Speak up for San Francisco's Lake Merced - help make nature the top priority in planning for its future

Lake Merced is the largest freshwater wetlands between Pescadero Marsh and the Point Reyes Peninsula. Despite years of degradation, the lake, its shoreline, and associated uplands form one of San Francisco's most-important ecological resources - and at the same time an important recreation site, popular with boaters, fishers, joggers, skeet shooters, and more.

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is conducting a master-planning process for the lake that should address ways to protect and restore the natural resources while providing appropriate public access and recreation.

The lake provides habitat for numerous plant and animal species, including many of special status. About 50 species of resident birds nest there, including the great blue heron and double-crested cormorant, and thousands of migratory birds rely on the spot for valuable refuge. It is home to one of the city's last populations of western pond turtle.

Private uses such as the Pacific Rod and Gun Club, which for decades has been allowed to operate on the lake's edge, are not appropriate for such an ecologically valuable location.

WhatYouCanDo

Till now, pro-shooting advocates have been the most numerous in giving public feedback to the PUC. The PUC needs to hear from the environmental community. Write to:

Suzanne Gautier
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
1155 Market St., 11th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94013.

Come to the PUC's meetings in September, dates yet to be set.

Tell the PUC that Lake Merced and its shoreline and uplands belong to the public, and that no privatizing uses should be allowed. The shoreline should be reserved for lake-dependent, or at least water-related, uses that cannot be located elsewhere. The first priorities should be biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration, and nature education.

For meeting dates, see the PUC's web site (click on "Lake Merced Watershed")

Ruth Gravanis