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TIDINGS
NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

June, 2000
VOLUME V
ISSUE VI

Master Planner Hired
Stan Wolf has been hired by the Life Enrichment Agency to work on the Lake Merritt Master Plan. Bravo! Never before has the City dedicated this much to facilitate the long discussed plan for Lake Merritt, Lakeside Park and surrounding areas. Stan is now busy getting up to speed, meeting with City staff and other folks with interest and knowledge about the Lake. He will soon be developing the scope of work to be accomplished by an outside consulting firm, and then the planning can begin. Hopefully the finished document and process will lead to approval and funding for enhanced landscaping, better security, improved pedestrian / bike / auto traffic, storm drain filters, fishing programs, erosion control, adequate staffing for existing programs, and maybe even restored docks for boaters, fishermen and water lovers.

White Croaker Found In Lake
No it's not a Caucasian blues singer, it's a fish. Common in San Francisco Bay, this fish has been reported from Lake Merritt before, but not in sizes this small. Three dead juveniles (about 1.5 - 2 inches long) were found in mid-May near the major storm drain outlets. The question is, did they swim in from the Bay, or is Lake Merritt a spawning area and nursery for these and other species. No one knows. There hasn't been a fish survey in the Lake since 1993, and there was just one sampling date that year. When it comes to Lake biology, resources are sadly lacking. But perhaps next year some comprehensive biological monitoring can find out if this tidal lagoon really is a nursery for bay fish.

Institute Contract To Go Before Council
The Public Works Agency has proposed to renew the Clean Lake Contract with the Institute for this year, and it is scheduled to go before Council on May 30th. For next year however, they intend to put it out to bid. This is the contract that allows the Institute to remove trash from Lake Merritt, conduct education about urban runoff, maintain the fountains, post the bulletin boards, and assist the City with enhancement projects such as the storm drain filters, water quality, fishing programs, bulkhead walls, wetlands and the master plan. Without the contract, the Institute will not be doing these things. It is unfortunate that in this time of prosperity, the jewel of Oakland will be cleaned by the lowest bidder

Lighter Sculpture Available
Dozens (out of the hundreds) of cigarette lighters we found floating in Lake Merritt have been made into an art sculpture. Colorful and illuminated internally by a light, it includes two pages of information about urban runoff, and why "disposable" really isn't. The sculpture measures 4' x 1' and is 16 inches tall. It is available for display at art museums and store front windows. Call Dr. Bailey at 238-2290 to reserve it

Hatchery Tanks Removed
They needed the space for boats and since it has been a year since the City Parks and Recreation Department suspended fishing projects at Lake Merritt pending "studies," the eight 300 gallon tanks that were to have become Oakland's fish hatchery have been moved into the parking lot. They can be returned, but that is unlikely unless the new Parks administration recognizes the potential value of fishing at Lake Merritt. To those that donated money to this project, we are sorry.

Wetland Project Moves Forward
The "Request for Proposals" to prepare wetland engineering and design plans has been prepared and is being reviewed prior to dispersal to qualified companies. With any luck, the design plans could be done by this fall. However, if a Corps of Engineers permit (which takes a minimum of six months) is required prior to construction, it is unlikely that work could begin in time to be completed in 2001. This project will establish three wetlands of 1-2 acres each at: The inlet / outlet channel; the bird islands; and along the bluff south of the bandstand beach. Contrary to misinformation, Lake Merritt was never completely wetlands. As shown on an 1852 map in our office, they existed only at the margins of the lagoon (e.g. where the Lakeview Library, Merritt Restaurant and Veteran's Memorial Building are now).

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