Does the Plan for This Lake Hold Water?

DOES THE PLAN FOR THIS LAKE HOLD WATER?

Published on September 17, 2004

BYLINE: Chris Coursey

PAGE: B1

COLUMN: Chris Coursey

Tolay, or not Tolay?

That is the $18 million question.

How much support is there -- both locally and statewide -- for creating what would be Sonoma County's largest regional park in the Tolay Valley southeast of Petaluma?

County supervisors, acting as directors of the Open Space District, gave half an answer to the question this spring when they sprang loose $9 million in open space tax money for an option on the 1,737-acre property. The other $9 million needs to be raised by next April, when the option expires.

The bulk of that fund-raising work is now the job of the county Regional Parks Department, which has launched a full-scale campaign to sell a Tolay Lake Regional Park not just to the public, but to any other government agency with a few spare dollars lying around.

The sales pitch hit its stride Wednesday night with a public meeting in Petaluma, at which Supervisor Mike Kerns acknowledged that the $18 million price tag ``is a lot.''

``But what would you rather see out there -- a regional park or 28 ranchettes?'' the supervisor asked. A color brochure handed out at the meeting asked the same question.

If the thought of 28 trophy homes tucked in the Tolay Valley doesn't move you, Kerns has another piece to his motivational speech.

Should the county fail to pick up its option, he said, ``a representative of an Indian tribe has made a backup offer. They want it for `economic development.' I'm not sure what that means, but we can all guess. ...''

Frankly, that's the kind of sales tactic that ordinarily would make me walk -- no, run -- away from a deal. But Tolay just may be attractive enough to forgive county officials for their hard sell.

East of the Petaluma River off Lakeville Highway, Cannon Lane crests a ridge and opens to a vista unlike anything else in Sonoma County.

The broad, flat, nearly treeless valley spreads out below, widening to the south to reveal a view that sweeps from Mount Diablo to Mount Tamalpais. On a clear day, the Bay sparkles in the distance, the skyscrapers of San Francisco shimmer in the haze.

In the winter, Tolay Lake fills a shallow basin of about 150 to 200 acres. Historically, before settlers drained the valley in the 1800s, the lake was year-round and also significantly larger. As part of a park, it could be again.

Rita and Marvin Cardoza farm this land, raising hay and livestock and opening it up each October for a pumpkin patch that attracts thousands of families.

``The potential as a park is great,'' Kerns said. Equestrian and hiking trails would be developed, kayaks and canoes could ply the lake, smaller fishing ponds would attract anglers. Questioned further, he said planners also would consider camp- ing, mountain biking, a dog park, even shooting and archery ranges.

``Everything is on the table,'' he said.

Park planners also envision keeping at least part of the property as a working farm, using it for education about the county's rural heritage and also as a revenue source. The annual pumpkin patch would be continued, they said.

No doubt Tolay would be a marvelous addition to the stock of public land in Sonoma County. It might lower the fever of open-space politics in the south county, where the battle over access to Lafferty Ranch remains unresolved. And getting it open for public use would be a key piece in the coming campaign to extend the 1/4 -cent sales tax for open space, which expires in six years.

But there's still a $9 million question hanging out there.

A tour of Tolay is offered from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Call 565-2746 for information.

Contact Chris Coursey at 521-5223 or ccoursey@pressdemocrat.com.