How many miles long is Lake Merritt?
A popular walking and jogging path runs along its Lake perimeter. The circumference of the lake is 3.4 miles (5.5 km) and its area is 155 acres (63 ha). The lake was originally an arm of San Francisco Bay formed where several creeks empty into the bay.
How many creeks are in Lake Merritt?
Lake Merritt is also an outlet for 5 or more freshwater creeks running through Oakland and for 62 storm drains. The creeks include the Park Boulevard Creek, Indian Gultch Trestle Glen Creek, Wildwood Creek, Pleasant Valley Creek, Glen Echo Creek, and a few other small ones.
Did you know Lake Merritt is a wildlife refuge?
Another thing no one seems to know is that Lake Merritt is the nations very first declared Wildlife Refuge. Declared by Dr. Samuel Merritt himself when he was mayor of Oakland back in 1869 and it was approved in 1870. Today the Bird Sanctuary is just the 5 man made bird islands which began construction in 1925.
Where is Lake Merritt located in Oakland?
Lake Merritt is a large tidal lagoon in the center of Oakland, California, just east of Downtown.
How long is a lap around Lake Merritt?
3.2 mileLake Merritt 5K Loop Trail is a 3.2 mile (7,500-step) route located near Oakland, California, USA. This route has an elevation gain of about 72.2 ft and is rated as easy. Find the best walking trails near you in Pacer App. Enjoy this 3.1 mile loop trail all the way around Lake Merritt in Oakland, CA.
How long is the walk around Lake Merritt?
3.2-mileWelcome, ! Enjoy this 3.2-mile loop trail near Oakland, California. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 57 min to complete.
How many miles is it around Lake Merritt in Oakland?
140 acresLake Merritt / Area
Can you bike around Lake Merritt?
Experience all the best sights near Lake Merritt as we start in Uptown Oakland, pedal into Lakeside Park and explore the hot spots surrounding the lake.
Where do you park to walk around Lake Merritt?
Parking and Trail Access At the north end of the trail, parking is available at Lakeside Park (468 Perkins Street) for a small fee. Street parking is available at the foot of the Cleveland Cascade (approximately 2300 Lakeshore Avenue), and along many of the residential streets near the lake.
Is the area around Lake Merritt safe?
Yes, the Lake Merritt area is one of the safest and most upscale areas in Oakland. In addition, one section is very near the Federal Courthouse and there are law enforcement officers in the area all the time.
Can you swim in Lake Merritt?
20 answers. Lake Merritt is not a swimming lake. It is a brackish lake, mostly salt water with a little fresh water coming in from some seasonal streams.
How clean is Lake Merritt?
The EPA has listed Lake Merritt as an impaired water body, citing low dissolved oxygen levels and trash. “We have 62-plus storm drains that drain into Lake Merritt, and the urban runoff from 7 square miles.
How deep is Lake Merritt in Oakland?
10′Lake Merritt / Max depth
Are dogs allowed at Lake Merritt?
Dogs are not allowed inside the park or lake. However, if you keep your dog leashed, you can walk the perimeter (furthest outside) sidewalk. You'll want to remember this rule, since a $270 ticket could be imposed if you venture into the park. It has a nice approximately 3 mile perimeter path that winds around the lake.
Where can I take my bike in Oakland?
5 great bike rides in OaklandEmbarcadero to Martin Luther King, Jr. Shoreline –17 miles.Port of Oakland–8 to 13 miles.Montclair to Skyline–20 miles.Old tunnel road–17 miles.Bay trail through Emeryville–6 to 30 miles.
How long is Lake Merced?
Intro. Tucked into the southwestern corner of San Francisco, the 4.5-mile loop around Lake Merced is great spot for a traffic-free run with a lovely dose of nature in the urban environs of San Francisco.
How many acres are there in Lake Merritt?
There is a fairy-tale themed amusement park called Children's Fairyland. The Gardens at Lake Merritt is also inside Lakeside Park. It is a 7.5 acre garden which contains seven themed gardens (Japanese, Mediterranean, Bonsai and more) as well as community garden plots for growing food.
