Board approves amendment to Tule Lake Airport MOA adding historic signage and visitation plan

The Modoc County Board of Supervisors approved an amendment on March 10 to the existing memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the Tule Lake Municipal Airport perimeter fence project to address comments from the State Historic Preservation Officer and to add appendices covering signage, a visitation plan and monitoring and discovery procedures.

Staff said Appendix A provides content and a review process for interpretive signage that will accompany the fence and be included in the construction grant; the sign will "cover all of the history of the area," including Native American history and information about the Tule Lake Segregation Center from World War II, staff said. Appendix B describes a visitation plan in effect for the life of the MOA; Appendix C addresses archaeological monitoring and the authority of the project archaeologist and the procedures if discoveries occur during work.

The amendment is being routed to the four primary signatories (FAA, SHPO, Modoc Nation and Modoc County) and will come back for final signature once all parties concur or if changes are requested. Staff said the sign location is planned just inside the airport entrance near existing foundations and that sign design and content will be coordinated with involved stakeholders to avoid creating animosity and to ensure accuracy. Construction is tied to grant funding and is expected to move forward following public review of the draft environmental assessment this summer.

Why it matters: The airport site is historically sensitive; SHPO required clearer documentation of interpretive content and monitoring. The board’s action moves the project forward while incorporating procedures to address cultural resources and stakeholder review.

Source: Staff presentation and Q&A, March 10, 2026 Modoc County Board of Supervisors meeting.