Lake El Estero
Encyclopedia
Lake El Estero is part of the building blocks of Monterey, California
and has been classified as a citywide park. Originally a salt-water lagoon, its outlets to the bay were cut off because of over flooding. The 24.7 acres (99,957.4 m²) park has become an estuary to many migrating birds and ongoing improvements have been made into preserving the park. Today Lake El Estero not only draws in many eager adults for its beauty and history but attracts kids for its baseball diamond, skatepark, and world famous Dennis the Menace Park.
. Three major streams flowed into the lagoon. One stream went south to where San Carlos Cathedral currently is. The second went to the location of the County's courthouse. The final stream followed (today's) Del Monte Boulevard and flowed into the bay. In 1770 the first map of Lake El Estero was made by Miguel Costanso, a Spanish officer and engineer in the first expedition to California. The lagoon flooded constantly and in 1846 Walter Colton
, a chaplain for the U.S. Navy, found a solution to the flooding problems. In his diary he wrote that “…it would be a good scheme to cut a channel between the two (the lagoon and the Bay)” (The Years in California, Walter Colton). In April 1874 the Monterey and Salinas Valley
Railroad was built which permanently cut off the stream connecting El Estero to the Bay. This halted the flooding and turned the lagoon into the freshwater lake that we know today.
From 1930 to 1931 efforts were made in turning the lake into an aquatic park. This was called the El Estero Development Project that was led by the City of Monterey. Eighty thousand cubic yards of mud were moved in its development.
El Estero has been a popular resting spot for migrating birds and in 1933 the bird refuge was named after Harry Ashland Greene, who had a great impact in its development.
Between 1938 and 1951 vast improvements were done to the park including “drudging and shoreline plantings (“Monterey City of Parks/ El Estero”)” and “two bridges connecting Pearl with Second and Fifth Streets (“Monterey City of Parks/ El Estero”)”. These new bridges connected downtown with the Oak Grove District.
In 1984 the lake was drained in order to remove 6,000 truckloads of silt, which was clogging drains. People were also worried that there may be bacteria and bird droppings in the mud. Storm drains were rerouted so silt and mud would be dumped into smaller ponds. This allowed workers to remove it easier.
, the Western Gull
, the California Gull
, the Mud hen, the Black-crowned Night Heron
, and the Great Blue Heron
. During the summer the Brown Pelican
comes in from the south. Many ducks live there year round such as the Mallard
. Many others find a home in Lake El Estero such as the Ruddy Duck
, Bufflehead Duck
, and Canada Goose
. Feeding the birds has been prohibited and they rely on local vegetation.
Many other animals live in the waters of Lake El Estero, including the Western Pond Turtle
, Pacific Tree Frog
, Red-legged Frog
, crayfish
, and several varieties of fish such as the Tule Perch
, Sacramento perch
, and Sacramento Blackfish
.
There is a large amount of vegetation in Lake El Estero important to the many organisms that live there. The California Tule of California Bulrush provides a good nesting site for birds and its stems make a refuge for fish. Other commonly seen plants and trees are the Monterey Cypress, the Monterey Pine
, the Cattail, the Coast Live Oak
, the Arroyo Willow, and the Yellow Willow.
and with the help of sculptor Arch Garner, the park opened on November 17, 1956. With a variety of children's play areas, the park became a great success. One of these unique structures is the 1924 locomotive steam engine, donated by the Southern Pacific Railroad
. In 1986 a thorough renovation of the park was done. The renovation was led by architect Richard Murray
and cost at least $300,000. In this renovation a 30 feet (9.1 m) tall rope swing was added along with other new playground equipment.
In 2006 a statue of the parks mascot, Dennis the Menace, was stolen. The bronze statue was ripped from its place, and it is speculated that it might have been melted and sold. A replacement statue was given to the park on March 27, 2007. It was donated by Willis W. and Ethel M. Clark Foundation, founders of the California Test Bureau, now known as CTB McGraw Hill.
Other attractions in Lake El Estero include the El Estero Ball Park, which is used by the Junior League, the Women's Soccer League, and other sport clubs, a dog park, and a skatepark, designed by 40 local skaters.
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
and has been classified as a citywide park. Originally a salt-water lagoon, its outlets to the bay were cut off because of over flooding. The 24.7 acres (99,957.4 m²) park has become an estuary to many migrating birds and ongoing improvements have been made into preserving the park. Today Lake El Estero not only draws in many eager adults for its beauty and history but attracts kids for its baseball diamond, skatepark, and world famous Dennis the Menace Park.
