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HomeMy WebLinkAboutState of Our Lake Presentation - June 2018June 20, 2018 State of the Lake Good Afternoon Nicole Dailey, Senior Management Analyst Thank you for joining us today as we share a little bit of information about our namesake lake. The City in partnership with the Lake Elsinore & San Jacinto Watersheds Authority started to plan to attend and present to this group back in November, because at this time we were not sure what the winter would bring in terms of rainfall and wanted to be sure we prepared the City and our community for what we thought could be a very difficult summer this year in terms of the lake’s water quality. But, GREAT NEWS, we got some rain and we are feeling SOOO much better. So, today I am going to share with you, quickly, some of the things we have been doing at the City the last few years in regards to the lake. And, then, I will invite Mark Norton from the Lake Elsinore & San Jacinto Watersheds Authority to come up and tell you more about the water quality of Lake Elsinore and what this JPA has done and is planning in the years to come for Lake Elsinore to impact the long-term overall health of the lake. 1 Southern California’s Largest Natural Freshwater Lake 3,000 Surface Acres 14 Miles of Shoreline 1 Ultimate Destination First, just some facts about the lake that I think really set us apart from many other lakes in Southern California. Well of course we are the LARGEST, which is a blessing, but also a challenge. We have a 3,000 acre recreational playground right in the middle of our City with 14 miles of shoreline that is owned and maintained by many parties including the City, the County and private property owners. But, what is really important is that this 3,000 acre playground is the Ultimate Destination for all types of outdoor, water fun. 2 Lake Elsinore is the Destination for Extreme … Natural Beauty Action Sports Family Fun Wildlife Economic Development It is a destination in the region for so many things including: Natural Beauty – Live in the City, and I have to say just going on my regular walks in the community there is nothing better than seeing the beautiful views at the same time. Wildlife – More than 200 species of birds on lake elsinore, many types of sport fish and so many other critters call this home. Action Sports – any type of outdoor water sport can be done right here in lake elsinore Family Fun Economic Development – available land 3 Our Most Valuable Asset… Lake Elsinore will be the ultimate lake destination where all can live, work and play, build futures and fulfill dreams. And Our Biggest Challenge 4 Projects Boost Lake’s Water Quality Through the years, since the City took over management of Lake Elsinore from the State in the 90s, the water quality of Lake Elsinore has greatly improved and the lake is safe for bodily contact Much of this can be directly credited to the Lake Elsinore Management Project completed in 1995, and more recent efforts by the Lake Elsinore & San Jacinto Watersheds Authority. Over the last 16 years, this organization has made tremendous strides in improving the overall health of the lake. And, I will wait for Mark to share these with you in a few moments. Lake Elsinore is a natural, freshwater lake. Despite all of the improvements through the years, Lake Elsinore remains vulnerable. 5 Challenges for Lake Elsinore Rome Hill Airport Droughts Algae Blooms Flooding Fish Kills Lake Elsinore is considered an impaired water body. It has a high nutrient concentration of phosphorus and nitrogen, which directly impact the quality of the lake’s water quality. Our lake is threatened by many factors, but a few key challenges for the lake for decades have been: Impending Threats: Unstable water levels - times of drying out and flooding, our lake evaporates very quickly – 4 ½ per year – making it extremely vulnerable to drought conditions because we are VERY reliant on Mother Nature for water. Poor water quality – impaired water body that is high in nutrients including Phosphorous and Nitrogen, which can be detrimental to water quality Frequent, large algae blooms Decreased dissolved oxygen levels - Shallow lake, high temperatures Increased possibility of fish kills Public health and safety risks 6 Struggling Lake Levels Since 2005, we have been adding 5 million gallons of recycled water to the lake per day. Offsets approx. 2 to 2.5 feet per year. Offset more than 14 feet of water. After 5 years of drought, last summer, our lake fell to lowest levels since 1993. But, fortunately, this winter we received several storms that brought us much needed rain and we received a Christmas Miracle when on Christmas Eve e water started to flow over the top of the Canyon Lake Dam into Lake Elsinore raising our lake by 8 feet this year. We are currently just above 1240’ above sea level, which is our optimal level for the lake. But, you can also see, we have had much more water in the lake through the years. The last time we were at 1240’ was in 2013 and in just three years water levels fell 8 feet. This summer, we will lose about 2” of water a week, so, we still need more rain and would love to see the water levels climb even higher. 7 Lake Elsinore is a Freshwater Lake Average Rainfall: 11 inches Year Starts July 1 Last year, was the longest sustained drought since FY 1992/1993, which is as far back as I had data for. As you can see, for five years we did not have one year where we were above our average and in fact most years we were well below half of our average of 11 inches – the average for the last 5 years was only 5.68 inches. Railroad Canyon Dam Spillway Elevation – 1381.76’ In 2005, Lake rose nearly 20 ft to 1255’ from 1235’. This winter, the storms caused Canyon Lake to spill over for 4 weeks raising the lake by 8 feet. And, we hope this continues again next winter. 