Lake Merced Update -- March 2003

To:  Friends and Supporters of Lake Merced

Two weeks ago I petitioned our members to vote on whether or not Friends of Lake Merced should continue as a participant in the Lake Merced Task Force.  Thanks to the near-Herculean effort of Ruth Gravanis, representing the Sierra Club, the Task Force has adopted a set of by-laws.  These explicitly recognize the right of each member organization to pursue its own agenda, and adopts the mission of the Task Force to be an advocate for Lake Merced.  Our concerns in this regard have then been addressed.

While the turnout was light, the vote was unanimous.  We will continue with the Task Force.  The priority now is to do all that we can to support the Task Force, and to assure its success in this new advocacy role.

There are a couple of dates to mark on  your calendar.  March 27, at 1:00 P.M., the PUC will hold a public review of the EDAW report reviewing the environmental impact of adding water to Lake Merced.  Included in the agenda is a review of the implications of this study for a possible reevaluation of the target level for a restored lake.  While the PUC has released the Tecnical Memorandum reporting on the EDAW Field Survey (available on our web site), no information has been provided with regard to this phase of the EDAW study.  This meeting will be held at the PUC offices, 1155 Market, 4th floor.  It's important that we have a good turnout to hear this report.

On Saturday, March 22, the Neighborhood Parks Council will sponsor a field trip, "Amphibians and Reptiles, Lake Merced Field Biology Exploration."  This is a part of the NPC's Nature in the City program.  Tour leader will be Chris Giorni of the California Academy of Sciences.  Meet at the Boathouse Restaurant at 12 noon.  Bring the kids for an entertaining and informative tour.

A final note: Last month for the first time the web site received more than 5,000 visitors.  Thanks to all of you who visit the site to stay current on progress being made, and thanks to all of you who have contributed to that progress.

John