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TIDINGS
NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES
November, 2000
VOLUME IV
ISSUE XI
Monthly Speaker Series
Join us for an evening with Ethan Rotman, Bay Area Coordinator for the California Department of Fish and Game's "Fishing In The City" program. Through his efforts, thousands of local children (and adults) have not only caught their first fish, they have learned about sportsmanship, water quality and fishing. This popular program is active at many lakes in the East Bay, but unfortunately is "in suspension" at Lake Merritt after a memo was issued by Parks and Recreation administrator Jim Ryugo on June 8, 1999. Posting of signs along the Lake Merritt Channel asking people to Turn in Poachers appears to have eliminated the bird entanglement problem, and we are now asking Parks Director Harry Edwards to reinstate stocking the Lake with steelhead trout and the Fishing in the City Program. If you want to see fish in Lake Merritt, join us on Tuesday and lend your support. Refreshments and beverages will be provided.
Last month's speaker instructed a few dozen people on the finer points of lake and lagoon management. George Forni of Aquatics Environments, Inc. showed us several alternative ways to control algae and widgeon grass, discussed the benefits of dredging, and gave examples of aeration devices that he has installed and maintains. Students of the Oakland High Environmental Academy who attended the meeting received extra credit for their Lake studies.
Water Quality
Tide Gate Closure Lowers Lake Oxygen Readings: One hundred percent. That's how often oxygen levels at the bottom of Glen Echo cove drop to five parts per million or less when the County closes the flood tide gates. At mid-Lake, average bottom readings were 5.0 with gates closed, and 7.7 with the gates open. That difference means a lot to bottom life that can't move away from the site. Combining the data from four stations, DO readings were 5 ppm or lower 65% of the time when the gates were closed versus only 29% of the time when the gates were open. This is the first hard data available that demonstrates how much gate closure impacts oxygen levels.
We are not asking that flood control be compromised, but given that the US Environmental Protection Agency has listed our Lake as impaired due to low oxygen levels, it would seem prudent for the County to minimize gate closures. This should be done by making the open / close decisions on a 12 hour basis rather than setting the facility to run on automatic for three day weekends (or longer).
Wish List For The Lake
Most needed: Storm drain filters
They're new; San Francisco has them; they work. Installed along the storm drain before it gets to the Lake, creek or Bay, these filters remove sediment, trash, leaves and a lot of the oil that washes off streets. Oakland is currently trying to get a small demonstration filter installed at the Lake to check out maintenance etc. If we had filters on the largest ten outfalls, probably at least 65% of the trash now entering the Lake would be removed before it ever got here. Cost - about 10 million dollars.
A King Cab Truck for the Institute
Right now, with our 23-year-old truck, we can only carry two volunteers. With a king cab truck, we could take five and make fewer trips around the Lake. And, its so old that the Air Board offered us $500 to get its pollution spewing tail pipe off the road. Anybody got one they don't want?
Funds to replace the Bandstand Fountain
The float device doesn't work properly, the impeller requires a screen that gets clogged, and after the new motor was put in, the pump assembly failed. With $5,000 we could install a unit that works with an propeller (not an impeller) minimize screen use, have much better access to parts and after market service, and have a much more reliable aeration fountain. Remember, it's tax deductible.
City Projects
Status of the Master Plan
A consultant team headed up by Royston, Hanamoto, Alley and Abey has been selected to negotiate a contract for the Master Plan. Once the scope of work and cost have been balanced and the document approved by City Council, the work will begin in earnest.
Status of the Wetland Design Project
The consultant team headed up by Wolfe-Mason has been selected to negotiate a contract for the Wetlands Design Study. If the Council approves the contract, work will start in January. Hold on all you wetland related critters, help is on the way!
Status of the Jogging Path
A 50 foot test section of decomposed granite has been installed next to the E. 18th St. Boat Dock. The test is being done because this material has not worked out too well at Crissy field. Seems it needs to remain sealed, or it becomes muddy.
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