History
When El Estero was first discovered it was a lagoon filled with brackish waterBrackish water
Brackish water is water that has more salinity than fresh water, but not as much as seawater. It may result from mixing of seawater with fresh water, as in estuaries, or it may occur in brackish fossil aquifers. The word comes from the Middle Dutch root "brak," meaning "salty"...
. Three major streams flowed into the lagoon. One stream went south to where San Carlos Cathedral currently is. The second went to the location of the County's courthouse. The final stream followed (today's) Del Monte Boulevard and flowed into the bay. In 1770 the first map of Lake El Estero was made by Miguel Costanso, a Spanish officer and engineer in the first expedition to California. The lagoon flooded constantly and in 1846 Walter Colton
Walter Colton
Rev. Walter Colton was a Chaplain for the United States Navy, the Alcalde of Monterey, and the author of Three Years in California and Deck and Port. He was also co-publisher of California's first newspaper, The Californian....
, a chaplain for the U.S. Navy, found a solution to the flooding problems. In his diary he wrote that “…it would be a good scheme to cut a channel between the two (the lagoon and the Bay)” (The Years in California, Walter Colton). In April 1874 the Monterey and Salinas Valley
Salinas Valley
The Salinas Valley lies south of San Francisco, California.The word "salina" is spanish for salt marsh, salt lake or salt pan.-Geography:The Salinas Valley runs approximately south-east from Salinas towards King City. The valley lends its name to the geologic province in which it's located, the...
Railroad was built which permanently cut off the stream connecting El Estero to the Bay. This halted the flooding and turned the lagoon into the freshwater lake that we know today.
From 1930 to 1931 efforts were made in turning the lake into an aquatic park. This was called the El Estero Development Project that was led by the City of Monterey. Eighty thousand cubic yards of mud were moved in its development.
El Estero has been a popular resting spot for migrating birds and in 1933 the bird refuge was named after Harry Ashland Greene, who had a great impact in its development.
Between 1938 and 1951 vast improvements were done to the park including “drudging and shoreline plantings (“Monterey City of Parks/ El Estero”)” and “two bridges connecting Pearl with Second and Fifth Streets (“Monterey City of Parks/ El Estero”)”. These new bridges connected downtown with the Oak Grove District.
In 1984 the lake was drained in order to remove 6,000 truckloads of silt, which was clogging drains. People were also worried that there may be bacteria and bird droppings in the mud. Storm drains were rerouted so silt and mud would be dumped into smaller ponds. This allowed workers to remove it easier.
An ecosystem
Lake El Estero is an ecosystem that supports large amounts of life and is home to a countless number of birds, fish, and plants. Over 300 species of birds live in Lake El Estero Park. Many birds migrating south stop at the lake to rest such as the Ring-billed GullRing-billed Gull
The Ring-billed Gull is a medium-sized gull.Adults are length and with a wingspan. The head, neck and underparts are white; the relatively short bill is yellow with a dark ring; the back and wings are silver gray; and the legs are yellow. The eyes are yellow with red rims...
, the Western Gull
Western Gull
The Western Gull, Larus occidentalis, is a large white-headed gull that lives on the western coast of North America. It was previously considered conspecific, the same species, with the Yellow-footed Gull of the Gulf of California...
, the California Gull
California Gull
The California Gull Larus californicus is a medium-sized gull, smaller on average than the Herring Gull but larger on average than the Ring-billed Gull, though may overlap in size greatly with both....
, the Mud hen, the Black-crowned Night Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
The Black-crowned Night Heron commonly abbreviated to just Night Heron in Eurasia, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world, except in the coldest regions and Australasia .-Description:Adults are...
, and the Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
The Great Blue Heron is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North and Central America as well as the West Indies and the Galápagos Islands. It is a rare vagrant to Europe, with records from Spain, the Azores and England...
. During the summer the Brown Pelican
Brown Pelican
The Brown Pelican is the smallest of the eight species of pelican, although it is a large bird in nearly every other regard. It is in length, weighs from and has a wingspan from .-Range and habits:...
comes in from the south. Many ducks live there year round such as the Mallard
Mallard
The Mallard , or Wild Duck , is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand and Australia....
. Many others find a home in Lake El Estero such as the Ruddy Duck
Ruddy Duck
The Ruddy Duck is a small stiff-tailed duck.Their breeding habitat is marshy lakes and ponds throughout much of North America, and in South America in the Andes. They nest in dense marsh vegetation near water. The female builds her nest out of grass, locating it in tall vegetation to hide it from...
