COMMENT 290851P
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2012-06-24 07:33 AM |
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Wow! Those pictures certainly appear to indicate something is indeed very wrong with the water quality. Boo Any ideas out there what might be a quick fix besides draining & drying it out?
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COMMENT 290858
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2012-06-24 07:57 AM |
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A quick fix would have been to put a harbor there.
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COMMENT 290870
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2012-06-24 08:29 AM |
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is it possible to drain it and rehabilitate the pond?
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COMMENT 290876
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2012-06-24 08:38 AM |
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Pretty much describes sb to me, fowl, rank and unlivable.
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COMMENT 290877P
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2012-06-24 08:39 AM |
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Interesting pictures, John. The part that smells the strongest is the narrow neck near the zoo/ocean; I wonder if that is the strongest? I was down there last evening and there was little smell near the Los Patos, but the smell was strong along Cabrillo and, especially the narrow part. It's a natural occurrence and, hopefully, can be ameliorated. Unfortunately, neither Jill Zachary (those who remember her from Creeks know well!) nor the arrogant Mr. Escobar (any member of the public who's attempted to ask his help knows well that public service is not within his competence) are competent.
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COMMENT 290877P
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2012-06-24 08:41 AM |
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Should have written, I wonder if that is the shallowest? It most definitely is the strongest smelling.
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SBJULES
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2012-06-24 09:08 AM |
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Considering that this happens every year; that'a a cheap shot at Jill Zachary & Mr. Escobar. Perhaps the city should put in a claim to the Clark Estate; it is named for her sister after all.
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COMMENT 290895P
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2012-06-24 09:24 AM |
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They oughtta just drain the damn thing and build a Target there.
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COMMENT 290897
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2012-06-24 09:32 AM |
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The pics are terrific. I am wondering what is best for the animals and fish that inhabit this marsh/estuary/whatever it is. I dont get the politics, but seems with so much citizen concern, a big local volunteer effort could be made to clean it up a bit if that is what is needed. I hear lots of voices of concern, maybe those affected could create an action plan, and use their knowledge to enact positive change. Seems like it would be hard for any governmental group to say no to a free fix.
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COMMENT 290900
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2012-06-24 09:41 AM |
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Hi folks!!.....Guess what?....this is not a "natural" occurance!....the water here flowed quite nicely until Andre' Clark had her Daddy drain & refill the place. Ever since then,the bird refuge has created this unhealthy condition yearly. The funk of it all is a MAN made situation....
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COMMENT 290903
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2012-06-24 09:44 AM |
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Very revealing photo.. a picture is worth a thousand words... This "refuge", this body of water, is no longer a refuge for anything. It is significantly both contaminated and polluted due to ongoing mismanagement. A permanent long term solution that will enable this pond to recover in a sustainable way, to exist with a healthy dynamic between animals, plants and the community must be implemented asap. It can be done.. other cities have faced this same issue and have implemented effective remediation which has in fact restored "dying" lakes/ponds to a healthy state. The refuge is in a constant unhealthy state...it is toxic... and cannot recover "naturally' year after year.. not with what gets dumped into it on a continual basis.
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COMMENT 290906
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2012-06-24 09:49 AM |
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Wow these pics really sum it up. What can be done?
Isnt it interesting that the year Miss Clark died the lake is dying too?
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COMMENT 290908P
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2012-06-24 09:55 AM |
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Since this lake is now of no ecological benefit I think we should build a Target or some other commercial endeavor. A Target could employ lots of our unemployed and contribute significan sales tax to our local government.
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COMMENT 290877P
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2012-06-24 10:33 AM |
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SBJules, not a cheap shot; you must not have attempted to talk with/work with Mr. Escobar on park issues. We did and he won: we won't ever try again and get the hostile reaction from that City employee. But as for the Bird Refuge, hopefully, it will never be converted into residential or commercial usage. Not only would that be a very sad loss of open space, but probably in contradiction to the terms of the gift. Surely, there are solutions; this can not be a unique problem. 1342282 notes other cities have solutions and, I agree, it appears to be ongoing mismangement. It does not happen every year or not like this, in this intensity, but probably only in the very dry years where there's not been refilling runoff. This has been going on now for weeks and the only "solution" coming from the city seems to be a small boat churning around for some hours. Has Ms. Zachary reached out to other cities, reached out to UCSB, for instance, and the Bren School? And if so what have been the responses?
