Oakland nonprofit fundraising to help Lake Merritt avert another fish die-off
The Lake Merritt Institute, a nonprofit that helps to clean and monitor the health of Lake Merritt in Oakland, says the recent rains in the Bay Area have sent lots of fresh water and pollution into Lake Merritt. The weather-related changes have also stoked fears that the fish die-off in the lake last summer could repeat this summer. The Lake Merritt Institute is ramping up fundraising efforts in hopes of curbing conditions that could fuel a repeat die-off. In the summer of 2022, thousands of dead fish washed up in Lake Merritt as a “red tide” algae bloom spread in the lake and across the surrounding San Francisco Bay. At Lake Merritt, visitors reported strong smells from all the dead fish, and crews had to scoop the dead fish up and out of the water. Visitors reported seeing striped bass, top smelt, crabs, and even bat rays among the dead wildlife.