, Bufflehead Duck
Bufflehead
The Bufflehead is a small American sea duck of the genus Bucephala, the goldeneyes. This species was first described by Linnaeus in his Systema naturae in 1758 as Anas albeola.-Description:...
, and Canada Goose
Canada Goose
The Canada Goose is a wild goose belonging to the genus Branta, which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body....
. Feeding the birds has been prohibited and they rely on local vegetation.
Many other animals live in the waters of Lake El Estero, including the Western Pond Turtle
Western pond turtle
The western pond turtle , or Pacific pond turtle is a small to medium-sized turtle growing to approximately 20 cm in carapace length. It is limited to the west coast of the United States of America and Mexico, ranging from western Washington state to northern Baja California...
, Pacific Tree Frog
Pacific Tree Frog
The Pacific Tree Frog has a range from the West Coast of the United States to British Columbia, in Canada. They live from sea level to more than 10,000 feet in many types of habitats, reproducing in aquatic settings. They are the only frogs that go "ribbit"...
, Red-legged Frog
Red-legged Frog
The Red-legged Frog, a threatened native species in Oregon, is a common name for a particular kind of frog of the west coast of North America. The Red-legged Frog requires stream side, woodland environments for survival...
, crayfish
Crayfish
Crayfish, crawfish, or crawdads – members of the superfamilies Astacoidea and Parastacoidea – are freshwater crustaceans resembling small lobsters, to which they are related...
, and several varieties of fish such as the Tule Perch
Tule perch
The tule perch Hysterocarpus traskii is a surfperch native to the rivers and estuaries of central California, United States of America. It is the sole member of its genus, and the only freshwater surfperch....
, Sacramento perch
Sacramento perch
The Sacramento perch is a sunfish native to the Sacramento–San Joaquin, Pajaro, and Salinas River areas in California but widely introduced throughout the western United States....
, and Sacramento Blackfish
Sacramento Blackfish
The Sacramento blackfish, Orthodon microlepidotus, is a cyprinid fish of central California. It is the sole member of its genus.Blackfish are distinctive for their overall dark color . Younger individuals are more silvery, but darken as they age. The scales are unusually small, counting 90-114...
.
There is a large amount of vegetation in Lake El Estero important to the many organisms that live there. The California Tule of California Bulrush provides a good nesting site for birds and its stems make a refuge for fish. Other commonly seen plants and trees are the Monterey Cypress, the Monterey Pine
Monterey Pine
The Monterey Pine, Pinus radiata, family Pinaceae, also known as the Insignis Pine or Radiata Pine is a species of pine native to the Central Coast of California....
, the Cattail, the Coast Live Oak
Coast Live Oak
Quercus agrifolia, the Coast Live Oak, is an evergreen oak , native to the California Floristic Province. It grows west of the Sierra Nevada from Mendocino County, California, south to northern Baja California in Mexico. It is classified in the red oak section Quercus agrifolia, the Coast Live Oak,...
, the Arroyo Willow, and the Yellow Willow.
Other parts of El Estero
Many parks and attractions have been developed in Lake El Estero to attract both tourists and locals. The most popular of these is the Dennis the Menace Playground. Designed by cartoon writer Hank KetchamHank Ketcham
Henry King "Hank" Ketcham was an American cartoonist who created the Dennis the Menace comic strip, writing and drawing it from 1951 to 1994, when he retired from drawing the daily page and took up painting full time in his studio at his home. He received the Reuben Award for the strip in 1953...
and with the help of sculptor Arch Garner, the park opened on November 17, 1956. With a variety of children's play areas, the park became a great success. One of these unique structures is the 1924 locomotive steam engine, donated by the Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
. In 1986 a thorough renovation of the park was done. The renovation was led by architect Richard Murray
Richard Murray
Richard Alan Murray is an English businessman and the former chairman of Charlton Athletic F.C.Murray founded Avesco plc, the specialist services provider to the entertainment & sports industry in 1984, where he was Chairman for almost 20 years; he is the Chairman of Investinmedia plc and has other...
and cost at least $300,000. In this renovation a 30 feet (9.1 m) tall rope swing was added along with other new playground equipment.
In 2006 a statue of the parks mascot, Dennis the Menace, was stolen. The bronze statue was ripped from its place, and it is speculated that it might have been melted and sold. A replacement statue was given to the park on March 27, 2007. It was donated by Willis W. and Ethel M. Clark Foundation, founders of the California Test Bureau, now known as CTB McGraw Hill.
Other attractions in Lake El Estero include the El Estero Ball Park, which is used by the Junior League, the Women's Soccer League, and other sport clubs, a dog park, and a skatepark, designed by 40 local skaters.