When was Lake Merritt built?
Children's Fairyland is a 10-acre park designed by William Russell Everett, and built in 1950 in Lakeside Park. When Walt Disney was planning Disneyland, he visited Children's Fairyland for ideas.
Why is Lake Merritt a problem?
Because storm drains in downtown Oakland and surrounding areas drain directly into the lake, trash and nutrient pollution have become the largest problems affecting Lake Merritt. Increased levels of chemicals like nitrogen and phosphorus cause algae blooms, which deplete the water of oxygen. Aeration fountains, funded by donations, have been installed to help with this problem. "Water quality in an area of about one acre around each unit is improved by the transfer of oxygen from the air, and by mixing the top and bottom layers of the Lake." A proposed aeration system was never approved by the City of Oakland.
What are the fish that live in Lake Merritt?
Fish in Lake Merritt include bat rays and gobies. Molluscs include sea hares, bay mussels, and oysters. Crustaceans include barnacles and Transorchestia enigmatica, which is a talitridae found only in Lake Merritt.
What are the plants in Lake Merritt?
This theme of diversity in the park landscape has continued with landscape renovations. The lake's iconic plant is the New Zealand tea tree ( Leptospermum sp.), which grows with picturesque gnarled branches along the water's edge.
What lawsuit was filed against Lake Merritt?
The renovation of Lake Merritt, paid for with money from Measure DD, was briefly stalled by an environmental review lawsuit intended to prevent cutting trees around the lake, which was filed in 2006 by a group of concerned residents, "Friends of the Lake".
When was Lake Merritt designated as an ODL?
Designated ODL. 1980. 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. Lake Merritt is a large tidal lagoon in the center of Oakland, California, just east of Downtown. It is surrounded by parkland and city neighborhoods. It is historically significant as the United States' first official wildlife refuge, designated in 1870, ...
How long does it take to walk around Lake Merritt?
Well at 3.1 miles long and the average human walking 3 to 4 miles per hour it would take 45 minutes to an hour. But you should give yourself more time to walk around Lake Merritt because you’re going to want to soak it all in, sit on a bench or two, people watch, lay in the grass, etc. Creeks.
What creeks are in Lake Merritt?
The creeks include the Park Boulevard Creek, Indian Gultch Trestle Glen Creek, Wildwood Creek, Pleasant Valley Creek, Glen Echo Creek, and a few other small ones. Here is a Black Crowned Night Heron at Lake Merritt.
What birds live in Lake Merritt?
Lake Merritt Birds. The lake is home to many types of birds including but not limited to the Black Crowned Night Heron, Great Blue Herons, California Brown Pelicans as well as White Pelicans, Mallard Ducks, Cormorants, Snowy Egrets, Great Egrets, Cranes, Forester Terns, Canadian Geese, Coots and many more! With the wildlife refuge, it is truly ...
Where is the new Lake Merritt bridge?
This is the new Lake Merritt bridge you can walk over on 14th Ave. The Nations First Wildlife Refuge. Another thing no one seems to know is that Lake Merritt is the nations very first declared Wildlife Refuge. Declared by Dr. Samuel Merritt himself when he was mayor of Oakland back in 1869 and it was approved in 1870.
Is Lake Merritt a man made lake?
For one, I often hear that Lake Merritt is a man-made lake as if it never were. Truth is it is not even really a lake when you get all technical. It is a natural saltwater tidal lagoon connected to the Oakland / Alameda Estuary. So that means the Bay and yes the Pacific Ocean.
Does Lake Merritt have a restaurant?
Lake Merritt also has a restaurant now! The Lake Chalet Oakland which is a semi-new establishment right on the water that I encourage you to check out. They have a deck on the water and great Happy Hours every day from 3pm to 6pm and 9pm to close.
How many acres is Lake Merritt?
