There is a new community group for Lake Los Carneros Park. The current working
names are "Friends of Lake Los Carneros", "Friends of Lake Los
Carneros Park" and "Friends of Lake Los Carneros Park and Preserve".
The first "item on the list" and what I understand was the catalyst for the
creation of the group is the bridge on the North side of the lake. What to do to
"complete the path" around the lake without having to go out to Covington Road.
Fixing the bridge, replacing the bridge, moving the bridge, what kind of
bridge/water crossing, etc.
I would like to see the Friends of Lake Los Carneros become a group that supports and promotes the preservation and stewardship of Lake Los Carneros Park.
Preservation:
Preserve the park as it has been for decades. No major changes and as few minor changes as possible. Advocate for the preservation of the park as a place for us to explore, discover and
connect with the outdoors right in the heart of Goleta. This includes catch and
release bass fishing
and the 40+ year tradition of using human-powered floats to fish, bird, relax,
exercise, explore, and help keep
the lake clean and litter free.
Stewardship and Improvement Ideas:
Health of the lake: Look into ways to prevent
eutrophication (algea blooms/fish
kills).
Nanobubble Technology.
Add water to the lake during low rainfall periods. Diverting rainfall
runoff that occurs on the property but does not currently drain into the lake. An example of this is the basin on the East side on the
North side of the road near La Patera. It currently drains to the South under
the road. Could it be re-directed West so that it would drain into the lake?
Litter control: Outdoor youth programs featuring outdoor activities such as
fishing & birding to spread the "Leave No Trace" message. Organized clean up
days. Build a larger group of stewards dedicated to keeping the park clean and
litter free. Improve the on-line offshore litter reporting system.
Maintenance/Improvements: Implement the ideas in the plan that members of the
local fishing community and the Santa Barbara Audubon Society worked on
collaboratively in 2024 in response to litter and habitat damage1.
Implement some of the ideas in the 1987 Master Plan2 and/or the 1999
Updated Management Plan3.
Improvement of Dam: Repair and increase height of the lip of the dam and walkway
so that it is higher than the lip of the spillway. This would allow the spillway
to function as it should. Add riprap (large rocks) to face of dam similar to the
spillway area. This would not only eliminate the need for the fence but will also
provide both access and habitat.
If you have questions/comments or are interested in being part of this group please contact me at pete@lakeloscarneros.com.
References:
1Fishing Community & Santa Barbara Audubon Society's suggested management and litter control ideas - September 2024: lakeloscarneros.com/llc_maintenance-ideas-and-map_250826-01.pdf
21987 Master Plan: lakeloscarneros.com/llc-master-plan-1987.pdf
31999 Updated Management Plan: lakeloscarneros.com/llc-management-plan-1999.pdf
Additional Information:
Letter from the Santa Barbara Audubon Society to the City of Goleta - Spring
2024:
lakeloscarneros.com/llc_SBAS_letter-to-city.pdf
Letter from Pete Wolf representing the local fishing community to the City of
Goleta - September 2024:
lakeloscarneros.com/llc_fish-llc_letter-to-city_240904-01.pdf
On-line offshore litter reporting system: lakeloscarneros.com/clean
If you fish the lake from a human powered float and would like to help keep it clean send an e-mail to cleanup@lakeloscarneros.com and request to be added to the offshore litter notification e-mail list.
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