remember when we trashed the golf course lake merritt

by Shana VonRueden 5 min read

When does the Merritt Golf and Country Club open?

OPENING WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28. The Merritt Golf and Country Club is located in the heart of Merritt where scenic hillsides can be seen in all directions. The Merritt Golf and Country Club is a challenging, affordable nine-hole course with the men’s yardages stretching over 6200 yards.

How much did it cost to fix Lake Merritt?

^ Brown, Steven E. F. (May 6, 2010). "Oakland breaks ground on $32M Lake Merritt fix". San Francisco Business Times. Retrieved 24 October 2013.

Is Lake Merritt improving wildlife a treasure and liability?

"Oakland: Lake Merritt's improving wildlife a treasure and liability". The Mercury News. Retrieved 2019-08-03. ^ Simons, Eric. "This Animal Has Never Been Seen Away From Lake Merritt — But It's Not From Oakland - The Weird, the Rare and the Ugly". Bay Nature.

What happened to Lake Merritt's wetlands?

Lake Merritt's natural wetlands are long gone—converted to parks, pathways and roads. Some of the wetland vegetation has been restored to five "Bird Islands" constructed of dredged silt between 1925 and 1956; islands which shelter hundreds of nesting and roosting water fowl.

When is Lake Merritt clean up?

on Aug. 20, 2019. Twice a week volunteers with the Lake Merritt Institute clean the shoreline of the lake.

What happened to the piano in Lake Merritt?

The piano was a result of some folks who broke into the Lake Merritt Boating Center in October 2018 and stole the boats to transport an estimated 100 people to the bird islands for an unsanctioned party, the Tidings (Lake Merritt Institute's newsletter) reported in November 2018.

What does the Lake Merritt Institute do?

The Lake Merritt Institute takes on the thousands of pounds of trash that lands in the lake and disposes of it properly. Courtesy Lake Merritt Institute Show More Show Less. 9 of 50. 10 of 50. Plenty of unusual items have made its way to Lake Merritt, thanks to careless folks who have illegally dumped their trash into the water.

When did Guy Struve clean Lake Merritt?

40 of 50. Guy Struve of Albany (in work vest) clears the shoreline on Lake Merritt close to 18th Street in Oakland, Calif. on August 20, 2019. Twice a week volunteers with the Lake Merritt Institute clean the shoreline of the lake.

When did Susan Campodonico clean up Lake Merritt?

on Aug. 20, 2019. Twice a week volunteers with the Lake Merritt Institute clean the shoreline of the lake.

What is the name of the lake where trash is dumped?

Plenty of unusual items have made its way to Lake Merritt, thanks to careless folks who have illegally dumped their trash into the water. The Lake Merritt Institute takes on the thousands of pounds of trash that lands in the lake and disposes of it properly. Courtesy Lake Merritt Institute Show More Show Less.

What was Lake Merritt used for?

1820: Don Luis Peralta owns the “lake” as a part of Rancho San Antonio. It was used as a transport terminus for goods, especially lumber (“El Embarcadero” = “the pier”) [home]

When was Lake Merritt dredging completed?

1915: Lake dredging completed and the 12 th Street Dam is raised, widened, and paved. Organized feeding of lake waterfowl begins. 1916: White sand beach constructed near “the willows”, part of a plan to market Lake Merritt as an inland bathing resort. 1918: Edoff Bandstand is built in Lakeside Park.

When was the first festival at the Lake?

1980. 1980: The Lake (and surrounding area) is designated as a landmark by the City of Oakland. 1982: First Festival At The Lake, an annual multi-day, multicultural food and arts fair.

Who proposed a water park in Oakland?

Looking North from 18th Street, 1885 (Courtesy of the Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library) 1887: Mayor W.R. Davis proposes to dredge lake and create a water park.

Play golf

The Merritt Golf and Country Club is located in the heart of Merritt where scenic hillsides can be seen in all directions. The Merritt Golf and Country Club is a challenging, affordable nine-hole course with the men’s yardages stretching over 6200 yards.

Fully equipped facilities

Fully equipped with a practice range, short game area, putting green and on-course yardage markers, anyone is welcome to test their skills at this well run facility. The Merritt Golf Club has one on-staff CPGA Professional who extend his abilities to teach and provide excellent customer service.

What is Lake Merritt Advocates?

The Lake Merritt Advocates is a coalition of existing organizations, both formal and informal, which enhance the health of Lake Merritt and the beauty of its surrounding parkland. Operating primarily through volunteer engagement, these organizations provide focus, recreation, projects and education to foster stewardship of Lake Merritt and its environs.

Who is the director of the Oakland Running Festival?

John Kirkmire and Lena Zentgraf, Oakland Running Festival race director, shared the status of the March 22nd Oakland Running Festival , which has been designed to minimize the negative impacts on the communities and neighborhoods on the race course.

When is the next LMA meeting?

LMA Meeting January 30, 2020. On January 30th, representatives of 23 organizations convened for the first meeting of LMA in 2020 at the Oakland Lawn Bowling Club Center. After the agenda/program was introduced, attendees introduced themselves and their organizations.

