Lake Merritt and Lake Merritt Channel Improvements

Abstract:

The City of Oakland is pursuing a range of capital improvements at Lake Merritt and the Lake Merritt Channel that will have significant water quality, habitat, and recreational values.  These proposed improvements include the removal of culverts and fill materials at 12th and 10th Street, the creation of a by-pass structure at 7th Street, and the implementation of water quality technologies at the Lake.

Purpose: The proposed capital improvement projects will significantly improve the water quality at Lake Merritt and the Channel. Currently the Channel is constricted at several points. According to a study completed by URS Corporation in 2002, removal of the box culverts and installation of 100’ clear span bridges at 12th and 10th Street will increase the maximum positive flow from the Lake into the Estuary by a multiple of 3.5. The maximum negative flow from the Estuary into the Lake increases by a multiple of 2.7. Modifications of tidal fluctuation include higher high tides increasing by up to 1.4 feet above existing conditions and lower low tides decreasing by 1.24 feet below existing conditions. These modifications will improve ecosystem function at the Lake and Channel and support a diversity of avian, invertebrate and acquatic life. Lake Merritt was listed as an “impaired waterbody” on the EPA's 303(d) list in May 1999 because of excess trash and low dissolved oxygen. Additionally, the highly visible trash causes many citizen complaints and has a negative impact to water quality and to Oakland’s image. Since January 2000 the City has been working with members of the community to address the excess trash and dissolved oxygen issues through public education, outreach, and maintenance. Identification and installation of water quality improvement technologies is underway and will serve as the next level of effort to address these issues.

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