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1. What types of recreation are available on the Lagoon?

Our Harbor Patrol Officers are responsible for boating access and safety on the Lagoon. The waterway offers sailing, rowing, swimming, power boating, and water-skiing opportunities. Harbor Patrol makes sure that whatever the activity, our Lagoon is safe for everyone.  Find more information on the City’s Parks and Recreation webpage.

2. We have mosquitoes around the backyard and our boat dock, how can I get help with this?

San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District uses an integrated pest management strategy to safeguard the health and comfort of the residents of San Mateo County. Its service area includes the entirety of San Mateo County.

3. Who is responsible for maintaining the water quality of the lagoon?

We take great pride in providing our citizens with the best possible experience while enjoying the Lagoon and all it has to offer. Our parks and beaches are maintained daily to remove trash and goose poop, to clean bathroom facilities, and to maintain landscaping.  Water samples are collected weekly to monitor water quality for bacteria (e.g., E. coli, total coliform, and enterococci).  

Staff periodically open the inlet gates on the north end at O’Neil Slough, and turn the outlet pumps on at the south end to decrease water residency time and improve water quality.  We respond to all reports of illicit discharges to our stormwater collection system to prevent pollutants from ever reaching the Lagoon. We also work with a private contractor to abate aquatic weeds through mechanical harvesting, and herbicide applications. This has become increasingly difficult with shallowing, warmer water, and increasingly limited control chemical options.  Additional details are discussed below on how we intend to ensure water quality standards are achieved well into the future.

4. What can residents do to help improve water quality of the Lagoon?

Just by reading this and continuing to check back to stay informed, you are well on your way to doing your part in improving the water quality of the Lagoon. You can find additional resources at Flows to Bay – Clean Water. Healthy Community. It's a team effort!

5. Have any other tips for citizen involvement?

Here’s some other tips for easy ways you can directly improve local water quality:

• Participate in cleanups around your neighborhood. Sign up for Team Up to Clean Up
• Pick up after your dog.
• Pick up litter.
• Reducing or eliminating fertilizer use on lawns and in gardens will reduce the nutrients that feed aquatic weeds.
• Champion our Lagoon to your neighbors and share resources to preserve it.
• Be our eyes and ears in the neighborhood: Report Stormwater Pollution.
• Follow the us on on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to like and share our news.
• Inspect and repair your sewer lateral to prevent overflows. 
• Get out and enjoy the Lagoon and all it has to offer.

6. Why is the water level in the Lagoon low in the winter months and higher in the summer months?

The Lagoon water level is regulated on a seasonal basis to optimize flood control, recreation, aesthetics, and ecological benefits. During the winter months the water level is lowered to provide a receiving basin for stormwater runoff as protection from lowland flooding. The summer water level provides optimal conditions for swimming, boating, and other recreational uses. The water level is controlled using the O’Neil Slough intake gates on the Lagoon’s south end and the Pump Station on the north end. The Pump Station’s pumping capacity and the lowering of the water level during the winter months provides the capacity to accommodate a 100-year storm event.