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TIDINGS
NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

May, 2000
VOLUME V
ISSUE V

Spring At Lake Merritt
It all seemed to happen on April 11th, The first goslings of the new millennium at Lake Merritt appeared, followed shortly by the seven baby mallard ducks. Then, after having not been seen for many months, our two inch turtle appeared from below the gravel where he (she?) had been hibernating. This reptile was found in the Lake last year after either hatching in the fresh water ponds on the islands or having been tossed in by ignorant well wishers. Several other broods of birds have hatched since, but the fish were a bit later. We noticed the first fry (that's science for baby fish) of about one half inch long on April 25th.

Nadel Holds Town Meeting
The following information emerged from Nancy Nadel's April 25th Adams Point Town Halt Meeting. Jim Ryugo is the interim director of Parks following the resignation of Tony Acosta. A staff position is being filled so that work can proceed on the Lake Merritt Master Plan. Vacancies and other projects had left Kerry Jo without enough time to devote to this project. Hopefully the new person can start in 3 - 4 weeks and hit the ground planning. A design for the pathway along Lakeshore should be done this summer, and construction should begin this fall. Dock repair at the two boat houses should be done by August, in time for the National Rowing Championship Races. Sadly, the 2 dilapidated docks that stand disconnected from the shoreline and provide the biggest eyesores in downtown Oakland were left out of the project.

In other Lake news, Council member John Russo got the wetland project back on track after it had started to languish due to staff shortages. The Request for Proposals (for the engineering design plans) was due out for internal review on April 27th. A new schedule hopes for the plans to be done by winter, and construction to begin next year. Also, it has been proposed that two non-profit groups take over operation of the Nature enter until a new Supervising Naturalist can be hired after director Pablo Cepero resigned.

Fishing is legal here
Unfortunately, esteemed Tribune editor Peggy Stinnett was given the wrong information. She was incorrectly told that the City Parks Department had banned fishing at Lake Merritt. Not so. First of all, only the state Fish and Game Commission can do that and they are not about to pull that silly string. Second, the recently departed Parks director did not cancel, but only suspended several fishing programs, including the free stocking of steelhead trout, stocking from the proposed hatchery, free use of rods and reels and the state "Fishing In The City" events. The suspension was supposed to be lifted after four long studies, but there is no money or staff for these. To provide background information for city officials, the Institute is considering paying for an independent, professional study of past, present and potential fishery resources in the creeks, Lake and channel. Meanwhile, people around Lake Merritt will have to go up to the hills to find a managed fishing program.Unfortunately, esteemed Tribune editor Peggy Stinnett was given the wrong information. She was incorrectly told that the City Parks Department had banned fishing at Lake Merritt. Not so. First of all, only the state Fish and Game Commission can do that and they are not about to pull that silly string. Second, the recently departed Parks director did not cancel, but only suspended several fishing programs, including the free stocking of steelhead trout, stocking from the proposed hatchery, free use of rods and reels and the state "Fishing In The City" events. The suspension was supposed to be lifted after four long studies, but there is no money or staff for these. To provide background information for city officials, the Institute is considering paying for an independent, professional study of past, present and potential fishery resources in the creeks, Lake and channel. Meanwhile, people around Lake Merritt will have to go up to the hills to find a managed fishing program.

Kelp Found In the Lake
For the first time ever, pieces of floating kelp were found in Lake Merritt. No, it doesn't grow here; conditions are just right, too warm, too shallow etc. But it did drift in from the ocean, where it does grow. This is a nice reminder of our Lake's very real connection to the sea.

Littering is a Social Disease
Comments from our booth at the Environmental Exposition as to what to do to people who litter included: $500 fine and jail time for 2 days; Give them a ticket; Community Service; Fine them; Make them clean up; Fill their home with the stuff; Cut their hands off. In San Francisco in 1998, about 6,000 citations were issued for illegal dumping and littering. How many were issued in Oakland? Why should we pay tens of thousands of dollars to clean up after such anti-social behavior?

Assembly Member Audie Bock Cleans Up on Earth Day
Among the hardy who turned out on a rainy Saturday morning to clean up Lake Merritt and its channel were Assembly Member Audie Bock and members of her staff. We heard they had a good time, and the results of their work were cleanly evident. Her work in Sacramento also benefits Lake Merritt, where she is lobbying for funds to restore and enhance our Lake.

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