Lake Merced Update
August 20, 2004

The Chronicle on Wednesday published a tremendous article by Geoffrey Coffey describing the native plant restoration site at the Mesa, across the street from Lakeshore Elementary School.  Congratulations to Craig and Martha Spriggs and their core group of volunteers who have been working on this project the first Saturday of every month for nearly ten years now.  And many thanks to Carolyn Gates and her colleagues at the Rec & Park Natural Areas Program for their continuing support.  If you haven't seen the article you'll find a copy at http://www.lakemerced.org/NativePlants/TheMesa/mesa.html.

Mark you calendar: Saturday, September 18 the San Francisco Clean City Coalition will hold their twentieth annual Coastal Cleanup Day.  Good news for us, the Lake Merced shoreline counts as a coast as well, at least for this day.  Meet at the Sunset Circle parking lot at 9:00 A.M., wear good shoes and bring gloves, and plan to spend the morning.  This event is being supported by Friends of Lake Merced and the Lake Merced Task Force Recreation Committee.

Obviously the problem of litter and debris around the lake will not be solved with a single cleanup day.  Mona Cereghino has done a great job of documenting the seriousness of this problem with her digital camera, and we will be posting a report on this to the web site (www.lakemerced.org) as soon as we have the pictures edited.  We will also be writing to Yomi Agunbiade, Acting General Manager, as well as to other City officials.  Follow-up letters will certainly help get the attention this problem deserves.

Recently the Public Utilities Commission has issued a series of reports on issues that affect Lake Merced.  These include a recycled water report, a groundwater management report, a lake level management report, an assessment of the impact on beneficial uses of rising lake level, and a proposed study of possible lead contamination at the Rod & Gun Club.  Links to all of these reports can be found on the web site.  Friends of Lake Merced has joined other groups, including the Coalition for a Clean Waterfront, in calling for better coordination of these several programs, as well as with the clean water program and the stormwater program.  A start has been made, but much remains to be accomplished.

Finally, the Recreation Committee of the Lake Merced Task Force has set two priorities for their program.  First is increased pedestrian safety for those using the lake for recreational purposes.  New approaches to traffic calming and better allocation of space between pedestrians, bicycles and cars are high on the list.  Second is the increased use of the lake itself for recreational and physical fitness activities such as rowing and kayaking.  Returning the Boathouse to its original purpose as a support facility for boaters is included on this list.  If you'd like to get involved in either of these programs let me know, or contact Committee Chair Dick Allen at [email protected]

Hope you're having a great summer!

That's all for now.

John