Difference between revisions of "Conversion of Carr Lake to a Multi-Use Park"

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A watershed-related issue examined by the ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB. Contents [hide]

   * 1 Summary
   * 2 Location
   * 3 Resource/s at stake
   * 4 Stakeholders
   * 5 Laws, policies, & regulations
   * 6 Systems
   * 7 Science
   * 8 Tools
   * 9 Future research
   * 10 References
   * 11 Disclaimer

Summary

Carr Lake, the largest of ten lake and wetland areas in the lower Salinas Valley, is located in the heart of the City of Salinas (Cameron et al 2003). It was drained for agricultural use in 1910 when the Reclamation Ditch project was undertaken to drain lakes to create more agricultural land and to create suitable areas for urban development. Currently there is a movement underway to purchase the agricultural land and convert it to a regional park with recreational areas for the people of Salinas, a wetland area to improve water quality and mitigate flooding during high storm years, and a place where people can explore and study nature (Cameron et al 2003).

Location Carr Lake is located at the confluence of three tributaries, Gabilan Creek, Alisal Creek and Natividad Creek, and drains into the Reclamation Ditch which empties into the Pacific Ocean. It is also located in the heart of the City of Salinas bounded by Laurel Drive, Sherwood Drive, Natividad Road and Highway 101 and located adjacent to (Watershed 2008). It is within walking distance of eight schools, which makes it ideal for education and hands on learning. To read about its history and see a sketch of its location in the watershed you can use this link: [1]

Resources at stake Cultural and ecological resources will be greatly enriched if Carr Lake Park becomes a reality. Because of its proximity to gang related activity in Salinas, there is hope that the recreational facilities, community gardens, bird habitat areas and other features of the park could provide a healthier outlet for youthful energy (Anderson 2008). Salinas has a low density of park space per capita, less than a quarter of the amount recommended for healthy communities by the Trust for Public Lands, and adding Carr Lake would nearly double its park space (Anderson 2008). Restoring Carr Lake's wetlands would provide habitat for the threatened tiger salamander and red-legged frog as well as for sensitive bird species (Casagrande and Watson 2007). All three tributaries entering Carr Lake have pollution problems associated with runoff from agricultural and urban areas (Casagrande et al 2002). The proposed wetlands would clean up pollutants and diminish the nutrient, sediment and pesticide water quality problems, truly a benefit as this water is destined for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, home to otters and extensive marine life.

Reduced flooding during high rainfall years could also help protect the trailer park area adjacent to Carr Lake from flooding. Photos of flooding in 1998 can be viewed at the link (Watershed 2008): [2]

Stakeholders The Carr Lake Project has banded together an array of government, non-profit and citizen groups to promote its path forward. Its Advisory Council is composed of the following members (Watershed 2008): Thousand Friends of Carr Lake - you can join by calling Gary Shallcross at (831) 582-3323 Trust for Public Lands The Big Sur Land Trust City of Salinas National Park Service Planning and Conservation League The Nature Conservancy CSUMB Watershed Institute Monterey County Water Resources Agency Return of the Natives Restoration Educational Project

The Mayor of Salinas, teachers, businesses and the people of Salinas are also stakeholders.

Laws, policies, & regulations The Clean Water Act of 1972 makes polluting our nation's waters illegal, however regulating non-point source pollution has been slow, difficult and largely ineffective to date. Water quality monitoring of the three incoming tributaries revealed problems with nutrients, pesticides and sediment (Casagrande et al. 2006). Although federal law does not require agricultural to obtain permits for water discharges, California Water Code now requires requires monitoring of agricultural drainage and requires regional water boards to assess their efforts to stem pollution (Dowd 2008). In 2009 the status of the agricultural waiver program comes up for review and the water board may make changes to existing permits and waivers (Doud 2008).

Currently available bond money from two propositions passed by state voters, Propositions 84 and 1E, might potentially provide the money to purchase the land from the current owners and develop the park. The Big Sur Land Trust has begun negotiating with the three Japanese-American families (Higashi, Hibino and Ikeda) who own the land (Anderson 2008).

Systems The systems involved include the hydrological system which includes the geographical context within which the tributaries, lakes and drainage basin lies. The ecosystem includes fish, mammal, birds, macroinvertebrates, and the botanical resources.

Science There has been a

Tools

...What analytical (e.g. modeling) tools were or could be used?... Future research

...What knowledge gaps remain?...

...Suggest a CWSP MS thesis topic that could contribute to the issue...

...Suggest a topic for a hypothetical study that had unlimited resources... References Anderson M. 2008. Monterey County Weekly. [Internet]. [cited 2009 January 21]. http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/archives/2008/2008-Dec-18/big-sur-land-trust-gives-the-carr-lake-project-in-salinas-a-renewed-lease-on-life/1/@@index

Cameron W, Hoffman A, Langer J. 2003. A vision plan for Carr Lake regional park. 606 Studio, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Casagrande J, Watson F. 2007. The Carr Lake Project: Potential Biophysical Benefits of Conversion to a Multiple-Use Park. Watershed Institute at CSUMB. [Internet]. [cited 2009 January 21] Available from: http://aquacomm.fcla.edu/1205/

Casagrande J, Watson F, Quezada M, 2006. Final report: Monterey county water resources agency - reclamation ditch watershed assessment and management strategy. The Watershed Institute.

Dowd BM, Press D, LosHuertos M. 2008. Agricultural nonpoint source water pollution policy: the case of California's Central Coast (electronic version). Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 128:151-161.

Watershed Institute at CSUMB, 2008. Carr lake park. [Internet]. [cited 2009 January 21]. http://watershed.csumb.edu/carrlake/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1

Watershed Institute at CSUMB, 2008?. Carr lake regional park: a park for the people who feed a nation. (this brochure can be obtained at the Watershed Institute, CSUMB, 100 Campus Center Dr, Building 42, Seaside, CA 93955.

[MCWRA] Monterey County Water Resources Agency. 2005. Carr lake watershed / reclamation ditch subwatershed assessment and management plan. [Internet]. [cited 2008 November 27]. Available from: http://www.mcwra.co.monterey.ca.us/Agency_data/RecDitchFinal/RecDitchFinal.htm

Disclaimer

This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessary reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.