CHANGE MY LOCATION
Local
California News
Multimedia News
Report: Lake needs to raise water levels
SEE THE LATEST ON THIS STORY
Related Topics: SAN FRANCISCO
)
Groundwater may be pumped into Lake Merced if a task force’s recommendations are heeded.
SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - Artificial wetlands will be built along John Muir Drive and groundwater will be pumped into Lake Merced in a bid to replenish the lake’s water levels if new recommendations by a city task force are implemented.
A Public Utilities Commission-led task force in a new report recommends spending $16 million to raise water levels by an additional 2 to 3 feet over current levels based on meetings with dozens of environmental and recreational groups and community members in recent years.
The 300-acre lake is part of a collection of four ocean-front lakes that together create a 600-acre ecological sanctuary popular with boaters, fishers, hunters, bird-watchers and other nature lovers and is located just south of the zoo.
In the 1980s and 1990s, lake levels dropped 10 feet because of a drought, mostly because storm water was increasingly diverted away from the lake, according to the report. Increasing amounts of local and regional groundwater was also pumped for irrigation.
Falling water levels impact people, fish, turtles, snakes, frogs, 48 species of birds and other wildlife that use the lake, according to the report.
The lake, owned by the Public Utilities Commission, provided drinking water for Bay Area cities until the 1930s and is still designated as an emergency water source, according to a city report. It has been managed by the Recreation and Park Department since 1950.
The report also recommends pumping nearby groundwater directly into the lake and building 5.2 acres of heavily vegetated wetlands along John Muir Drive. PUC program manager David Behar recently told commissioners the wetland “will take storm water from Daly City, treat it, remove some of the contaminants, and put that water into Lake Merced.”
Wetlands can trap and clean storm water runoff through natural biological processes. The report rejected a proposal to pump water into Lake Merced from Hetch Hetchy Dam in Yosemite National Park — a recommendation welcomed by a task force member from fishery conservation group California Trout.
“The solution which is recommended,” Mondy Lariz told commissioners, “is in my view the best environmental solution — it avoids using Hetch Hetchy water.”
A review of the environmental impact of the proposed project is expected to begin soon.
Proposed wetlands along John Muir
» Located at western shore of South Lake between Vista Grande Canal and John Muir Drive
» Would help restore lake water-levels and reduce flooding at John Daly Boulevard
» Would provide 5.2 acres of wildlife habitat
Source: SFPUC
Comments from Examiner Readers
3:15 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 22, 2008 re: "S.F.’s shooting range headed for extinction?"
Report as inappropriate
11:33 AM MST on Tue., Apr. 22, 2008
re: "S.F.’s shooting range headed for extinction?"
Report as inappropriate
9:02 AM MST on Sat., Feb. 16, 2008
re: "Report: Lake needs to raise water levels"
Report as inappropriate
11:28 AM MST on Tue., Feb. 12, 2008
re: "Report: Lake needs to raise water levels"
Report as inappropriate
3:37 PM MST on Mon., Feb. 11, 2008
re: "Report: Lake needs to raise water levels"
Report as inappropriate
11:46 AM MST on Mon., Feb. 11, 2008
re: "Report: Lake needs to raise water levels"
Report as inappropriate
7:31 AM MST on Mon., Feb. 11, 2008
re: "Report: Lake needs to raise water levels"
Report as inappropriate
US Taxpayer said:
The first issue to emphasize in your article is the fact that the group that wants to put a mammal rescue center at Lake Merced has no money! The gun club is totally self supporting and maintains the grounds with no help from the City. By Mr. Upton's facts, the membership of the club is 53% San Francisco residents. Mr. Tautenhahn is the club spokesperson in relations with the PUC. He is not the club president. Has anyone considered what effect shooting from the police range would have on rescued mammals and birds? By the way, do you think a mammal and bird rescue center might smell?
2 agree | 2 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Why isn't there a study of the wastewater run-off and ground contamination from the golf course fertilizers? Why isn't the golf course included in the SFPUC Lake Merced *RECREATION* plan? Isn't the golf course the largest recreational use of the land around the lake? Surprisingly enough, Large Vehicle Operation Training is part of the *RECREATION* plan. This weekend I'm going out to Lake Merced for some fun; large vehicle operation is a blast!
0 agree | 1 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Alarm Dude said:
The answer to this is painfully obvious. Between Lake Merced and the zoo is a wastewater treatment plant that outputs water SO PURE that we needed to build a mile long pipe in the ocean so the purity wouldn't disturb the little fishies. If the golf courses are using that water - that's a good first step. To fill up Lake Merced, just build a pipe across Skyline and fill the darn thing up like a bathtub! It really IS that simple!
38 agree | 53 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Samr said:
Grass isn't the biggest waste of water, unless you are talking about the alfalfa and pastureland grown in the Central Velley. 80% of all water consumed in California goes to the agricultural industry. Ag contributes about 2% to the state economy. Between one-third and one-half of the water going to Ag is used to grow four low value, water intensive crops: cotton, rice, alfalfa and irrigated pasture. Some of those receive taxpayer susbsidies, including cheap water. Yet, those 4 crops contribute only an infintesimal .015 (that's fifteen/one-hundreths of one percent) to the state's economy . THAT is the biggest waste of fresh water!
39 agree | 40 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Grass should not be allowed in a desert environment period. Whether it is here, in Napa, Vegas or Arizona. Grass is the biggest waste of fresh water.
38 agree | 38 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Samr said:
Hey "Examiner Reader" -- don't pick on the golf courses. As a part of the 15 year negotiation to resolve the problems at Lake Merced the 3 private golf courses did agree to use recycled water, rather than water from the aquifer feeding Lake Merced, and they have been doing so since late 2004. They deserve a lot of credit!!
45 agree | 49 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
why not tell the golf courses to get there own water..
36 agree | 34 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree