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TIDINGS
NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES
October, 2000
VOLUME V
ISSUE X
Monthly Speaker Series
No lake is an island; and no lake management should occur in a vacuum. For these reasons, we have asked George Forni, president of Aquatic Environments, to share his experiences in dredging, aerating, harvesting, spraying, rotovating etc. at other salt-water lagoons similar to Lake Merritt. Mark your calendars and join us for information, beverages and goodies: Tuesday, October l7th, 7:30 at the Boating Center (568 Bellevue Avenue). Are their lessons we can learn for Lake Merritt?
Last month's speaker informed us about EBMUD's use of liquid oxygen to eliminate low oxygen problems at one of their reservoirs. As to having found birds with ingested hooks here, Mr. Setka said he had not seen that at EBMUD reservoirs, and that it sounded like a deliberately malicious act. We were also treated to slides of critters too wild to live here, and planning documents for their lakes.
Water Quality
Hats Off To William Madison. City Inspector. The Serenader Bar on Lake Park Avenue no longer pollutes Lake Merritt every day as it did for many years. Alerted by the Institute to the soapy discharge in the gutter by their drain, Mr. Madison paid a visit to the establishment, did a dye test and showed them that their drain in the building went right to the street! Based on the dry curb, they are now putting waste water in the toilet or other drain to the sanitary sewer, where it belongs. Good work William.
Hopefully your next target will be the Merritt Bakery, which:
A) occasionally soaps down their sidewalk
B) washes their vehicle with soap next to the parking lot drain which goes guess where; and
C) drains soapy, greasy waste water from a grease bin behind the building to the parking lot drain.
If you don't stop them, I'll have to picket with a sign that says Lake Merritt Bakery Pollutes Lake Merritt. Then they probably won't serve me breakfast any more. But seriously, the 18th St. Cove will be a little less smelly if you can get them to abide by city regulations.
Biology
It is autumn; and right on schedule, cormorant numbers at the Lake are on the rise. As documented in printed reports by St. Paul' s School students, the numbers of these large, black, fish eating birds at Lake Merritt rise and peak in October, November and December. Only few dozen (or less) of them live at our lagoon in the summer. But soon there will be a thousand or more, swimming above a school of topsmelt or other fish, feasting off the hundreds of thousands of fish hatched in the spring and summer. But don't worry, there will be plenty of fish left to breed next year, and the cycle will repeat itself.
News
At a recent meeting to discuss not using 4 inch bars to screen tidal flows moving between the Lake and Bay (when flood control was not in operation) the County flatly rejected our suggestion. They indicated there was no possible way that liability and environmental concerns could be met at the same time. On top of that, the state Fish and Game biologist suggested that perhaps it would not be a good idea to allow larger fish into the Lake (like there were before the pump station was built) because there might be an oil spill and then we would have a worse fish kill! Hopefully DFG does not take a similar attitude toward other restoration projects. So it appears that the County project to modify the bars will proceed without provision to allow unrestricted fish passage. Also, the concept of allowing boat passage between the two boating centers appears dead. We have requested that the Coastal Conservancy ask a professional hydrology firm to evaluate possible methods of safely allowing boat and fish access to the discharge tunnel without compromising flood control or safety, and have suggested such methods to the County. If they reply, we will let you know.
Status of the Master Plan
The bids are in and consultant interviews are scheduled. With luck, we could start seeing proposals early next year. In the meantime, some boating center suggestions for project grants have been put on hold until the big Plan is approved.
Status of the Dock Repairs
Work is proceeding on resurfacing two docks at the Boating Center. Rumor says that the small dock at the l2th St. Beach will be tom down rather than be renovated.
Status of the Bulkhead Wall Repairs
Sections have been marked and we are waiting for the concrete to flow.
Status of the Wetland Design Project
Bids are due on October 5th and the schedule calls for Council approval of a consultant team on November 27th. Go Wetlands!
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