By Tom Harris, Associate Editor
April 29th was the annual Finnon Lake Clean-up Day. Over a dozen community volunteers came out with tractors, mowers, weed-whackers, pruners, rakes and shovels. Finnon Lake Recreation Area (FLRA) is owned and operated by the Mosquito Volunteer Fire Association (MVFA) which hosted this annual event. In addition to the annual clean-up day, there are many community volunteers who donate time, effort and money all year long in the ongoing effort to maintain Finnon Lake as the beautiful place it is.
The next time you visit Finnon Lake to enjoy the wildlife, trails, manicured grounds of the campground and day-use area, or patio gardens around the café, remember, most of the work involved was accomplished by community volunteers – your neighbors – without any form of compensation.
MVFA receives no money from any tax source or from the homeowners association (SCPOA). MVFA is an independent community volunteer organization funded solely by Finnon Lake user fees and rents, private donations and fund raiser events. Before 2006, the MVFA was known as the Mosquito Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD). Formed in 1972, MVFD purchased the Finnon Lake property in 1997 from the state of California for $1. MVFD recognized the lake as an excellent, large source of water for fire control, wildlife habitat and recreation.
In 2006, the name of MVFD was changed to MVFA and re-organized as a 501(c)(3) California non-profit corporation. This move relieved district taxpayers of the responsibility for dam fees, expenses and liabilities associated with Finnon Lake.
Finnon Lake Recreation Area is open to the public for Day Use – fishing, boating, swimming picnicking and disc golf. A day use fee is collected for participation in these activities. User pays: only those who use FLRA Day Use and Camping facilities pay, and no fee is required for hiking or bicycling at Finnon.
Finnon Lake dam fees, property taxes and insurance amount to over $18,000 per year – not including maintenance costs. MVFA’s goal is to be self-supporting and self-sustaining. In addition, MVFA has spent thousands of dollars on tools, equipment, buildings, remodeling and man-hours in support of the Mosquito Fire Department, and will continue this support.
FLRA attracts campers and disc golfers from all over the world, and has revealed Mosquito as a unique area of our state. All adults living in the Mosquito Fire Protection District automatically qualify to become members of MVFA. If you would like to enrich your membership, please become an MVFA Volunteer on one of our committees or at FLRA. Board meetings are open to the public and finances are reported monthly. Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month.
There are monthly organized walks for bird watchers on the trail around the lake. If you are interested in birding and need a little help with identification, call Dave at (530) 621-6388. Results of these walks are posted on the monthly MVFA newsletter, Mosquito Byte. The Byte is mailed first class to its subscribers each month for $15 per year. Mail your check payable to MVFA to: 9009 Orval Becket Ct. Placerville CA 95667. The deadline for advertising and articles is the 19th of each month. The Byte is also posted on http://www.goMVFA.org website each month. You are invited to come out and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature in the surrounding area.
With the new dam, the lake is full and looks the same as it did 30 years ago. If a wedding or group party event is in your future, please consider Finnon Lake. Exclusive use of the entire 19-site campground is also available for groups. Visit the FLRA website at ww.finnonrecreationarea.com or call (530) 409-5515 for more information. Finnon Lake Recreation Area is closed after dark, except for registered overnight campers. Only licensed vehicles are permitted on FLRA property. Please report any unauthorized vehicles or activity at Finnon to the Sheriff’s Dept. From cell phone call 530-626-4911. For emergencies, dial 911.
Thank you for supporting MVFA and Finnon Lake Recreation Area.
(530) 409-5515 for more information.
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