RJ wrote on Jul 8, 2007 10:12 AM:Where is the common sense? If the incompetents in charge of Lake Hodges would have removed those willow trees before the lake (predictably) filled back up, we wouldn't have this problem. Now the taxpayers will end up spending millions cleaning up the whole mess. The willow trees should have been removed despite fears of lawsuits over the destruction of “habitat” by environmentalists. I think the birds are capable of flying to another tree. In fact they have since the only thing left of the habitat is dead rotting branches…

San Marcos resident wrote on Jul 8, 2007 12:07 PM:The problem isn't only the trees, it is also the nutrients from fertilzers and sewage, which can lead to blooms of cyanobacteria, aka toxic algae blooms, aka blue green algae. Is there a bga bloom in Hodges? If so, it poses more of a problem than just smelly, musty drinking water. Some strains of cyanobacteria release toxins that have lead to documented cases of dog deaths,and pose a serious concern for public health. The EPA and the State Water Board are giving this growing problem the serious concern it deserves. Check out the California State Waterboard website for the newly-posted report on voluntary measures to be taken on recreational lakes suffering from bga's. Today they will be voluntary; tomorrow they will be mandatory. We are reaping what we sowed for years of ignorance and shortsightedness about how we develop around water.

GFN wrote on Jul 8, 2007 12:54 PM:Four years ago water officials were told to remove the trees or this would happen. Who were those fools who refused to do so?

Read Me wrote on Jul 8, 2007 4:17 PM:GFN, did you read the post from San Marcos Resident? Even if those trees had been removed, there likely would be issues with the water quality of California's largest drainage ditch. Somebody correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Olivenhain get built with the Lake Hodges issues in mind? If they weren't prepared for the crap that would come into the system from Lake Hodges, then there is a (mis)design issue, I would think. Too ... bad.

RJ wrote on Jul 8, 2007 5:04 PM:There was an algae bloom at Hodges recently. Dead fish were piled all over the place... Anyone care for a drink?

Looking back a few years... wrote on Jul 8, 2007 7:12 PM:1994 article: "Two tiny birds could have something to say about construction plans. Officials say they expect to find the southwestern willow flycatcher and least Bell's vireo, both on the federal endangered species list, living in the vegetation on the lake bottom. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a permit to the water authority to clear vegetation from the lake. But the permit specifies that the habitat of no more than 36 pairs of least Bell's vireos and nine pairs of southwestern willow flycatchers can be removed. No one knows how many of the two species are living on the lake bed. Purcell said the water authority plans to conduct surveys in March 2006 and March 2007 to determine the number. If it exceeds the permit's limitations, the authority would ask to amend the permit to allow the habitat of more birds to be destroyed. Officials hope to begin clearing brush in October 2007, after the birds' breeding seasons. "Of course, the other option is to do nothing and let the reservoir refill naturally," Purcell said. "The problem again, though, is vegetation. The water will rise above the leaves and what not, and they'll rot and put a lot of organics in the water and that causes some headaches for water treatment plants."

AW wrote on Jul 9, 2007 10:57 AM:Hodges has become worse over the years. It was only recently in 2002 added to the list of impaired water bodies by the EPA Clean Water Act.

janet wrote on Jul 17, 2007 8:32 AM:Please pay attention and educate yourselves. The trees are a minor problem. The big problem is runoff from fertilizer, oil and all manner of things that wash into the lake, as well as sewage leaks. Most people in the watershed fertilize their yards, particularly lawns. They apply pesticides and herbicides. In addition, there are a number of farms in the watershed. When it rains, these chemicals wash into the lake. For every tree out there, there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of people in the watershed who indirectly put pollution in the water. As usual, it is easier for people to blame environmentalists than themselves.