Eyesore or preservation? Concerns arise over Lodi Lake fencing, access
City balances priorities as erosion worsens at park
With the ongoing erosion crisis at Lodi Lake, the recent installation of fencing in certain areas of the park was a necessary measure to keep the issue from worsening, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director Jeff Hood said in response to concerned dog owners as well as citizens who feel the fencing is an eyesore.
Chris Troy brings his golden retriever Tucker to Lodi Lake frequently, and while he feels like the lake is a great place to bring a dog, he is concerned about some of the new restrictions, including the fencing. Troy said that he would like to have access to those areas but he understands what the city is trying to do.
“My biggest concern is I think there is an inherent conflict when you have acres of off-leash dog area and then you have pathway and then you have more off-leash dog area going into the lake,” he said. “You’ve got people going by walking. You’ve got people walking their dogs, bicyclists and there is conflict because we have more dogs in the area now because the other areas have been restricted.”
He suggested that signage be added to let people know it is an offleash dog area so there is no confusion.
According to Hood, the park has been impacted by erosion for many decades and in some areas its reached a critical point that required specific and immediate measures, including some fencing on the northwest side of the park. The fencing was discussed at a Parks and Recreation Commission meeting last summer in which the commission gave its approval. Installation of the fencing was completed a couple of weeks ago, Hood said.
“We put some fencing up in one area where the lake is about a foot and a half from a concrete path on the west side,” Hood said. “The path was paid for with state grant money and one of the grant conditions is that we protect and maintain that state investment in the park. We’re trying to reestablish some vegetation in those areas and maintain the concrete walkway.”
Hood said there are several other alternatives for concerned dog owners.
“We have a place where people can go to get their dogs up closer to the water which is closer to the cemetery. There are some dawn redwood trees there,” Hood said. “We have other areas where people can have their dogs access the water, but our responsibility is to the taxpayers overall who subsidize maintenance of the park. We need to do what we can to protect the park from more costly expenses down the road. If people want their dogs to drink, we have water fountains. Our primary responsibility is to protect this asset as well as the state’s investment.”
In addition to the designated area near the cemetery, Hood said dogs were previously allowed in the Rotary area but people weren’t picking up after their pets.
“That is an area that we rent to people that are having picnics, and having dogs running loose and defecating in and around the picnic area does not make for a very desirable rental,” he said. “It just wasn’t a good mix. It was also because of the erosion caused by dogs going in and out of the water.”
Hood said there are at least nine acres within the parks system available for dogs. The city’s strategic plan approved by the Lodi City Council indicated that there was more than enough land in Lodi parks for dogs, said Hood, who noted that Beckman Park and Vinewood Park are two of the major spots for people to take their dogs in Lodi.
Hood said that while dogs are one of the major causes of erosion at the lake, there are other contributing factors. In 2006, an engineering study conducted by the city found that wakes from motorized watercraft, the normal course of the river and foot traffic were also identified as major causes of erosion.
The erosion worsened during last winter’s heavy rains, Hood said.
“Erosion continues in the youth area and the amphitheater retaining wall is mostly dropped into the river at this point,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of scouring along the bank this year with the high river flows. We have a long bank and it’s a powerful river and we just have to accept that nature will do what it’s going to do.”
In addition to the youth area and amphitheater being at risk, Hood said there is a chance that the city may have to remove an add-on section of the Rotary picnic shelter which is at the tip of the RV area.
Hood said it’s difficult trying to balance maintaining and preserving the park while providing adequate services to the community, especially with the city’s limited resources.
“We can’t do everything and be everything for everyone so it doesn’t make sense to allow a use that is going to require costly repairs and require costly maintenance we simply can’t afford,” he said.
With the limited resources available, Hood said his department has been looking at ways to get the most bang for its buck.
“I’m hopeful at some point the community will see we need to invest in our parks so it can be the park system that people seem to want.”