Residents of Canyon Lake don’t have to look far to see what role water plays in their lives. With nearly 15 miles of shoreline, the 383-acre lake is a constant reminder of just how important a resource water is. As the state suffers through a third year of drought and edges closer to mandatory water rationing, the City of Canyon Lake is takings steps to reduce water usage and to make sure its residents are prepared for what lies ahead.
Reclaimed water and drought-tolerant landscaping on Railroad Canyon Road.
Two years ago the City of Canyon Lake hired Sunshine Nursery to analyze the condition of the landscape median and parkways on Railroad Canyon Road. The landscape contractor recommended that the irrigation system be upgraded and the median replanted with drought-tolerant plants. As part of a multi-year project, the city’s contractor continues to clear out the dead plants; and has replanted portions of the median planter each year and installed water-stingy drip irrigation.
In addition, the city repaired a pumping station that was supplying the parkways and median irrigation system with reclaimed water taken from a retention basin adjacent to the Canyon Lake Country Club. The pump at the station was repaired and a heavy-duty self-dumping filter was installed to prevent the irrigation system from clogging. In the past, the irrigation system emitter heads became clogged with debris from the basin and were no longer effective.
So far, the improvements to the Railroad Canyon Road median irrigation system and use of reclaimed water has resulted in both water and cost savings. The City, like the Property Owners Association, receives reclaimed water from Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District. Recently the City’s landscape contractor trimmed trees and bushes in the parkways and median and recycled the trimmings for wood chips that were placed in the median as mulch. With spring upon us and warm weather approaching, I hope all our residents and visitors will take a few moments to enjoy the drive up Railroad Canyon Road and all the new greenery in the median.
City Hall Flush with Improvements
The City recently retrofitted all of the traditional toilets in City Hall with pressure tanks to cut back on the amount of water that is literally being flushed down the drain.
Pressurized flush system units were installed in all restrooms converting toilets from water tanks to non-water tank units.
The pressurized black box uses very little water with each flush. This is just one of many ways the City is looking to reduce water and electricity usage. Speaking of electricity savings, senor light switches were installed in all City Hall restrooms and the multipurpose room, this week, in an effort to save electricity. Stay tuned for updates on our continued efforts to conserve.
Over Watering Creates Downstream Problems
There is probably no place else on this planet where the garbage-in, garbage out theory works so well. Whatever goes into the storm drains in Canyon Lake eventually shows up in the lake itself. There is often confusion as to the function of a storm drain system. Not in Canyon Lake. The formula is simple:
Everything that goes into the street drains goes straight to the Lake because all drains in Canyon Lake lead right to the Lake.
To make sure everyone gets the message, the City is redoubling its efforts to get the word out about runoff and lake quality. Canyon Lake, like other cities, must abide by National Pollution Discharge Elimination Standards (NPDES). The city has enforcement officers to make sure the standards are enforced and will issue citations to offenders. But the city would prefer to avoid the heavy- handed approach and instead rely on education to let residents know about what they can do to insure the lake stays pristine.
As we enter a period of mandatory rationing and prohibitions on over watering, it’s even more important to remember the delicate balance between runoff and water quality. The dryer the season, the more debris that builds up on streets, sidewalks and in our gutters. Over watering wastes water. It also moves chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides and litter down the drain system into the lake.
To help reduce storm drain pollution keep and our lake clean, it’s paramount that residents:
• Dispose of litter properly and recycle recyclables.
• Keep storm drain inlets clear from debris, dirt, sand, silt and wastes.
• Keep vehicles in tip top shape to prevent fluid leaks
• Don’t over-water lawn or garden areas. This can cause an algal bloom and create contaminated wastewater that enters the storm drain and ultimately the lake.
The history of water runs deep in City of Canyon Lake, which is named after the lake it surrounds, also known as Railroad Canyon Reservoir. The reservoir, created in 1928 with the construction of the Railroad Canyon Dam, has a storage capacity of 11,900 acre-feet and is owned and operated by the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District.
The reservoir is supplied by storm water runoff from the San Jacinto River and Salt Creek. Water from the reservoir feeds the Canyon Lake Water Treatment Plant, which provides approximately 10 percent of the domestic water supply in the Lake Elsinore/Canyon Lake area.
As always if you have any questions on what the City is doing to reduce water usage or City operations in general please feel free to email me at lmoss@cityofcanyonlake.com
“From protecting our residents to safeguarding the community’s lake and providing popular amenities, the City of Canyon Lake is committed to preserving our community’s treasured quality of life.”