Lake Merritt is 3.4 miles in circumference, covering 155 acres of land. The depth varies based on the amount of water filtering in from the estuary and the amount of rainfall. There are several parks and amenities nearby that you can enjoy including: Lake Merritt was originally part of the San Francisco Bay.
What is the history of Lake Merritt?
Lake Merritt was originally part of the San Francisco Bay. In 1869, Dr. Samuel Merritt donated 155 acres that included the headwaters of Indian Slough and money to build a dam at the 12th Street Bridge, across the "neck" of the inlet. This created the present day lake.
When was Lake Merritt declared a national park?
Dr. Merritt declared the lake a National Wildlife Refuge in 1869. On March 18th, 1870, Lake Merritt became the first protected wildlife refuge in America. The dam was built to regulate the tidal water flow and increase the water level. In 1915, organized feedings of the wild ducks began. 10 years later, the first bird island was built, ...
When was Lake Merritt's necklace of lights lit?
In 1925, Lake Merritt's Necklace of Lights was lit for the first time during the Dons of Peralta Water Festival. The Necklace of Lights has 126 lampposts, each given by an organization or an individual along with 3,400 pearly bulbs.
What birds are in the lake?
From time to time, brown pelicans and great blue herons make an appearance on the lake. Occasionally, strange and exotic birds such as Egyptian geese and Mandarin ducks make an appearance in the nature center as well. There are sightings of less obvious winter visitors too.
Overview
Lake Merritt is a large tidal lagoon in the center of Oakland, California, just east of Downtown. It is surrounded by parkland and city neighborhoods. It is historically significant as the United States' first official wildlife refuge, designated in 1870, and has been listed as a National Historic Landmark since 1963, and on the National Register of Historic Places since 1966. The lake feat…
History
The lake was originally an arm of San Francisco Bay formed where several creeks empty into the bay. It was surrounded by 1,000 acres (4 km ) of wetlands when the Ohlone people fished, hunted and gathered food along its shores. By 1810, the remaining Native Americans were removed to Mission San José and the estuary and 44,800 acres (181 km ) of surrounding land was deeded to Ser…
Necklace of lights
A "necklace of lights" encircles Lake Merritt. Featuring 126 lampposts and 3,400 "pearly bulbs", the necklace was first lit in 1925. In 1941, the lights were removed to comply with World War II blackout conditions. After a decade-long campaign by the Lake Merritt Breakfast Club, the lights were again illuminated in 1987.
During Oakland's annual gay pride celebration, the city replaces the white bulb…
Wildlife
The lake features a healthy year-round population of birds. It sees seasonal fluctuations in the types of birds that call the lake home.
Year round, the lake is home to many Canada geese and moderate numbers of black-crowned night heron, great egret, snowy egret, cormorant, American coot, and western gull. There are also small mallard duck and pelican (both American …
Plants
Although native trees such as coast live oak and California buckeye are present, most of the park bordering Lake Merritt has been landscaped with plants from around the world. As early as 1910, City Park Commissioners recognized Oakland as a city of immigrants, and felt that "visitors to the park would want to see plants from their native lands". This theme of diversity in the park landscape has continued with landscape renovations. The lake's iconic plant is the New Zealan…
Cleanup and restoration
Because storm drains in downtown Oakland and surrounding areas drain directly into the lake, trash and nutrient pollution have become the largest problems affecting Lake Merritt. Increased levels of chemicals like nitrogen and phosphorus cause algae blooms, which deplete the water of oxygen. Aeration fountains, funded by donations, have been installed to help with this problem. "…
Measure DD improvements
Measure DD, a $198 million Oakland City park bond measure, passed with 80% voter approval in 2002. The measure improved the lake area by adding park space and altering the surrounding infrastructure. One example is on Lake Merritt's south shore, where the previous configuration of 12th Street (six lanes in each direction) was considered a deterrent to pedestrian and bicycle acces…
See also
• List of lakes in California
• List of lakes in the San Francisco Bay Area