LakeMerritt.org

Welcome Lake Merritt in Oakland, California is one of the most unique urban spaces in the United States. Its three mile heart-shaped shoreline in the center of an exceptionally diverse city is the place for man and nature to migrate and mingle daily. This tidal lagoon is also home to the oldest designated wildlife refuge (1870) in the United States.

lakemerritt.org is an independent, ad-free site with current information about Lake Merritt and links to the volunteer groups and advocacy agencies working for the common good of the lake and the lake area community. It also serves as the portal for the LM Advocates, a coalition of LM organizations.
Underlined words are links.

View Calendar for on-going activities and things to do
Lake Merritt Links lists important advocacy organizations in support of the lake & the lakeside area.
Volunteer page is being developed and will coordinate LM events involving volunteering
Birds and Gardens webpages showcase the lake park's natural diversity. Also, visual guide to lakeside birds.
Recreation links opportunities for boating, biking, croquet, lawn bowling, running and acro-yoga
LM Projects has current info on Measure DD improvements
View Park Info, map & info on rental fees, parking, grilling and restroom locations.
Contact for LM questions, comments, and/or suggestions.
Archives has photos of past projects and events at LM

7 creeks flow into Lake Merritt Watershed ©Oakland Public Works

News, Updates, & Upcoming Events:

Upcoming Events Next 30+ days
Also see Calendar for event info and on-going activities

June 22, LakeFest 2019, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
June 23, LM Joggers & Striders Race, 9 -11
June 23, Performance Encore @ Bellevue Club, 7-9:30pm
June 26, Lakeside Park Bird Walk (free), 9:30 a.m.
July 4, Oakland Municipal Band Free Concert, 1 - 3
July 6, Cleveland Cascades Volunteering, 9 - 12
July 6, Gardens at Lake Merritt Volunteers, 9 - 12
July 10, Park & Rec Advisory Commission, 4:30
July 14, Oakland Municipal Band Free Concert, 1 - 3
July 18, Lake Merritt Advocate Meeting 4:30 - 6 p.m.
July 20, Gardens at Lake Merritt Volunteers, 9 - 12

FAQOakland Parks permit and rental phone contact is 510-238-3187. Oakland Parks Reservation info.

Letters in support of more Oakland Parks Funding.
Snow Park re-opened June 10

Bird Walk Free Lakeside Park bird walks the fourth Wednesday of each month. Lead by knowledgable and experienced Audubon guides. Meet at geodesic dome near the Nature Center, June 26, 9:30 a.m.. Birding list in Birds

OAKLAND named one of the 28 best places to visit in 2019 by National Geographic Travel.

ALGAE... grows in large quantities during the spring and early summer, but only in the shoreline area where depths are four feet or less. Although a very beneficial part of the food chain, it becomes a nuisance when there is too much of it, causing odors and depleting oxygen levels when it decays. Algae is kept in check by removal with the harvester boat.
.... several types of algae grow vigorously in the shallow waters. Most common are light green filaments of Cladophora and Enteromorpha, along with the darker green sea lettuce (Ulva). This growth is limited to 20 - 25 feet of the shoreline where the water is only zero to four feet deep. At greater depths, light penetration is not sufficient for growth. By mid-May, algae may cover the entire shoreline area out to deeper water, blanketing the area in bright green where only murkywater existed just a month before. Towers of algae billow up, providing both shelter and food for both fish and invertebrates...." excerpt from A Year In The Life of Lake Merritt, by Lake Merritt Institute, copyright 2002.

Lakeside Park, Lake Merritt, Oakland CA