RESTORE LAKE MERCED
Our Mission is to restore the Lake Merced ecosystem, repair water quality, and significantly expand public access and amenities through a coalition of organizations and people in the public and private sectors.
We envision a safe and healthy Lake Merced that thrives as a recreational hub and sets the standard for urban watershed stewardship.
OUR PARTNERS
An artist’s birds eye view of Lake Merced in 1868 shows the lake draining into the ocean. Image: George H. Goddard, Library of Congress (image courtesy San Francisco Tomorrow)
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LAKE
Lake Merced has been many things: a hunting and fishing ground for Ramaytush-speaking people, a lagoon connected to the Pacific ocean, a destination for recreation of all sorts, a watering hole for grizzly bears, the site of a high-profile duel, and always the heart of a vast ecosystem. In the early 1900’s it had a reputation with high-ranking guests of the city due to the incredible diversity of fish that had entered the lake during its connection to the pacific in the 1850s.
Since the urbanization of San Francisco’s west side and the destruction of much of its watershed over the past 100 years, Lake Merced has suffered serious ecological decline. Various efforts are made by the Public Utilities Commission to maintain water quality, yet it remians classified as an impaired body of water, considered unsafe for human contact and requiring constant chemical intervention.
Lake Merced still plays a pivotal role in the westside’s hydrology and the coastal ecoystem: thousands of migratory birds rest on the lake each year and the surrounding wetlands serve as a breeding ground for over 50 avian species.
We aim to help Lake Merced restore a more natural balance in its waters that let it serve its animal, plant, and human neighbors better.
Further Reading
WNP History of Lake Merced Area
SFPUC History of Lake Merced
SF Tomorrow History of Lake Merced
View west from near today's Lake Merced Blvd. and Winston Drive, circa 1910, - Willard E. Worden (image courtesy WNP)
GET INVOLVED
Don’t hesitate to reach out with any inquiries or suggestions.