The Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) has a fire department with trained fire personnel and fire equipment, used on their lands for vegetation management and fire protection. They work in a close partnership with the Marin County Fire Department and other agencies.

December 6, 2015 - Added two maps from a 1966 report on Fire Protection needs for the watershed areas, along with an additional timeline at the bottom of the Lakekeeper article. Also added the entire 1966 report for review at the bottom of this page. Consolidated all photos into one slide show at top of page. Thanks to MMWD Ranger Matt Cerkel for his continued research and help.

MMWD has the Firescope Identifier of MWD, and currently has following fire equipment: One Type 3 Engine-965; Three Type 6 Engines- Squad 960, 961 and 962; Three Type 7 Engines-Patrol 950, 951 and 965; One Type 1 Water Tender-990; One Type 2 Dozer-940; one patrol boat with portable pumps-9B1.

With thanks to MMWD Ranger Matt Cerkel and Board Member and Author Jack Gibson, we are sharing this history of the Lake Keepers at MMWD. This role goes back into the 1800's, and part of their role was fire prevention and firefighting. The role has been renamed to Ranger in the modern era.

Marin Municipal Water District
The History of Lake Keepers and Patrolmen

When the Marin Municipal Water District took over the properties of Marin Water and Power Company it also acquired the "Lake Keepers" at Lakes Lagunitas and Phoenix. When MMWD began operations in November of 1916, it immediately became responsible for the protection of approximately 10,300 acres of watershed lands on Mt. Tamalpais. Approximately 1300 acres on the south side of the mountain were obtained from the North Coast Water Company, 3500 acres on the northerly side were obtained from Marin Water and Power Company and another 5500 acres in the vicinity of what was to be Alpine Dam were obtained by condemnation from the Lagunitas Water Company. While in private ownership, the latter two parcels were patrolled and trespassers were warned or arrested accordingly; while the North Coast WaterCompany let the public use its lands for hiking on the mountain.

Lake Lagunitas was originally built in 1873, and the Marin County Water Company established the first lake keepers residence several hundred feet below the dam in the vicinity of todays parking lot. In 1877 the outlet pipe had become blocked and it was necessary to install a pump on top of the dam to take out the water below the level it would syphon. This required hiring an engineman to operate the pump and erection of a small house, still standing, near the top of the dam. No records are available as to who the first Lake Keeper was. Our earliest hint comes from the January 3, 1878 issue of the Marin County Journal which describes the success of the Water Company's telephone. A Mr. Fox was in residence at that time. The following year John O'Malley took up residence and remained until his death, at age 80, on December 3, 1924; having been there 45 years.

On February 8, 1917 the General Manager reported to the Board stressing the importance of a head patrolman to be on the mountain at all times to take charge of the fire patrol, fire fighting and see that all rules and regulations were enforced. Also the importance of having telephones installed for fire protection. The follwoing week, in a memo dated February 14, the Executive Committee recommended to the full Board that the Superintendent be authorized to employ a head patrolman, 'who shall furnish his own horse' at a salary not to exceed $125 per month and that 'he also be empowered to employ, as the season progresses and the occasion demands, as many more as he sees fit, not to exceed twelve (12) in number, at a salary not to exceed $90 per month.' They were to patrol on weekends and holidays and at other times were to construct toilets and fire places at the various camp grounds. It was also recommended that all patrolmen wear uniforms of a design prescribed by the Superintendent.

The 23rd of the month of February 1917, a 'Patrol Fund' was established (Resolution 285) with funds derived from the sale of Marin County Water Company stock donated by William Kent. This fund was to be used for patroling to prevent fires, maintain sanitation and preserve wild game. The June 1917 payroll lists the following Patrolmen: S.R. Black, Head Patrolman, $125; A.O. Roservere, Patrolman, $90; R. Thompson, Patrolman, $75; G. Gallamore, Patrolman, $75; C.J. Cavelli, Patrolman, $75; Jerome Walsh, Patrolman, $75. At the meeting of November 8, 1917, the Executive Committee recommended passage of a resolution authorizing the General Manager to employ two patrolmen who's salaries would be shared by the District and the Tamalpais Forest Fire District. This was approved by Resolution 365, in response to the Fire District's request that the District contribute to fire protection on the mountain. By Resolution 403 of March 7, 1918 the General Manager was authorized and empowered to receive and collect money donated from anyone for patrolling the mountain as a public park.

