Atascadero Lake

On this week's episode of Issues & Ideas, we hear how the pandemic is affecting the hospitality industry in Monterey County, and operations at the SLO County airport. Cal Poly journalism lecturer Kim Bisheff talks about the current media landscape, and suggests ways we can find news outlets we can trust. We visit Atascadero Lake to witness the installation of a new bioswale project and learn how it will improve water quality. And we hear about the hundreds of 'catch-and-eat' rainbow trout just planted in the lake. 

With record drought conditions on the Central Coast, several neighborhood lakes have either dried up or are nearly dry. One of the most visible is San Luis Obispo's Laguna Lake, where neighbors are pushing the city to dig a deeper lakebed. It's a process already underway up the road in Atascadero.

There is heavy equipment in the bottom of the 27- acre, Atascadero Lake, removing soil and transferring it to trucks. This process of dredging to deepen the lake, can improve its overall health.

Atascadero city officials announced earlier this week that the city's lake will likely go completely dry by the end of July.

Council Member Roberta Fonzi says the marine life is in danger, but filling the lake would cost upwards of $500,000.

City leaders estimate it will take another two years for the lake to refill naturally if rainfall levels return to normal.