonoma/sect4.htm|title=Sonoma County History|accessdate=2008-03-21]In the mid-nineteenth century European settlers began to develop the Tolay Basin agriculturally along with the
Sonoma Valley and Petaluma River Basin. Initially the Europeans compromised the natural earthendam that impeded outflow at the southern end of the lake, primarily bydynamite . This hydrologic change reduced the lake size by approximately 50 percent and enabled more intensivegrazing as well as growing ofcrop s. The Tolay Lake basin's agricultural use expanded until about 1940 when the Cardoza family purchased the 1737 acre (7.03 km²) holding and called it the Cardoza Ranch.The Cardozas made further improvements to the ranch containing Tolay Lake and retained ownership until 2005. During the Cardoza tenure, numerous road and fence additions were made as well as well crafted
dry stone bridge and wall structures; these changes were introduced to facilitate thecattle grazing,pumpkin farming and other farming uses. In 2005 the Board of Supervisors of Sonoma County entered into an option purchase agreement of the entire property for a striking price somewhat below the appraised land value. The Cardozas retain ownership to the considerable collection of charmstones found prior to the date of this contract. Subsequently the County exercised its option and as of 2007 has active planning underway to place this holding into the county's park system. OnSeptember 20 2006 , Sonoma County found that the conversion to a public park may have a significant impact on the environment and thus a fullEnvironmental Impact Report must be prepared. [ [http://news.surfwax.com/law/archives/Environmental_Impact_Report.html Environmental Impact Report: Summary of major California environmental determinations for 2006] ] As of February, 2007 public access is on a limited ranger-guided appointment basis only.Each autumn in recent years the Cardoza family opened the Ranch to about 20,000 visitors to witness the annual
pumpkin festival from the harvest of lakebed cultivated production. It is not known whether this tradition will continue under County management.Hydrology
The Tolay Lake basin is a bowl shaped structure confined by two north-south running ridges of the southern Sonoma Mountains. Tolay Lake is fed by 18 separate springs distributed around the perimeter of the lake, some of which develop into intermittent
stream s. The largest such stream known asCardoza Creek feeds Tolay Lake from the southeast. The winter maximum lake depth varies typically between four and eight feet (1 and 2 m) deep depending upon that season's rainfall. Tolay Lake functions more as a large freshwater marsh [ [http://www.sonoma-county.org/parks/pdf/planning_updates/tolay_conditions_main.pdf "Tolay Lake Regional Park Property Conditions Report", Circuit Rider Productions, July 2006] ] based upon extensive aquaticsessile vegetation and shallow depths.The lake surface level is at an altitude of approximately 150 feet (46 m) above mean sea level, while the highest point in the watershed is on
Cougar Mountain on the eastern ridge, which attains an elevation of about 800 feet (240 m). At the southern end of the lake Tolay Creek provides a virtually perennial outlet; Tolay Creek thence flows in a southerly course to discharge into theNapa Sonoma Marsh adjoiningSan Pablo Bay , the northern arm ofSan Francisco Bay . There are several ponds within the Tolay Lake Basin, including two large artificial ponds clearly separate from the lake; these ponds serve as watering sources for cattle and are also habitat to some of the native speices of amphibians and reptiles associated with Tolay Lake. Another modern alteration is the construction of an east-west earthencauseway that effectively bisects the lake, impeding thorough water circulation and fragmenting plant and animal colonies of the lake. Annual rainfall in the Tolay Lake Basin is approximately 29 inches (740 mm).Architectural/cultural
Present in the Tolay Lake Basin are a number of well-preserved architectural features, most notably a set of
ranch buildings, many of which date from the first half of the twentieth century. Most of these structures were erected by the Cardoza family as integral elements of a working ranch. They represent an opportunity for preservation not only of an architectural style from this earlier era, but also as a complete collection of the building types involved in a broad function Sonoma County ranch, not dissimilar in function to its 19th century predecessor. The county is analyzing alternative uses of some of the structures that not only offer preservation, but integration into the educational themes that are to embody the future Tolay Ranch Regional Park.The county is also actively consulting with representatives of Native American groups that are descendants of early
