Goleta Tries to Save Lake Los Carneros From a Drought Death

Goleta is not going to let Lake Los Carneros dry up despite the harsh impacts from the drought.

The lake is normally filled by an underground water supply and rain runoff. Both have been no help during the drought.

The City Council has decided to approve a plan for water to be injected into the lake which is now just a fraction of its normal size. The depth is only about seven feet. To get close to the ducks and other birds you have to walk on a dry cracked surface where the lake shore was once located.

Public Works Director RoseMarie Gaglione says, ” the idea is that we would put a half a million gallons in and recheck our temperatures and water conditions. It is so low at this point that just adding oxygen isn’t really helping. It’s so low and so warm all the way through that when the wind blows it’s stirring it all around and we can’t get the fine stuff to settle out and stay at the bottom anymore.”

Gaglione also says some of the exposed plants could be cut back to help the lake when it fills up again. It would have less organic material, which sometimes is problematic.

Letting the lake dry up would be an issue with migrating birds losing a water source, and the possibility of a smell that could get into nearby neighborhoods.

This lake is also a very popular site for hikers, bird watchers, and nature lovers.

The water will be injected in small amounts, while the lake’s health is checked.

Even though water supplies are low, Goleta says it has enough in reserve for this project. If the drought continues into 2015 at a serious level, that will be reevaluated.

The city is hoping for a couple of good winter storms to revive the runoff sources and refill the lake.