8 Tues. Wed. Thurs. Mon. Fri. Sat. Sun. Dissolved Oxygen Levels Peaks and valleys – sustained DO levels below 4 fish become stressed Mention Aeration Systems 9 Cyanobacteria Cyanobacteria = Blue Green Algae. Naturally occurring with some producing harmful toxins. Harmful Cyanotoxin types in California: Microcystins Anatoxin-a Cylindrospermopsin Visual Evidence - Blooms, scums, mats, etc. Toxins released when cells die or cellular membranes become more permeable. Risk is immediately following the peak or collapse of a bloom. Will dilute and eventually degrade. 10 Risks Associated with Toxins Rashes Eye, nose, mouth or throat irritation Allergic reactions Headaches Gastrointestinal Upset Malaise Animal risks 11 Recommended Detection Limits Triggers Not Formally Adopted or Approved by EPA, Regional Water Board or State Water Board. 12 Recommended Public Notification California Cyanobacteria and Harmful Algal Bloom (CCHAB) Network Blue-Green Algae Draft Voluntary Guidance Document 13 City’s Public Notification Signage for Public & Private Beaches Lake Watch Webpage www.lake-elsinore.org/LakeWatch Emails to Lake Stakeholders Handouts to Boat Launches Social Media Media 27 Notification Signs Installed: 2 – South Beach 1 – Seaport 5 – Elm Grove (Aug.) 1 – Davis 1 – Whiskers 1 – Bushman Street 1 – La Laguna (Sept.) 1 – La Laguna Fishing Derby (Sept.) 3 – La Laguna Swimming Area (Sept.) 1 – Coyote Cove 1 – Road Runner 2 – Elsinore West Marina (Aug.) 1 – Crane 1 – Perret Park 1 – Weekend Paradise 2 – Diamond Stadium 2 – Lakeshore & Spring Street 14 Summer 2013 – Above 1240’ Summer 2014 – Free Boating Days May 2015 – Fish Survey Shows Imbalance July 2015 – Launched Lake Watch August 2015 – Minor Fish Die Off Summer 2016 - Lowest in 23 years July 2016 – Suffer New Blue-Green Algae Blooms Summer 2016 – Lake closes, Reopens to Limited Body Contact Winter 2017 – Lake Elsinore Receives Over 14” of Rain, Toxins Eliminated Managing a Complex Waterbody June 2017 – City Posts Permanent Caution Sign at All Beaches July 2017 – Algae Bloom Occurs, City Changes Caution Signs August 2017 – Minor Fish Die Off Summer 2017 – Toxins Remain Elevated Above Caution Levels February 2018 – City Ends Monitoring April 2018 – No Cyanotoxins, LESJWA ends monitoring May 2018 – Minor Fish Die Off June 2018 – State Water Board Sampling Since 2013, as the water level has declined well below our optimal level, the City has faced some very tough challenges in regards to the lake and we have tried to take appropriate actions to do our best in managing our lake. A combination of extreme heat, low water levels due to the drought and an over abundance of Shad residing in the lake, make the potential for a summer fish kill very likely. As the algae from this most recent algae bloom drops to the bottom of the lake, we would expect it to decompose and further chose the oxygen in the lake. HABs have been increasing worldwide and in California due to increasing water temperatures, higher nutrient concentration and DROUGHT!!!! Harmful algal blooms (HABs) -High enough levels of toxins can cause skin rashes, nose, throat and eye irritation. Microcystis are most common toxic cyanobacteria and produce mycrocystins and can be harmful to humans, pets and wildlife. Parts of Shasta Lake, pyramid lake, canyon lake, and many other waterbodies in the States Fish population study showed fishery imbalance. Dissolved oxygen levels declining. Increasing sustained, overnight temps of 90+ degrees. Lake Watch Launched in July 2015. Partnership between LESJWA & City. Plan, prepare and proactively pursue solutions to preserve Lake Elsinore. Leverage partnerships to quickly and effectively address lake concerns. Engage, educate and spread awareness. Minimize negative impacts. 15 Fish Die Offs 2015 August 5 - 8: 10 tons August 10 – 11: 4 tons August 19: 6 tons 2017 August 3 – 5: 2 tons 2018 May 26 - 2002 2009 1998 2015 16 2 Boat Launches & Public Beaches 3 Fishing Beaches Creating the Ultimate Destination 1 Ultimate Experience In the midst of these challenges, the City has remained focused on one of our goals – GET PEOPLE OUT THERE ON OUR LAKE We have several amenities that we own and operate on the lake that we are investing in to create places visitors and residents want to go to enjoy the lake. This includes; 3 Dedicated Fishing Beaches – Last year, improved Whisker’s Fishing Beach 2 Boat Launches – Seaport remains inoperable, but hopeful to reopen in the future 1 RV Resort - work has begun on the NEW La Laguna Resort & Boat Launch, this project will be completed next year and will create the ultimate experience on the largest natural fresh water lake for families and outdoor enthusiast who want to create amazing stories and lasting memories. 2 Public Beaches, - Elm Grove and La Laguna, Elm Grove was improved years ago and soon La Laguna And endless opportunities 17 Reduced Lake Use Fees Invited New Concessionaires New Recreational Programs La Laguna Resort & Boat Launch Renovations Increased Fish Stocking Program Expanded Fishing Areas More Recreational Opportunities, i.e. swimming, night boating, inflatables, etc. Pumping Up Namesake … In recent years, the City has already made great strides to increase recreation at lake elsinore including Reducing day and annual lake use fees in 2014 Allowing designated swimming areas at city beaches in 2015 Inviting and securing new concessionaires to the lake including aqua flyboarding, PWC rentals and Paddleboarding/Kayak rentals Creating new recreational programming on the lake Reestablishing the operation and management of La Laguna Resort & Boat Launch And, most recently our efforts to establish an ongoing fish stocking program to improve the fishery of the lake and attract anglers 18 What’s Next for Lake Elsinore Fish Population Survey Design new Signage Capture Economic Development Opportunities Ongoing Water Quality Monitoring Seek Federal and State Support Research Funding/Revenue Opportunities Collaboration and Communication with Regional Partners and Community. Explore short and long-term strategies for overall health of Lake Elsinore 19 Lake Elsinore is SAFE, it is OPEN and we highly encourage you to GET OUT THERE ON THE LAKE