tribe s who used the site. These discussions are for the purpose of portraying the lives ofprehistoric inhabitants in a faithful and sympathetic manner, and examining opportunities for cultural education. For example, this project offers an opportunity for the Native American community to cultivate and restore large tracts of Purple Needle Grass, [http://www.friendsoftolay.org/cultural.html "Tolay Lake Park: Natural and Cultural History"] ] California's official state grass. This grass is the preferred material utilized by the California Indian Basket Weavers for teaching children the art ofbasket weaving .Flora and fauna
Considerable
biodiversity is found in Tolay Lake and the surrounding hills of theSonoma Mountains ; [ [http://audubon.sonoma.net/newsletter/v38n2/v38n2.html Madrone Audubon Society, Sonoma County, October2004] ] historical habitats include thelacustrine or marsh environment;grassland s andCalifornia oak woodland on higher elevations especially in the steep uplandravine areas. The lake itself has a diverseflora andfauna , including severalthreatened andendangered species including theCalifornia red-legged frog , "Rana draytonii" andWestern Pond Turtle , "Actinemys marmorata".Because of the numerous natural fresh water seeps, wildlife is abundant in the Tolay watershed, including the upland areas. The valley harbors several significant
species , including theBurrowing Owl , "Athene cunicularia";Golden Eagle , "Aquila chrysaetos";White-tailed Kite , "Elanus leucurus";California Horned Lark , "Eremophila alpestris"; and the endangeredTricolored Blackbird , "Agelaius tricolor". Tolay Lake is also one of only two known locations in theBay Area that produce a special "moistprairie grass ".Habitat restoration
One of Sonoma County's primary purposes in acquiring the Tolay Lake watershed is the ecological restoration of this area to its pre-European settlement condition. In that earlier era the lake would have been double its present size and native
marsh es,grassland s and even some uplandforest ed areas would have been in greater evidence, prior to the destructive force of cattlegrazing and other intensiveagricultural practices. Sonoma County is accepting public comment as of February, 2007 to understand the views of scientists and the general public regarding the outcome restoration strategy and how that is balanced with some form of public access. For the lake itself, there is the prospect of greater size, depth and increased water circulation; additionally there is the potential of re-integration of the two lake segments, which are presently divided by the man-made earthen causeway. Breaching of this causeway would mitigate the effects of fragmentedflora l andfauna l colonies and associated pressures of local colonyextinction .Tolay Lake restoration fits into a regional mosaic of open space, conservation
easement s andwildlife areas in the process of being enhanced. These efforts all link to the wetlands and uplands adjoining theSan Pablo Bay marshes, which areas are known to comprise one half of all the wetlands capable of restoration in the entirety ofSan Francisco Bay . Ongoing vicinity acquisition efforts further expand the regional landscape of baylands restoration: Petaluma Marsh properties, Dickson Ranch, the New North Point formercasino site, andSkaggs Island . According to a non-profit environmental organization, Friends of Tolay Lake Park: The Tolay land acquisition is magnified by "this integrated effort to regain some of the connections and integrity of the area’s natural systems; together, their restoration will greatly improve the chances of survival for endangered marsh and upland species and will contribute to the overall health ofSan Francisco Bay ". [http://www.friendsoftolay.org/cultural.html "Tolay Lake Park: Natural and Cultural History"] ]One drawback to the site ecological restoration is the presence of a major noise generator,
Infineon Raceway , immediately to the north; the potential effects of raceway noise upon the future desiredwildlife enhancement has not been thoroughly investigated. Scientists know from studies in other areas that some animalspecies are sensitive to man-made noise and may limit their use of certain locales heavily impacted by noise. [Charles S. Revelle and Penelope ReVelle, "Sourcebook on the Environment: The Scientific Perspective", Houghton Mifflin, 332 pages, ISBN 0395170184 (1974)]ee also
*
List of lakes in the San Francisco Bay Area
*List of Sonoma County Regional Parks facilities
*Napa Sonoma Marsh
*Sears Point
*Wetlands Reserve Program References
External links
* [http://www.sonoma-county.org/parks/pk_tolay_history.htm County of Sonoma, Regional Parks Department: Tolay Lake Regional Park]
*" [http://www.friendsoftolay.org/cultural.html Friends of Tolay: Tolay Lake Park]
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