Overview

Lake Merritt is a large tidal lagoon in the center of Oakland, California, just east of Downtown. It is surrounded by parkland and city neighborhoods. It is historically significant as the United States' first official wildlife refuge, designated in 1870, and has been listed as a National Historic Landmark since 1963, and on the National Register of Historic Places since 1966. The lake feat…

History

The lake was originally an arm of San Francisco Bay formed where several creeks empty into the bay. It was surrounded by 1,000 acres (4 km ) of wetlands when the Ohlone people fished, hunted and gathered food along its shores. By 1810, the remaining Native Americans were removed to Mission San José and the estuary and 44,800 acres (181 km ) of surrounding land was deeded to Ser…

Necklace of lights

A "necklace of lights" encircles Lake Merritt. Featuring 126 lampposts and 3,400 "pearly bulbs", the necklace was first lit in 1925. In 1941, the lights were removed to comply with World War II blackout conditions. After a decade-long campaign by the Lake Merritt Breakfast Club, the lights were again illuminated in 1987.
During Oakland's annual gay pride celebration, the city replaces the white bulb…

Wildlife

The lake features a healthy year-round population of birds. It sees seasonal fluctuations in the types of birds that call the lake home.
Year round, the lake is home to many Canada geese and moderate numbers of black-crowned night heron, great egret, snowy egret, cormorant, American coot, and western gull. There are also small mallard duck and pelican (both American …

Plants

Although native trees such as coast live oak and California buckeye are present, most of the park bordering Lake Merritt has been landscaped with plants from around the world. As early as 1910, City Park Commissioners recognized Oakland as a city of immigrants, and felt that "visitors to the park would want to see plants from their native lands". This theme of diversity in the park landscape has continued with landscape renovations. The lake's iconic plant is the New Zealan…

Cleanup and restoration

Because storm drains in downtown Oakland and surrounding areas drain directly into the lake, trash and nutrient pollution have become the largest problems affecting Lake Merritt. Increased levels of chemicals like nitrogen and phosphorus cause algae blooms, which deplete the water of oxygen. Aeration fountains, funded by donations, have been installed to help with this problem. "…

Measure DD improvements

Measure DD, a $198 million Oakland City park bond measure, passed with 80% voter approval in 2002. The measure improved the lake area by adding park space and altering the surrounding infrastructure. One example is on Lake Merritt's south shore, where the previous configuration of 12th Street (six lanes in each direction) was considered a deterrent to pedestrian and bicycle acces…

See also

• List of lakes in California
• List of lakes in the San Francisco Bay Area

Pre-1850

Image
Pre-1820: Lake Merritt lake and parklands historically a part of San Antonio Creekand Slough. c. 1820: Don Luis Peralta owns the “lake” as a part of Rancho San Antonio. It was used as a transport terminus for goods, especially lumber (“El Embarcadero” = “the pier”) [home]
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1850

  • 1852: in May, Oakland incorporates (as a town; in 1854, it reincorporated - as a city) Can you spot a lake? San Antonio Creek, California, 1857. (U.S. Coast Survey chart.) 1853: Horace Carpentier builds the 12th Street toll bridge across San Antonio Creek to connect the town of Oakland and the community of Clinton (later part of Brooklyn). [home]
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1860

  • 1868: Carpentier, Merritt and Leland Stanford form the Oakland Waterfront Company and assume control of the entire waterfront. Later that year, the Oakland Waterfront Company sells 500 acres of the waterfront to the Western Pacific Railroad, including parts of the Lake area. 1869: A dam is built north of the 12thStreet bridge, creating the lake. 1. Mayor Merritt’s annual message dedicat…
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1870

  • In March, Governor Henry Haightsigns the bill making Lake Merritt the first wildlife refuge in North America. View of the Lake looking east towards Trestle Glen Creek, taken between 1870 and 1900. (Courtesy of the Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library) 1874: Merritt, Newton, and Spauldingcede 12thStreet dam rights to the City. The name, Lake Merritt, is used for the first tim…
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1880

  • 1885 Looking North from 18th Street, 1885 (Courtesy of the Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library) 1887: Mayor W.R. Davisproposes to dredge lake and create a water park. [home]
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1890

  • 1891: At the urging of Mayor Melvin Chapman, the Oakland Waterfront Company, which was controlled by the Central Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Railroad, “gives” the lake to Oakland in exchange for a promise that the City would spend $30,000 on the roadway over the 12th Street Dam. 9-6-30 Trib.pdf Physical improvements to lake begin, including a rock embank…
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1900

  • 1902 Adams Point, 1902 (Courtesy of the Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library) 1905: Mayor Frank Mott hires Charles Mulford Robinsonto suggest improvements that would add to the city’s attractiveness and enhance civic beauty. Adams Point, 1905 (Courtesy of the Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library) 1906: San Francisco Earthquake. Central relief camps est…
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1910

  • Picnickers at Lakeside Park, 1910 (Courtesy of the Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library)Look familiar? Canoe Houseconstructed. 1. Horse and Carriage drive constructed through park. 1912: Swimming prohibited. 1. Bowling greens and tennis courts completed in Lakeside Park. 2. Bandstand constructed (not the current Edoff Bandstand, which was constructed in 191…
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1920

  • 1922: City fills western shore of lake to complete boulevard. Many waterfront houses lose access. 1. Lake dredging continues. Mud used to create first bird island. 2. Feeding ponds constructed. 1925: The “Necklace of Lights” is lit for the first time during the Dons of Peralta Water Festival. There are 126 lampposts, each given by an organization or an individual, connected by a string o…
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1930

  • 1931: National Championship for outboard racing is hosted on the Lake. 1934 Pumping Plant, 1934 (Courtesy of the Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library) 1935: Large quantities of striped bass appear in the Lake after high tide. According to the Lake Merritt Institute, the fish were so plentiful that they could be “taken by pitchforks”. 1937: The Lake Merritt Sailing Clubis c…
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