Jerome Walsh was hired as Lake Keeper-Patrolman June 1, 1917 and remained through 1935. On September 14, 1925 the Porteous house burned and the Walsh family moved into the log cabin until the present day house was completed early the following year. Jack Fontez took over the first of 1936 and remained until June 26, 1945 when he was replaced by Jack Silverwood. He retired April 30, 1965 and Melvin J. "Moose" Muzinich, patrolman, moved into the house.
By Resolution 511 dated December 11, 1919 the Board employed J. A. Kapperman to build a cottage at Alpine Dam. Early records of lake keepers at Alpine are sketchy; but it appears the first one was a Jerry Shine, followed by Dave McCurdy and then William Stine. Russell H. Hannis replaced William Stine July 21, 1924 and lived there alone until his family arrived from Loomis on December 29, 1928.

District records indicate the following men were at Lake Lagunitas: John O'Malley - 1879 to December 3, 1924; John Lawlor, Assistant Engineer - 1916 to March 19, 1925; John F. McDermott - 1925 to May 13, 1928; James Shields - June 7, 1927 to August 1929; Pierre Lanatone - August 1929 to 1935;  Dan Ferris - August 26, 1935 to 1938; H. J. Thornhill - October 9, 1938 to January 27, 1940 Frank Markt - February 2, 1940 to March 31, 1965; Raymond Halderman - October 18, 1965 to October 14, 1967; Stanley Commicia - March 1, 1969 to present.

For the next twenty years the names of patrolmen are not available; but on January 31, 1938 George W. Jones resigned and was replaced by Nick De La Montanya, who remained as patrolman until July 15, 1941 when he was replaced by Joe Zapella, who remained on the mountain until August 15, 1967 when he had a stroke. In November 1946 Melvin J. "Moose" Muzinich was hired as a patrol-man and relief lake keeper and he took over when Joe Zapella died.
 
Lake Keeper Ray Halderman died of a heart attack while fighting a fire on October 14, 1967 after fighting a fire on Bald Hill. Between that time and the time Stan Commicia moved into the house at the lake, two or three other keepers had the job; but did not remain for very long. The original house burned down March 14, 1925, and the existing house was built further up the hill to afford a view of the dam. While the new house was under construction the McDermotts moved into the Phoenix Log Cabin. Phoenix Gulch Dam was built by Marin County Water Company in 1905 and required pumping to take water out of the lake. The lake keeper lived in the old Porteous house, site of the present day Lake Keepers house and the engineer or pumpman, lived in the house near the top of the dam; which was built when the dam was completed.
 
Earliest records show a man named Thomas at Phoenix in March of 1911, although a Jerry Shine may have been the first lake keeper. M. T. Cleary and Frank Pollock were there in January of 1912. Charles A. Markley was Assistant Engineer in December of 1913. John T. Purvis and Joseph Rose Jr., Engineer were there in 1914. On September 1, 1915 Charles A. Markley was let go and Frank C. Kern was hired as Night Engineer. The District took over the dam in November of 1916 and at that time Joseph Rose Jr. was still listed as Engineer, Frank C. Kern as Assistant Engineer and John T. Purvis as lake keeper.
 
Life at the cottage was quite spartan and it was not until March of the following year that a generating plant to provide electricity was built. Norman Hanson and his family moved into the cottage December 1, 1960 and left October 3, 1963.
The cottage remained empty, and being subject to vandalism, was finally burned down, by the District, in the spring of 1964.

At the meeting of May 10, 1967 President Anderson brought up the subject of "recreation" on the mountain following which a committee of Board members were appointed to look into the matter. Prior to that time, the District had no organized involvement in the recreation field on the mountain. It was there for people to use, subject to our rules and regulations in effect at the time. Patrolling and maintenance fell under the Construction Department.
Shortly thereafter the Board authorized creation of a "Land Use Management and Recreation Section" to be administered under the Survey Department. At that time "Recreation Attendants" were authorized with patrolling and maintenance remaining with the Construction Department. In 1974 the Board again looked at the mountain and decided a separate department should be set up for patrolling and maintenance; which resulted in creation of the Land Management Division.

1917 - MMWD hires Patrolmen and Lakekeepers to patrol and oversee the watershed lands.  Firefighting and fire patrol are some of the duties.
1968 -  MMWD continues to employ patrolmen, but phases out lakekeepers.  Hires Recreation Attendants instead.
1975 -  Watershed job classifications divided between Rangers and watershed maintenance classifications.
1979 -  MMWD Rangers are reclassified as Park Rangers.
1980s - some Park Rangers become EMTs.
1990 -  All new Park Rangers, Watershed Maintenance workers and some seasonal start to attend the MCFD Wildland Academy.
2002, 2003 - MOU established between MCFD and MMWD  for use of MMWD firefighting resources county-wide.
2004 - All MMWD Park Rangers become EMTs.
2008 - MMWD adopt NWCG/CICCS.
2010 - MMWD Park Rangers program becomes a California POST program.
2010, 2011 - MMWD becomes a FIRESCOPE agency.

​Scroll through document below for a 1966 report on Fire Protection on the Watershed.
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