The non-toxic Azolla fern crept into the Tilden lake’s swimming area for the second year in a row. The park district’s new aquatic harvester will clear the fern.
Lake Anza
Posted inCommunity
Lake Anza is open to swimmers — for now — after retreat of squishy fern and toxic algae
The Tilden watering hole is officially open to swimming for the first summer since 2019.
Posted inNature
Hungry deer, shrinking ponds, speeding golf balls: the drought’s toll around Berkeley
Strawberry Creek and the city’s trees are doing OK, but Lake Anza is unswimmable, turtles are getting run over by cars and wild pigs may be moving in.
Posted inCommunity
Part 2: Your favorite places, inspired by Berkeley Rep’s Place/Settings
They include the once bustling scene on Telegraph Avenue, a sign in a pool hall, Totland, Berkeley Iceland, Lake Anza and, of course, the Codornices slide.
Posted inCrime & Safety, Nature
Toxic algae force closure of Lake Anza to swimmers
Lake Anza South Swim Beach photographed Aug. 29. Photo: Hal MacLean The East Bay Regional Park District has closed Lake Anza to swimming due to high levels of toxic algae. The decision was made after tests showed the toxin Microcystin had reached dangerous levels, and the news came before the official swim season ends next […]
Posted inCommunity, Nature
After rains, some East Bay lakes now free of toxic algae
Lake Anza is expected to re-open for swimming in April, now that the algae is gone. Photo: Josh S. Jackson Recent rains have cleared toxic algae from several East Bay lakes, including Tilden’s Lake Anza, East Bay Regional Park District officials have announced. That means, unless the algae returns, some popular swimming spots will re-open come […]
Posted inCrime & Safety, Nature
How the California-wide drought is affecting Berkeley
Camphor trees line many streets in Berkeley, including Sonoma Avenue, here. Planted decades ago, many of the camphors are nearing the end of their natural lifespan, but the drought is dispatching them even more quickly. A camphor at the end of the right row here was removed this summer, as well as two more around […]
Posted inCommunity, Nature
Lake Anza closed to swimming due to toxic algae
Toxic algae can be highly visible, or not visible at all. In the photo above, algae can be seen at Lake Anza on Sept. 17. Photo: Sunshine Townsend/East Bay Regional Park District The East Bay Regional Park District has just closed Lake Anza, in Tilden Regional Park, to swimming due to high levels of toxic […]
Posted inCommunity, Schools
A mother’s day, the Berkeley way
Jane Stillwater with her daughter Ruby in 1979. Photo: Jane Scherr. Jane Stillwater is the quintessential Berkeley mom. After reading our recent coverage of the “Your Mom is So Berkeley” website, she wrote this delightful account of her quintessential Berkeley Mothers’ Day. Stillwater, a grandmother as well as a mom, has four children and lives in […]