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COMMENT 290944P
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2012-06-24 11:32 AM |
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I spent some time in Colorado and the ponds there have paddle wheel type pumps that churn the water for aeration 24/7. Why can't the city do that? Seems to work in CO. Using a small boat and two employees to solve a problem that never should have happened in the first place is a bit strange and probably more costly in the long run.
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ANIMALLISTNER
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2012-06-24 11:46 AM |
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Thanks for the birds eye view, and perspective! VERY distressing and sad... I hear that even the crawfish are crawling out and dying....
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JOHN WILEY
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2012-06-24 11:48 AM |
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Interesting discussion. Seems to be a very difficult problem for a long term fix. Looks like the creek's covered going under the west end of the golf course. It enters the refuge near the northwest tip just above the east end of the smallest island in the closeup pic. The drainage area may all be in the city limits (click for PDF download), judging by the basic topography in gMaps terrain. So maybe a short term fix would be to supervise some volunteer boaters to drive around and churn it up. Then get all the drainage area property owners to reduce nutrient runoff. Prohibit feeding ducks during dry season. Coax UCSB environmental student(s) to investigate inexpensive natural measures with non-invasive plants & animals. Maybe see if there's a spot to add a culvert upstream to increase the runoff to the refuge? Of course, getting everyone working together would take time and City funds at a time when both are scarce. Fun to sit (or fly over) and imagine what could be done though. :)
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COMMENT 290956P
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2012-06-24 11:58 AM |
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In 1913, a harbor plan for this area, The Salt Pond, was proposed by an engineer named Brackinridge. The SB Historical Society has a drawing of the plan.
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COMMENT 290877P
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2012-06-24 01:35 PM |
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Interesting suggestions, John! As for prohibiting feeding the ducks, it is prohibited now all-year-round, but people pay no attention and think, if they do, that they are helping. They are not. I wonder about Los Carneros, does that ever stink? Perhaps it doesn't have the runoff that is at the Bird Refuge from the Montecito Country Club. Perhaps the Club would help with solutions? If there were a harbor there, imagine the regular dredging (and the costs) that would be required, millions of dollars.
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ROGER DODGER
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2012-06-24 01:56 PM |
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Amazing pictures John..Thank You for taking them..The supposed natural occurance which takes place every year has gone on far too long this time. Those in charge have no idea why? While some might see the criticism of those in charge to be "A cheap shot" Those in charge should know what is going on. I don't know much about anything but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell that the Bird Refuge needs a good cleaning out. As far as solutions money and volunteers seems to be good but where is it all going to come from?
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COMMENT 290986
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2012-06-24 02:40 PM |
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The water quality of the Bird Refuge is a serious matter; the eutrophication occurring there and which is re occurring is water pollution using a scientific term; this process in fact does cause the water to become oxygen depleted, which then causes the animals and plants in that environment to which depend on oxygen rich water to die.. very simple. Which many of us actually saw occurring earlier this week. This is why it is of great interest to read the interviews SB Parks and Rec Jill Zachary gave regarding the "stink" ...saying its "okay", and further that "we have not observed turtles or crustaceans jumping out of the lake for oxygen" is blatantly misleading ... While the "we" may mean City employees, the implication is that the event did not occur at all.....that these "reports" are just much ado about nothing... but it in fact this DID occur and many of us were witness to it. For Ms Zachary to state further that "eutrophication is not harmful to the creatures in the lake" is inaccurate to say the least.... just do a literature search or google to see the causes and effects of eutrophication..... lack of oxygen = guess what...smothering.. death...; aeration from a pump.. permanent and on going.. solar or otherwise is one part of a long term restoration and solution... its a start at least.
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COMMENT 291001
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2012-06-24 03:58 PM |
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Like pea soup, John yuk!- Last Thurs. eve. traveling north on the 101 freeway with the windows closed -Whooo-wee - immediately realized odor was emanating from the bird refuge - Aeration is the only natural fix - the stench is getting worse. In the past the refuge had attracted beautiful migratory birds - as long as I can remember there has been a slight odor at certain times of the year - wonder if anyone has done a study of bird feeding patterns and if some species are no longer feeding there?
