Cobb Forest CWPP Summit Kickoff
June 7, 2025
Cobb Forest Summit 2025 Highlights
On Saturday June 7, over 100 community members, speakers and exhibitors gathered on a balmy Saturday afternoon at the historic Little Red Schoolhouse in Cobb to help SSCRA kick off our two-year project to create a local "Community Wildfire Protection Plan" (CWPP) for the Cobb Mountain Area.
The day started with a welcome by Jessica Pyska, Lake County Supervisor for District 5, a Cobb area native and a strong supporter of SSCRA's work to promote a fire adapted landscape and culture in the community. Jessica was followed by Carol Rice, of Wildland Resources Management. Carol is one of the originators of the CWPP program, which is now being adapted nationwide as a framework through which local communities can come together to focus on the complex challenges of living in the "wildland urban interface" (WUI).
Cobb Forest Summit Panel Presentations:
Cultivating a Fire-Adapted Landscape and Culture in the Cobb Mountain Area Today
The first presentation panel, "Cultivating a Fire-Adapted Landscape and Culture in the Cobb Mountain Area Today" was offered by local Tribal members: Ron Montez - Tribal elder and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, from the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians, whose traditional territory includes the Cobb Mountain area, Corine Pearce - master Pomo basket weaver and eco-educator, and Jordan Reyes, member of the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians, whose traditional territory also includes the Cobb Mountain area, and who is the Field Coordinator for the Lake County-based Tribal Ecosystem Restoration Alliance (TERA).
Chris Nettles' article on Corine's powerful presentation (on our blog here) will give you a good feeling for how this panel set the stage for the day, orienting the community to the need for a deep re-alignment of our relationship with the natural landscape here in the Cobb Mountain Area.
Understanding the Cobb Mountain Forest Ecosystem
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offered by forest ecologist Lawrence Ray. Lawrence also donated over 100 oak seedlings for Summit attendees, grown from acorns gathered in the area. Lawrence offered a primer on forest ecosystems including the historic role of fire as a principal ecological process.
Firewise Communities: Home Safety in the Wildland Urban Interface
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Magdalena Valderrama
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Michael Peterson
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Wendy Collins
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Kathy Blair
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These four experienced community organizers shared success stories, challenges, and tips on organizing neighbors for collective action to increase home fire safety.
Managing large acreage forestlands
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Richie Bucher, CAL FIRE manager of Boggs Mountain State Demonstration Forest
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Scott Parady, Loch Lomond Arts and Ecology Center,
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Peter Hess, Hess Family.
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Three different perspectives on the challenges of working with the land in a fire-adapted ecosystem from a trio of experienced local practitioners.
Fire Insurance Update
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Patrick Lambert, Farmers Insurance
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Annie Barbour, United Policyholders.
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A sometimes humorous and consistently, deeply informative review of the current state of coverage options in California
Building Local Capacity to Transform Our Landscape
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Jeff Lucas, Community Development Services
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Robert Thomas, R2 & Co
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Magdalena Valderrama, SSCRA
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Eliot Hurwitz, SSCRA.
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Taking a step back to discuss some of the fundamental challenges and opportunities we have in our goal to become a truly fire-adapted community.
2025 Fire Season Preview
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Paul Duncan, CAL FIRE Lake County Division Chief, wrapped up the day with a report on current fire conditions and how Cal Fire is gearing up to meet the coming season.
The Cobb Forest Summit also featured Exhibitors from
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Firewise Communities - local Cobb area neighborhoods
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TERA - Tribal Ecosystem Restoration Alliance
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North Coast Opportunities (NCO), and the Community Emergency Response Corps (CERC)
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CAL FIRE
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SSCRA
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United Policyholders Association
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Friends of Boggs Mountain
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Cobb Alert Net
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American Red Cross