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COMMENT 290877P
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2012-06-24 04:09 PM |
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Here are the addresses for contacting the City Parks and Rec link; Nancy Rapp is the head. It would be a good idea to cc the mayor and council: link. The city administrator's address is here: Jim Armstrong who hires the division heads and is himself appointed by the Council. Perhaps copy/paste 1342292's which summarizes the issue, and linking to John Wiley's photos.
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COMMENT 290851P
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2012-06-24 04:29 PM |
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Thanks, 877P. I feel if a large number of devoted EdHatters start making contacts from your list, spread the word to others via email & voice, and keep the full court press up all summer, something might just happen. This is literally a big STINKING problem. Ever wonder what all the tourists who attempt to walk, skate, pedal, & drive by this think? Yuk!
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COMMENT 291046
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2012-06-24 07:04 PM |
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Other places use floating electric pumps that create an ornamental 15' fountain while aerating the water. Three of those puppies would probably solve the problem and would only have to run when oxygen level is low.
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COMMENT 291079P
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2012-06-25 05:26 AM |
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Great pics. Clearly an issue of circulation, as the brown water is least stagnant, closer to the outflow point. I agree that a few large scale oxygenation pumps are needed and I'd say fast. Put them at the perimeter areas where really green from algae bloom. Some aeration needs to go on year runs because yes, fertilizer is flowing in year round from properties, zoo manure, golf course effluent. When we have rains, I presume the blooms fade from flushing that occurs.
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COMMENT 291082
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2012-06-25 06:31 AM |
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Santa Barbara's Salton Sea!
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FRESHPAVEMENT
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2012-06-25 07:25 AM |
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Eutrophication is not uncommon, and for those unfamiliar here is a link to the USGS definition of the term: http://toxics.usgs.gov/definitions/eutrophication.html Here are a number of very good (and not overly-technical) articles on the subject at the Stormwater magazine website: http://www.stormh2o.com/SW/Search.aspx?search=eutrophication Here is a link to the web site of the manufacturer of one of those "floating pumps" referred to above: http://www.solarbee.com/
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COMMENT 291158
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2012-06-25 09:54 AM |
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Heal the Ocean and Creaks is the reason it is like this.. Remember that this used to be open to the Ocean. The water used to enter and exit the "Pond" with High Tide.. Now the water is not allowed to leave as it is deemed unfit for our Water ways.. So when you interfere with nature you get a stinky mess.. This is the Fault of the City and County trying to Heal the Ocean and Creeks.. Open it back up so the water can get out and it will be fixed..
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COMMENT 291194
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2012-06-25 11:25 AM |
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My 5-year old son and I were driving by on the 101 yesterday and he asked if I farted. How do I explain that we can let something like this happen? I wish I had just farted. It would be much easier to explain.
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ROGER DODGER
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2012-06-25 11:27 AM |
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I wonder how many people living close to this sitution is ill. Got a weird cold breathing this mess?
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COMMENT 291265
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2012-06-25 02:44 PM |
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Property values around East Beach are going down by the day. Buy Buy Buy!
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COMMENT 291268
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2012-06-25 03:10 PM |
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We can smell it up on the riviera in the morning. This is insane!
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COMMENT 291302
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2012-06-25 06:31 PM |
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The lake always being there and never drying up is manmade - it used to be a creek drainage to the ocean (Goleta Slough, Hendry's, Carp, are similar). Get the creek to flow again and let it flood and dry with the rainfall and problem will be solved. Of course there won't be this pretty little landmark next to the zoo for people to ride by and see the birds (when it doesn't smell like a giant farted). Humans still haven't learned that putting manmade things in places where water normally rules is going to ultimately be a problem.
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ROGER DODGER
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2012-06-26 07:12 AM |
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@194 Ha,ha,ha..@268 I know were only suppose to smell it on the East Side. It's too bad the whole mess could not be transported to City Hall...They deserve to smell it poo! I mean too!
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COMMENT 291597
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2012-06-26 03:06 PM |
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I no longer live in SB although I've left my heart there but I am shocked...alot of complaining and no one offering any solution except for ONE person out of 34 comments who offered appropriate emails to send complaints to? If it stunk and wildlife was dying, I would bombard/have everyone I know, bombard the news outlets and get some exposes done on the subject. I would not stop until something was done! This is truly heart-wrenching and horrifying. This has been going on for years with abject complacency. It's time the city put a stop to the terrorism of our wildlife as well as populace!
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